Episode Summary: Are Trial Reels The Easiest Way To Grow on Instagram? I Posted 100 in 24 Hours - 835

Podcast: Build Your Tribe | Grow Your Business with Social Media
Hosts: Chalene Johnson & Brock Johnson
Release Date: May 29, 2025
Episode Title: Are Trial Reels The Easiest Way To Grow on Instagram? I Posted 100 in 24 Hours

Introduction

In this episode, Brock Johnson delves deep into Instagram's relatively new feature, Trial Reels, by conducting an ambitious experiment: posting 100 trial reels within a 24-hour period. The goal is to assess whether Trial Reels are indeed the most effective method for rapid Instagram growth, especially for entrepreneurs and business owners aiming to expand their online presence.

Understanding Trial Reels

Trial Reels were introduced by Instagram at the end of 2024 as a tool for creators to experiment with their content by making reels visible exclusively to non-followers. This feature was designed to lower the pressure associated with posting, allowing users to test content performance before deciding to share it with their entire audience. Brock explains:

"Trial reels are a feature that was released by Instagram at the end of 2024 that basically were supposed to be a way for anyone on Instagram to experiment by posting their reels to be visible only by non followers." (02:15)

The primary intent behind Trial Reels is to facilitate split testing—allowing users to gauge the potential success of a reel without risking over-saturation of their current followers' feeds.

The Goldmine Opportunity

Recognizing the immense potential of Trial Reels, Brock likens the feature to a gold mine for marketers:

"This was like a gold mine. And so immediately I started telling people that you need to be posting as many trial reels as possible." (04:50)

He emphasizes that Trial Reels offer unlimited opportunities to reach new audiences without the fear of spamming or overwhelming existing followers. This analogy underscores the strategic advantage of leveraging Trial Reels for continuous engagement and growth.

Challenges Faced

Despite the promising outlook, Brock identifies several challenges associated with using Trial Reels:

1. Manual Posting: Currently, there are no automation tools that support scheduling Trial Reels. Brock mentions:

   "The only real downside of this feature is that it takes a few seconds to post it. And unfortunately, there isn't quite an automated software that can schedule trial reels just yet." (07:30)

2. Potential Posting Limits: During his experiment, Brock encountered limitations when attempting to post multiple Trial Reels in quick succession. He shares his experience of hitting a posting cap:

   "Apparently that is the limit that Instagram has put in place. So I wasn't able to post 100 trial reels in 24 hours. I tried, I did my best, but Instagram didn't allow me to do so, it appears." (25:45)

3. Glitches and Errors: Brock faced glitches that hindered his posting process, leading to frustration and delays.

The Experiment: Posting 100 Trial Reels

Brock embarked on his experiment with the objective of posting 100 Trial Reels within a single day. Here's a breakdown of his approach and findings:

• Preparation: He downloaded a plethora of previously successful reels from his archives, ensuring a steady supply of content without the need to create new reels on the spot.

  "I've got to manually post them myself. But that's a pretty small downside for the potential upside of unlimited at bats." (09:15)

• Execution: Relying on manual posting due to the lack of scheduling tools, Brock began uploading reels at a rapid pace.

• Initial Results: Within the first few hours, the Trial Reels garnered between 150 to 200 views each, showcasing steady engagement.

• Encountering Limits: Despite his efforts, Brock faced a posting limit after successfully uploading 25 Trial Reels. The platform began rejecting additional uploads with error messages suggesting connectivity issues, which he suspected were actually indicative of a posting cap.

  "Instagram seems to have a limit of 25 trial reels per day, or rather 25 trial reels per 24 hour period." (28:00)

• Final Outcomes: Although unable to reach the 100-reel mark, the 25 Trial Reels amassed a total of 33,545 views and attracted 50 new followers.

Interpreting the Results

Brock reflects on the experiment's outcomes, advocating for a shift in perspective regarding social media growth metrics:

"You need to stop poo pooing these results and recognize that while maybe every trial reel might not be a home run, even if you're making contact with the ball, even if you're making it to first base, that's progress and that's a win and something to be proud of." (29:30)

He challenges the common mindset of equating success solely with viral numbers, emphasizing that consistent engagement and steady follower growth are valuable achievements, especially for accounts starting or looking to expand modestly.

Strategies for Maximizing Trial Reels

Brock outlines three tiers of strategies—Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced—to effectively utilize Trial Reels for Instagram growth.

1. Basic Strategy

   • Download Past Reels: Ensure all previously posted reels are saved and accessible.

     "Download all of your past reels. [...] Save all of your content." (32:10)

   • Organize Content: Place all saved reels into a single, easily accessible folder on your mobile device.

   • Consistent Posting: Regularly repost existing content as Trial Reels without overcomplicating captions or strategies.

2. Intermediate Strategy

   • Select Top-Performing Reels: Focus on reels that have historically garnered the most views, saves, and shares.

   • Set Reminders: Implement a system of reminders to ensure consistent posting, eventually turning it into a habitual process.

3. Advanced Strategy

   • Data-Driven Selection: Create a spreadsheet to track each reel's performance in terms of views and follower conversions.

     "There is no exact way to do this on Instagram, so you're going to have to get a little nerdy." (35:45)

   • Optimize for Conversion: Identify and prioritize reels that have the highest viewer-to-follower conversion rates.

   • Delegate Tasks: Share the organized content with team members or social media managers to streamline the posting process, allowing business owners to focus on broader strategies and revenue-driven activities.

The Power of Shareworthy Content

Beyond Trial Reels, Brock underscores the importance of shareworthy content—content that organically encourages users to share with their networks. This approach amplifies reach without solely relying on Instagram's algorithm.

"Shareworthy content is the kind of content that people are sending to each other. [...] on average we see that one share equates to over 150 additional views." (38:20)

He highlights that cultivating shareworthy content not only boosts visibility but also fosters genuine engagement, creating a ripple effect of organic growth.

Conclusion

Brock Johnson's experiment with Instagram's Trial Reels offers insightful revelations about leveraging new features for business growth. While the initial attempt to post 100 reels within 24 hours hit unforeseen limits, the findings emphasize the enduring potential of consistent, strategic content distribution. By adopting tiered strategies—from basic reposting to advanced data-driven approaches—entrepreneurs can harness Trial Reels' capabilities to diversify their reach and cultivate a loyal follower base.

As social media platforms continually evolve, Brock encourages listeners to remain adaptable, experiment boldly, and redefine success metrics to align with sustainable growth and meaningful engagement.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• “Trial reels are a feature that was released by Instagram at the end of 2024 that basically were supposed to be a way for anyone on Instagram to experiment by posting their reels to be visible only by non followers.” (02:15)

• “This was like a gold mine. And so immediately I started telling people that you need to be posting as many trial reels as possible.” (04:50)

• “The only real downside of this feature is that it takes a few seconds to post it. And unfortunately, there isn't quite an automated software that can schedule trial reels just yet.” (07:30)

• “You need to stop poo pooing these results and recognize that while maybe every trial reel might not be a home run, even if you're making contact with the ball, even if you're making it to first base, that's progress and that's a win and something to be proud of.” (29:30)

• “Shareworthy content is the kind of content that people are sending to each other. [...] on average we see that one share equates to over 150 additional views.” (38:20)