Posts tagged: Content Testing

In this video, I show you:

• How I upload trial reels to my Google account for repurposing (that’s an important element!)
• How to check which trial reels are performing
• Real examples of trial reels I’ve tested
• How I make three different versions with three different videos

The key insight: Not only does this content get pushed out to non-followers, but you also get to test which hit and which didn’t.

Step 4: Check Trial Reels Performance the Next Day

The next morning (or after your testing period), review which version of each reel performed best.

What to look at:

• View count: Which got the most eyeballs?
• Completion rate: Which one did people watch all the way through?
• Engagement: Which got the most saves, shares, and comments?

Out of each set of three variations, one always performs better than the others. That’s the version you post to your main feed.

This is how you get pushed out to non-followers. This is a really important place to test what you’re creating.

Step 5: Post the Winning Reels from Your Drafts

Once you know which reel won the test, go back into your drafts and post that winning version to your main Instagram feed.

If you look at the trial reels section in Instagram, you’ll see which ones were performing. For example, when I have a conservative client, I might create three different versions and see which one even gets noticed.

The key here is that you’re not posting blind. You’re posting content that already proved it resonates with an audience.

Step 6: Save Winning Reels to Your Content Repurposing Library

This is the step most people skip, and it’s critical for long-term content success.

Every winning reel gets added to my video repurposing folder in Google Drive. I upload the new video to my Google account for repurposing.

This creates a library of proven, high-performing content that you can remix, repurpose, or recreate later.

What to save:

• The video file (upload to Google Drive or your preferred storage)
• The caption
• Performance metrics
• Notes on what made it work

If you have a team member managing content, this is invaluable. They’re not guessing what to create. They’re working from a folder of content that already delivered results.

The best part is that you can reuse all of these videos when you repurpose. You can even repurpose to Instagram if you use the ones that aren’t what you posted. Just make sure you adjust everything so it’s relevant.

Step 7: Create Multiple Variations to Find What Works

When creating trial reels, I make three different ones with three different videos. That’s how I test it.

I upload the new video, then slide through to compare them. You just put your finger on it, hold it down, and slide it to the next. Do the same. It should be lined up, and then I delete the second video.

I’ll adjust everything so it’s relevant and make three different versions with three different videos.

Pro tip: Let’s say I create one, and then I will add a new video. I try to do ones that are just a tiny bit different. It’s really interesting to see what hits and what doesn’t.

Step 8: Repeat Daily (or Weekly)

I normally do this at the night before I’m gonna post them, but you can also do them at the beginning of the week and test them all.

My daily process:

• Three topics per day (or week)
• Three variations of each topic
• Test all nine in trial reels
• Post the three winners the next day
• Save winners to the repurposing library
• Move on to the next content batch

No overthinking. No perfectionism. Just testing, data, and execution.

Why the Trial Reels Strategy Works

Trial reels eliminate guesswork. You’re not crossing your fingers and hoping your content resonates. You’re testing it with real data before committing to a full post.

Here’s why this approach is so effective:

1. You learn what your audience actually wants Not what you think they want. What the data proves they want.

2. You only invest energy in winners Why waste time promoting content that’s already underperforming? Post what works and move on.

3. You build a library of proven content Every winner goes into your repurposing vault. Over time, you have dozens of high-performing assets to remix and reuse. When you repurpose, you can even repurpose to Instagram if you use the ones that aren’t what you posted.

4. You train the algorithm to push your content When Instagram sees that your content consistently performs well in tests, it rewards you with more reach on future posts. This is how you get pushed out to non-followers.

5. You maximize your content ROI Instead of creating one piece of content and hoping it works, you’re creating strategic variations that teach you what resonates. The winners become part of your content library for future repurposing.

Research from Hootsuite’s Social Media Trends Report confirms that creators who test content variations see 3x higher engagement rates.

Common Trial Reels Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t skip the “Also share on” step If you don’t turn off both options under “Also share on,” your trial reel will post to your main feed AND go to trial. You only want it in trial.

Don’t make videos too long Keep trial reels between 4-7 seconds. You don’t need a 21-second video for testing. Shorter is better for trial purposes.

Don’t create variations that are too different The variations should be just slightly different. Same message, different execution. If you change too much, you won’t know which specific element made the difference.

Don’t forget to save your winning content Upload every winning reel to Google Drive or your content management system. This is your content gold mine for repurposing.

Don’t post losing variations Only post the winner. The whole point is to eliminate underperformers before they hurt your account’s performance.

How to Start Using Trial Reels Today

Ready to implement this Instagram trial reels strategy? Here’s your action plan:

Week 1:

• Choose 3 content topics relevant to your audience
• Create 3 variations of each (9 videos total)
• Post all 9 to trial reels over 3 days
• Track which variations perform best

Week 2:

• Post the winning variations to your main feed
• Start building your content repurposing library in Google Drive
• Analyze what patterns emerge (do certain hooks work better? specific footage styles?)

Week 3 and beyond:

• Make this your standard content creation process
• Refine your variations based on what you’ve learned
• Scale up to more topics per week as you get comfortable with the workflow

The Bottom Line on Trial Reels

If you’re not using Instagram trial reels, you’re guessing what will work. If you’re guessing, you’re losing opportunities for reach and growth.

Instagram is literally giving you free A/B testing. They’re showing you which content will get pushed out to non-followers. They’re telling you what works before you commit to posting it.

Start testing. Post the winners. Build your repurposing library. Repeat.

This is how you scale reach without scaling effort. This is how you go from hoping your content works to knowing it will.

Not only does this content get pushed out to non-followers, but you also get to test which hit and which didn’t. It’s a really important place to test what you’re creating.