Instagram Updates2026: Affiliate Links in Reels, Trial Reels & Instagram Plus
If you’re trying to grow on Instagram in 2026… you cannot afford to ignore these updates.
Instagram is shifting fast. And the creators who understand what’s happening right now are going to grow faster, make more money, and stay ahead of everyone else.
In this breakdown, I’m walking you through the biggest Instagram updates right now, what they actually mean, and how you can use them to grow your audience and income.
Listen to these updates on Call Her Creator podcast now!
Listen on Apple: The Weekly Scroll: Affiliate Links, Trial Reels and Instagram Plus
Listen on Spotify: The Weekly Scroll: Affiliate Links, Trial Reels and Instagram Plus
1. Instagram Now Allows Affiliate Links in Reels
Adam Mosseri just announced that creators can now tag affiliate links directly inside Reels.
This is a BIG deal.
Before this, if you wanted to sell something, your audience had to:
Go to your profile
Click your link in bio
Find the product
Then maybe buy
That’s a lot of steps. And every step = lost conversions.
Now?
👉 Your viewer can see a product → tap → buy
All without leaving the Reel.
Why This Matters
This removes friction… and when you remove friction, conversions go up.
This also means:
Instagram is going all-in on in-app shopping
Creators are becoming direct sellers, not just influencers
Affiliate marketing is about to explode (again)
Even if you don’t have your own product yet, this opens the door for you to start making money through affiliate links.
What to Do Now
Start creating content like a buyer is watching, not just a follower
Talk about products naturally in your content
Organize your affiliate links so you’re ready when this rolls out fully
Because when this becomes widely available…
👉 speed is going to win
2. Trial Reels Just Got a Major Upgrade
Instagram also confirmed that you can now schedule Trial Reels.
If you’re not using Trial Reels yet… you’re missing one of the biggest growth tools on the platform.
What Are Trial Reels?
Trial Reels show your content to non-followers only.
That means:
Cold audience
No pressure from your current followers
Pure testing environment
What’s New?
Now you can choose when your Trial Reels are shown.
Which means you can:
Align posts with peak engagement times
Test different time zones
Treat content like an actual experiment
Why This Is Powerful
This turns Instagram into a free testing lab.
You can:
Test hooks
Test topics
Test formats
Even repost old viral content
Then…
👉 double down on what works
2026 Strategy Shift
We are moving from:
“post and hope it works”
to:
👉 test → analyze → scale
And the creators who understand this will grow the fastest.
3. Instagram Is Testing “Instagram Plus” (Paid Features)
Instagram is currently testing a new subscription called Instagram Plus.
This is NOT verification…
This is about paying for more visibility and control.
Features Include:
Advanced Story insights (like rewatch tracking)
Ability to spotlight Stories
Extended Story visibility
Enhanced engagement tools like Superlikes
More control over Story audiences
What This Means
Instagram is slowly becoming a pay-to-amplify platform.
Not fully pay-to-play… but:
👉 pay to get an advantage
My Take
Organic reach isn’t going anywhere.
But creators who invest in tools, features, and strategy…
👉 will move faster
Also, notice something important:
👉 This is ALL focused on Stories.
So if you’ve been ignoring Stories…
Now is the time to fix that.
4. The Explore Page Is Still the Most Underrated Growth Tool
Everyone talks about Reels.
But here’s the truth:
👉 Reels get you discovered
👉 The Explore Page decides if you’re worth following
Why the Explore Page Matters
When someone interacts with your content, Instagram starts showing your content on Explore.
That’s your first impression.
And if your content isn’t clear, engaging, or valuable?
👉 they don’t follow
👉 they don’t stay
👉 they don’t buy
How to Land on the Explore Page
Instagram pushes content to Explore when:
Your hook grabs attention immediately
People watch your content all the way through
Non-followers engage (likes, comments, saves)
Your content gets shared
The biggest signals?
👉 Saves + Shares
The Real Strategy
You don’t “get lucky” on Explore.
You earn it through:
👉 attention + retention
What This All Means for Creators in 2026
If you zoom out, here’s what’s happening:
Content is becoming more transactional (affiliate links in Reels)
Growth is becoming more strategic (Trial Reels testing)
Visibility is becoming a product (Instagram Plus)
And attention is still the currency (Explore Page)
The creators who win in 2026 are not the ones posting more…
They’re the ones:
👉 testing smarter
👉 converting faster
👉 and thinking like business owners
Want Help With Your Content Strategy?
If you’re tired of guessing what to post…
I created Club Enfluence for you.
Inside, I send:
Trending Reels every week
Hook ideas
Plug-and-play content
So you can show up consistently without overthinking it.
👉 You can join using the link in the show notes.
Listen to the Full Episode
Want me to break all of this down for you step-by-step?
🎧 Listen to the full episode here:
Listen on Apple: The Weekly Scroll: Affiliate Links, Trial Reels and Instagram Plus
Listen on Spotify: The Weekly Scroll: Affiliate Links, Trial Reels and Instagram Plus
Instagram isn’t just a content platform anymore…
👉 it’s becoming a checkout page.
