Have you used trial reels yet?

If you’re not familiar with them, trial reels are basically a way to test your content with people who don’t already follow you before sharing it with your existing audience.

When you turn on the Trial Reel option before publishing, Instagram shows that Reel to non-followers first. Your current followers won’t see it right away.

That means you can test content, experiment with different ideas, and see what resonates before putting it in front of the audience you’ve already built.

Instagram has reported that people using Trial Reels have seen significantly more reach from people who don’t already follow them. For product sellers, that’s exactly what we want: more potential customers discovering your products.

So if you’re trying to get more traffic to your online store (without spending money on ads), this is definitely a feature worth experimenting with.  Think of it as market research built directly into Instagram.

Here’s a super short break down of how to create a trial reel:

1. Create a Reel like you normally would.
2. Add your captions, music, effects, and product tags.
3. Before publishing, look for the Trial option and turn it on.
4. Publish your Reel.
5. Check your insights after about 24 hours.
6. If it performs well, share it with everyone.

That’s it.  Pretty simple right?

Now, let’s dive into a few ways you can use trial reels in your product-based business.

1. Test different hooks for the same product

Most people decide within the first few seconds whether they’ll keep watching a Reel.  Unfortunately, our attention spans are super short LOL.

Try creating two or three versions of a video featuring the same product, but use different opening hooks.

Maybe one starts with a customer result.  Maybe another starts with a surprising fact.  Maybe another immediately shows the finished product.  Run them each as Trial Reels and see which one gets the strongest response before sharing the winner more broadly.

2. Preview a a new product launch

Before announcing a new product to your email list and followers, you can test some launch content as a Trial Reel.  You’ll get an early indication of whether your messaging is landing and whether people are interested. If engagement is strong, that’s a great sign heading into launch week, and then you can expand on things from there.

3. Experiment with different video lengths

Some products do well with quick 15-second videos, while others are going to need a longer demonstration.  Use Trial Reels to figure out what works for your audience instead of guessing.  A short video may generate curiosity and profile visits, while a longer tutorial might earn more saves and shares. It’s all an experiment, so use trial reels to experiment even more!

4. Tag products directly in your reels

If you’re using Instagram Shopping, don’t forget to tag products directly inside your Reel.  That gives viewers a direct path from seeing your product to checking it out on your store.

5. Pay attention to what the data tells you

After testing several Trial Reels, be sure to review your data.  You’ll start to see which products get the most attention, which video styles generate engagement, and what actually attracts new people to your brand.  Then, you can do more of what is actually working! 

The next time you’re ready to post a Reel, turn on the Trial option first.  Pick one product, create a couple of different versions, and see what happens.  

Best case? You discover a Reel that brings a whole new audience to your store.  Worst case? You learn something valuable about what your audience doesn’t care about.  Either way, you win.

This week, we’re talking about another traffic source that product sellers overlook all the time… even though it’s one of the most powerful ones you can build:

Your email list.

Social media is great, but email hits different because you actually OWN it. No algorithm deciding who sees your stuff. No crossing your fingers hoping Instagram shows your Reel to actual humans today. Just direct access to people who already raised their hand and said, “Yes, I want to hear from you!”

And the best part? Those subscribers are usually the people most likely to buy from you again and again.

If you haven’t started your email list yet…

Please don’t wait until your store feels “big enough.”

One of the biggest mistakes product sellers make is waiting too long to start collecting emails because they think they need thousands of visitors first. You don’t, I promise.

Even if you only have a handful of customers or followers right now, this is literally the perfect time to start.

And I encourage you keep things really simple when it comes to your email marketing:

• Add an email signup form to your website {Klaviyo or FloDesk are my top recs and I find super easy to navigate even if you aren’t techy!}
• Offer a little incentive if you want (discount code, freebie, early access, you get the idea)
• Start collecting emails from day one

Because every single person who joins your list is someone you can keep building a relationship with long after they click away from your site.  Growing your email list early makes future launches, sales, and promos SO much easier.  

If you already have a list… but you’re not emailing consistently…

You are probably not alone in this. 

I hear it from product sellers all the time: “I don’t know what to say.” “I feel like I’d be bothering people.” “I only email when I have a sale.”
But here’s the thing: your subscribers signed up because they actually want to hear from you!

You don’t have to send perfectly polished masterpiece emails every single week. Sometimes the best emails are the simplest ones:

• A behind the scenes peek at your business 
• What you’re currently working on
• A customer favorite product
• A reminder about something seasonal
• The story behind why you created something
• A quick tip related to your niche

Consistency matters way more than perfection. Full stop.

When you only pop up when you want to make a sale, people stop feeling connected to your brand. But when they hear from you regularly? You stay top of mind, and that’s exactly what leads to sales down the road. 

