Podcast Summary: Build Your Tribe | Ep. 858
Episode Title: Complete Guide To Growing On Instagram With Trial Reels
Host: Brock Johnson
Date: November 10, 2025
Main Theme:
A comprehensive exploration of "trial reels" on Instagram – what they are, why they matter, the platform's recent rule changes, and step-by-step strategies for maximizing growth using this unique feature.
Episode Overview
Brock Johnson delivers a focused, actionable solo episode that breaks down the evolving world of Instagram trial reels. He explains the purpose behind trial reels, how the feature has changed since its December 2024 launch, and provides hands-on best practices for leveraging trial reels to grow your audience and increase engagement—despite new daily posting caps and limitations.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. What Are Trial Reels?
- Definition & Origin:
- Introduced in December 2024, trial reels are reels only shown to non-followers – intended as a low-pressure way to experiment and reach new audiences ([00:25]).
- Instagram’s Intent vs. Marketers’ Approach:
- Instagram intended trial reels for experimentations.
- Marketers quickly saw "unlimited free advertising" to reach new users ([01:37]).
Quote:
“Trial reels are a cheat code. They are arguably the best feature that any social networking app has ever given us to grow our following, reach more people, and go viral with little to no risk on our end.”
– Brock Johnson ([00:03])
2. How Have Trial Reels Changed in 2025?
- Daily Posting Cap:
- Early on: Unlimited reels was possible.
- Mid-2025: Instagram imposed undisclosed daily caps, varying per account (some as low as five per day).
- Surpassing your limit leads to a 30-day ban from posting trial reels ([03:49]).
- Duplicate Content Limitation:
- Re-posting the identical trial reel yields sharply reduced reach for duplicates—only the original gets views ([07:36]).
- However, reposting older feed reels as trial reels does not penalize reach.
Quote:
“If they post more than five trial reels in a 24-hour period…Instagram will block them from posting trial reels again for the next 30 days.”
– Brock Johnson ([04:56])
3. Four Tested Strategies for Growth Using Trial Reels
I. Stay Just Below Your Daily Limit
- Best Practice:
- If unsure of your limit, post up to four or five per day; avoid exceeding to prevent a posting ban ([09:14]).
- How to Manage Output:
- Re-upload all previous feed reels as trial reels, as long as they’re still relevant ([10:30]).
- When creating a new reel, duplicate and post as a trial reel before posting as a feed reel ([14:09]).
- Slightly modify content – change first six-seven seconds, text, or setting – to experiment and not trigger duplicate suppression ([15:25]).
- Use “FaceTime” or unscripted experimental reels—embrace trial and error.
Quote:
“Don’t judge your content just because it didn’t perform as great on your feed…Take every reel that you have previously posted…post it as a trial reel.”
– Brock Johnson ([11:21])
- Unique Engagement Tactic:
- Create a trial reel that openly says it’s a trial reel (e.g., “If you’re seeing this, you don’t follow me yet. Here’s what I do.”)
- Direct call-to-action for targeted, non-follower audiences ([18:11]).
- Recycle Instagram Stories:
- Gather industry-relevant stories, combine, and post as trial reels for more daily content without extra creation time ([19:14]).
II. Don’t Upgrade Trial Reels to Your Feed
- Reasoning:
- Upgrading doesn’t “refresh” the reel in the algorithm, so it won’t get more views; those views would be buried and shown as older content ([21:12]).
- Exception:
- Only consider upgrading if the trial reel is already going viral.
Quote:
“Even if it’s going viral, I usually recommend just leaving it as a trial reel. Set it and forget it.”
– Brock Johnson ([21:54])
III. Use DM Automation with Trial Reels
- Engagement Booster:
- Set up ManyChat (or similar tool) to DM people who comment on your trial reels, even if they aren’t followers ([23:01]).
- Add a step: require users to follow you before delivering the freebie or information (e.g., “Comment the word ‘recipe’…but you get it only after you follow me”) ([25:19]).
- Impact:
- Converts engaged viewers into true followers and potential leads/customers.
Quote:
“This is an absolute game changer for converting the people who are engaging with your trial reels into people who are actually going to become followers.”
– Brock Johnson ([25:59])
IV. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
- Mindset:
- Most trial reels won’t go viral (especially at first).
- Consistency is key; posting four to five each day raises odds of hits ([28:12]).
- No one sees your trial reel metrics, so there’s no risk to “failure.”
Quote:
“You never know which one’s going to go viral…I just keep posting my four to five a day, and then all of a sudden, when I least expect it, boom. I get 400,000 views on a single trial reel.”
– Brock Johnson ([29:16])
Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes
| Timestamp | Speaker | Notable Moment / Quote | |-----------|------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:03 | Brock Johnson | “Trial reels are a cheat code.” | | 04:56 | Brock Johnson | “Instagram will block them from posting trial reels again for the next 30 days.” | | 11:21 | Brock Johnson | “Don’t judge your content just because it didn’t perform as great on your feed…” | | 18:11 | Brock Johnson | Describing the “meta” trial reel: call out new, non-followers directly | | 21:54 | Brock Johnson | “Set it and forget it. Don’t worry about upgrading it to the feed.” | | 25:59 | Brock Johnson | “Absolute game changer for converting…the people who are engaging…into followers.” | | 29:16 | Brock Johnson | “You never know which one’s going to go viral…then, boom, 400,000 views.”|
Important Timestamps by Segment
- 00:03 – Why trial reels are a game-changer for growth
- 00:25 – The origins and intent of trial reels
- 03:49 – Emergence of daily posting caps & account-based limits
- 07:36 – Instagram now quietly suppresses duplicate trial reels
- 09:14 – Best practices: post right below your daily limit
- 10:30 – Reposting past feed reels as trial reels (doesn’t count as a duplicate)
- 14:09 – Duplicating and scheduling new content for both feed and trial
- 15:25 – Modifying content for multiple trial reel variants
- 18:11 – The strategy of making a “this is a trial reel” direct pitch
- 19:14 – Repurposing niche Instagram stories as trial reels
- 21:12 – Don’t upgrade trial reels; why it often backfires
- 23:01 – Step-by-step: Using DM automation on your trial reels
- 28:12 – The pep talk: Why consistent posting overcomes low performance
Tone & Takeaways
Tone:
Brock’s delivery is energetic, hands-on, and encouraging. He weaves in storytelling and personal anecdotes (“ya boi tried once to post 100 in a day…” [09:14]) to demystify Instagram’s rules and motivate listeners to adopt a growth mindset rooted in experimentation, resilience, and consistency.
Final Message:
Embrace trial reels as the “free advertising” growth lever they are – within the new boundaries. Recycle content, experiment often, employ clever automation, and focus on daily consistency over chasing immediate virality. Don’t let low-performing outliers discourage you; the next trial reel could be the breakthrough.
Action Checklist for Listeners:
- Determine (or err on the safe side of) your account’s daily trial reel limit.
- Systematically re-upload all relevant feed reels as trial reels—once.
- Use the duplicate + modify tactic for new and old reels.
- Experiment with “meta” and off-the-cuff content.
- Repurpose niche stories as trial reels.
- Set up DM automation to convert engaged viewers to followers.
- Don’t obsess over metrics—just keep posting!
Recommended Episode Pairings:
- Brock's deep dive on DM automation (referenced around [23:01])
- Earlier breakdown on his experience posting 100 trial reels in a day ([09:14])
End-of-Episode Tagline:
“Just keep posting your trial reels, okay? And before you go and post your trial reel, don’t forget to hit the subscribe button and I will see you in next week’s episode. As always, happy networking.”
– Brock Johnson ([29:54])