This Reels Trick Is Quietly Blowing Up Accounts
This Reels Trick Is Quietly Blowing Up Accounts
If your engagement on Instagram has been feeling a little... off lately, you’re not imagining things. A lot of creators and brands have been noticing that views and likes have taken a dip, even on content that usually performs well. It’s frustrating, especially when you feel like you’re doing “everything right.”
So what’s going on?
INSTAGRAM HAS QUIETLY SHIFTED ITS PRIORITIES AGAIN.
They’re focused (surprise) on keeping people on-platform longer, and that means they’re testing new ways to surface content to fresh audiences, not necessarily to your existing followers. That’s where the Trial feature on Reels comes in. I know I know I know… TRIAL REELS has turned into a dirty word very few people want to say, much less want to acknowledge.
Because yeah, the Trial feature wasn’t rolled out with much fanfare. It’s technically meant to be a space where creators can test experimental content or concepts without messing with their main feed. Think of it like a low-stakes sandbox where your video only gets shown to people who don’t follow you. But it hasn’t exactly worked the way content creators have wanted.
But here’s where it gets interesting…. and….
HERE´S WHERE YOU´RE GONNA BLOW UP…
STEAL MY STRATEGY: Instead of using the Trial feature for random throwaway content (like Instagram originally intended), you need to repost content that’s already performed well. So you’re not reinventing the wheel, but rather doubling down on what’s already proven to work.
Because Trial Reels are only shown to people who don’t follow you, the algorithm treats them like brand new content (tah-dah!) even if it’s the same video. It’s basically a loophole for more reach, minus the risk of annoying your current audience. I’ve seen accounts gain hundreds of new followers this way, just by using Trial Reels strategically.
Here’s how to try it:
Find a Reel from your account that performed really well … something with strong engagement, shares, or saves.
Re-upload that exact video using the Trial feature when posting. (You’ll see the option when you’re finishing up the Reel in the post screen, scroll to the bottom to toggle it on.)
Make sure it’s labeled as a Trial and DON’T overdo it. If you repost too often or too aggressively, Instagram might catch on and reduce visibility.
Try it & let me know how it goes xx
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XX Idalia