One email a week is enough to completely change the relationship you have with your audience over time. And even if you only have three people on your email list… keep emailing them!

If you’re a product seller online right now, chances are you’re exhausted.

Everywhere you turn, someone is telling you to:

• post more
• film more reels
• jump on trends
• show up daily
• beat the algorithm

It can start to feel like running your business isn’t enough anymore. Like now you also need to become a full-time content creator just to stay visible online.

Meanwhile, you’re already:

• packing orders
• sourcing inventory
• answering customer emails
• managing shipping
• trying to keep your business running behind the scenes

This is exactly why I love Pinterest for product sellers! Because Pinterest works differently than most social media platforms.

Instead of relying only on fast-moving trends and engagement spikes, Pinterest is built around searches. People are actively typing in things like:

• gift ideas
• outfit inspiration
• wellness products
• recipes
• home decor
• seasonal ideas
• solutions to problems they already have

They’re already looking for products, inspiration, and ideas. Which means your content has the ability to continue getting discovered long after you post it without needing to constantly feed the algorithm every single day. And no, that doesn’t mean you need to create endless amounts of new content either.

1. Stop creating brand-new content for Pinterest

One of the biggest misconceptions I see from product sellers is thinking Pinterest requires an entirely separate content strategy. It doesn’t!

Use what you already have:

• product photos
• lifestyle images
• packaging photos
• customer content
• short video clips
• tutorials
• behind-the-scenes content

I can’t tell you how many business owners already have weeks worth of Pinterest content sitting in their camera roll right now. One product shoot can easily become weeks of Pinterest content when you repurpose it strategically.

2. Focus on search-based titles

Pinterest is a search platform first. That means your titles should sound like something your customer is already typing into the search bar.

Instead of:
“Our New Spring Collection 🌸”

Try:

• neutral spring outfits
• gift ideas for coffee lovers
• high protein snack ideas
• cozy loungewear sets
• healthy on-the-go snacks

Simple shifts like this can make a huge difference in helping your content get discovered by people who are already looking for products like yours.

3. Think seasonally earlier than social media

This is one of the biggest mindset shifts for product sellers. Pinterest users plan ahead much earlier than most people realize.

That means:

• Christmas content often starts performing in September
• summer searches begin in March
• fall content can start trending in July

Pinterest isn’t just about what people want today. It’s about what they’re already planning for next. Pinterest doesn’t have to become another platform you’re constantly feeding. When used strategically, it can help your products continue getting discovered long after you post them while helping you get more life out of the content you’re already creating.

Pinterest doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or like another thing constantly demanding your attention. For product sellers, it can become a long-term traffic source that keeps working quietly in the background while you focus on actually running your business. Small shifts in how you create and position your content can make a huge difference in visibility, traffic, and getting your products in front of people who are already searching for what you sell.

Click here to check out recommended resources for growing your Pinterest account from Camille! **affiliate link but I highly recommend Camille’s work!

About Camille Kurtenbach:

I’m Camille Kurtenbach, a Minnesota-based Pinterest Strategist, mom, wife, and Alani Nu + coffee lover! I’ve been helping businesses grow on Pinterest since 2018 and have supported over 150 businesses with Pinterest strategy and management over the years. My favorite thing to do is help product sellers and service providers create long-term visibility through searchable, evergreen content instead of constantly chasing social media trends. I’m passionate about helping business owners simplify their marketing, repurpose the content they already have, and create traffic that continues working long after something is posted.

Learn more about Camille and checkout her resources here.

If you were at The Product Seller Summit recently, you might have caught my talk about affiliate programs, and if you weren’t there or just missed it, don’t worry, I’m bringing the goods right to your inbox today. 😊

Starting an affiliate program is one of the easiest ways to get more traffic to your website in order to make more sales without needing to spend a ton of money upfront.

An affiliate is someone who promotes your products and they receive a commission when someone purchases through their unique affiliate link.  An affiliate program is what you put in place to fully support your affiliates and make sure they have everything they need to be successful (aka make sales for you!)

If you’re just starting out or you don’t have a budget for ads right now, an affiliate program might be your secret weapon. Here’s why:

1. You only pay when you make a sale. No burning money on ads and hoping for the best. With affiliates, you set the commission and you only pay out when someone actually buys. It’s about as low-risk as marketing gets.

2. Other people are out there promoting YOU. Your affiliates, whether that’s happy customers, bloggers, or creators in your niche, are sharing your products with their audiences. You’re basically multiplying yourself without cloning yourself or adding to your workload.

3. It sends you traffic on autopilot. Once your affiliates are set up and sharing, that traffic keeps coming in even while you’re sleeping, making dinner, or ignoring your inbox on a Sunday. 🙌

Ready to dig deeper into how to actually make this work for your store?

