Instead of guessing what short-form content will resonate, identify existing long-form videos or articles with the highest engagement. Transcribe these proven winners and use AI to extract impactful clips, carousels, and tweets. This method leverages past success to increase the probability of future performance.

To create more Trial Reel content from a single idea without being penalized, you don't need to reshoot the entire video. The algorithm's duplicate detection primarily focuses on the first 6-7 seconds. Making minor changes to just the intro—like new on-screen text or a different opening clip—is enough to register it as unique content.

While posting the same Trial Reel multiple times will severely limit its views, the algorithm treats feed posts and Trial Reels separately. This creates a loophole allowing you to re-upload all your past feed posts as new Trial Reels, giving old content a second chance to reach a new audience without penalty.

Viewer attention wanes just a few seconds into a video. To combat this, content creators should strategically insert a 'pattern interrupt'—an unexpected pop-up, a quick call to action, or a visual distraction—around the six-second mark to jolt the viewer and retain their engagement.

Capture audience attention by establishing credibility (Proof), outlining the video's structure (Plan), and stating what the viewer will gain (Promise). This three-part framework, executed in the first 30 seconds, builds immediate trust and significantly reduces viewer drop-off.

As Instagram is flooded with Reels, the less-common carousel format offers a significant reach advantage. Repurpose existing talking-head Reels by creating a two-slide carousel: the first slide is a static image with a compelling headline, and the second slide is the original Reel. This is a low-effort, high-impact strategy.

A new feature in testing will allow users to select the exact moment a Reel begins playing when shared to a Story. This moves beyond the default start, enabling creators to strategically use a video's climax or a high-impact moment as a hook to drive viewers from Stories to the full Reel.

It's counterintuitive, but upgrading a successful Trial Reel to your main feed is detrimental. The algorithm doesn't refresh the post; it retains its original timestamp. This causes it to be buried deep in your feed, making it highly unlikely that your existing followers will ever see it. It's better to let it live only as a Trial Reel.

To generate superior content ideas from a visual AI like Poppy, provide three types of inputs: links to viral videos for inspiration, links to your own content to define your style, and a link to an expert's analysis to provide strategic guidance.