Instagram trial reels

A trial reel is an Instagram reel that non-followers see first. Planoly can publish a reel as a trial when it auto-posts it for you.

Who can use trial reels

Instagram offers trial reels to public accounts with at least 200 followers, up to 5 a day. Instagram decides this for each account when the reel publishes. Planoly cannot check it ahead of time, so the Trial reel tool shows for every Instagram channel that can auto-post, whether or not the account qualifies.

If Instagram refuses the trial, the post fails and tells you why. An account that does not qualify gets a message to turn off the trial and post it as a normal reel.

Which posts can run as a trial

A trial needs all of these:

• One video, and nothing else. A second photo or video, or a photo in place of the video, rules it out.
• The Post/Reel post type.
• Posting method set to Auto-post. A reminder post is published by you, so Planoly never sends it to Instagram as a trial.

The Trial reel tool only appears when the post meets these. If you set a trial and then add more media or swap the video for a photo, Planoly turns the trial off and shows a message saying so.

Turn on a trial reel

1. Select Create Post.
2. Select your Instagram channel and upload one video.
3. Check that Posting method is set to Auto-post.
4. In the toolbar under the caption, select the Trial reel tool. If you do not see it, scroll the toolbar sideways.
5. Pick how the reel reaches your followers:
   • Off: a normal reel, with no trial.
   • Manual: you share it with your followers from Instagram when you're ready.
   • Auto: if it does well in its first 72 hours, Instagram shares it with your followers.
6. Schedule the post as usual.

To turn a trial off, open the Trial reel tool again and pick Off.

Choose where a reel shows

A single video on a Post/Reel gets a second tool, Where can this reel be seen?. It has two options:

• Main grid and Reels tab: the reel shows on your main profile grid and in your Reels tab. This is the default.
• Reels tab only: the reel shows in your Reels tab and stays off your main grid.

This tool works with both posting methods, and you can use it with or without a trial.