I put together a free 30-Day Plan for Sending 10,000 New Potential Customers to Your Shopify Store and it’s a great place to start.

Grab your free plan right here

🤓 Your tiny-but-mighty action this week:

Download the free 30-Day Plan for Sending 10,000 New Potential Customers to Your Shopify Store and just read through it for fun. Don’t think about your to-do list, don’t worry about implementing anything yet… just read it and let yourself get excited about what’s actually possible for your store. Sometimes the best thing you can do is remind yourself of how big this can get. 🙌

The 2026 Product Seller Summit is happening again this April, and I can’t wait to invite you to sign up next month (more details coming soon!)

As I’m prepping for the 2026 Summit, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to make Summit week more than just learning.  I want it to be a week where product sellers are actively discovered and supported.

So during Summit week, I’ll be sending two emails featuring our 🌟Product Seller Spotlight.🌟 

These spotlights will go out while the Summit is happening, putting your products directly in front of 2,000+ engaged Summit attendees at the exact moment they’re paying attention.

Here’s how it works:

I’ll be featuring 20 product sellers total, split across two spotlight emails (10 sellers per email) sent during Summit week.

What your Product Seller Spotlight includes:

 A feature in one of two Summit-week spotlight emails

• Visibility to 2,000+ Product Seller Summit attendees

• A Facebook group post

• A social media feature

Plus… a little bonus! 🥳

Everyone who signs up for a Product Seller Spotlight will receive a FREE VIP Ticket to the 2026 Product Seller Summit (value $27) when doors open at the end of March.

If you want your products in front of your fellow product sellers during Summit week, this is a really fun, aligned way to do it.

There are only 20 spots available, and once they’re filled, that’s it for this round.

Claim your Product Seller Spotlight here. 

Important: This Spotlight is only for physical product sellers only.

Once you sign up, you’ll receive an email with a short intake form to fill out that is due by March 15, 2026.  Easy-peasy!

I’m so excited to highlight some amazing shops during Summit week… More details on the Summit and our amazing speaker line-up coming soon!

If you’ve ever looked at your affiliate program and thought,  “Why isn’t this thing actually making any sales for me?” you are so not alone.

Most product sellers with an affiliate program that’s not bringing in sales assume the problem is their affiliates:

“They’re not posting.”
“They don’t share enough.”
“They’re not sending traffic.”

The biggest reason affiliate programs don’t produce sales… isn’t the affiliates.

The problem is… you.

{Please know I say this with so much love.} 

But truthfully, chances are you aren’t putting in enough effort with your affiliate program, and the issues that are keeping your program from generating sales can be fixed with a little attention from you {or from me!}

Let’s break down the most common reasons your affiliate program has stalled, and what you can do to turn it around quickly.

1. Broken or inconsistent tracking

If your tracking link isn’t firing correctly, or if you have multiple systems layered on top of each other, your affiliates will not earn commissions consistently.

Even one missed sale can destroy trust.

Here’s the fix:
Audit your tracking setup and check for:

• Duplicate code
• Outdated pixels
• Conflicting apps
• Links that redirect too many times
• Coupon codes not mapped to the right partner
  

Affiliates perform better when they trust your system. Without working tracking, nothing else matters.

2. No onboarding experience (aka your affiliates don’t know what to do)

If your onboarding email says nothing more than “Here’s your link – share any time!”… they won’t.

New affiliates need direction, clarity, and confidence.

Here’s the fix:
A solid onboarding includes:

• A welcome email that gets them excited
• A quick-start guide
• A plug-and-play promo plan
• Social graphics or templates
• A short explanation of how they earn

Affiliates promote more when you make the first step easy.

3. No promotional strategy (you’re hoping they “just share”)

If the only marketing plan for your affiliates is “post whenever you want”, your program will inevitably go silent.

Affiliates need:

• Themes
• Campaign dates
• Product focuses
• New arrivals
• Seasonal angles
• Conversion-driving content
  

Here’s the fix:
Build simple monthly prompts and campaigns that give affiliates a clear direction on what to promote right now.

4. No communication = no momentum

If the last email your affiliates got was the day they joined… they’ve forgotten about you.

Affiliates follow energy, direction, and connection.

Here’s the fix:

You don’t need to email them constantly (although, at a minimum, you do need to send a monthly newsletter). Here’s what else I’d include:

• A “campaign of the month”
• Fresh graphics
• Reminders around launches + promos

If you don’t stay top-of-mind, your product won’t either.

5. No motivation, prizes, or celebrations

People love incentives.  Even tiny ones.  If your program feels quiet, transactional, or uninspired, your affiliates will show up the same way.

Here’s the fix:

Add in:

• Monthly spotlights
• Small giveaways
• “Top affiliate of the month”
• Bonus commission opportunities
• Shareable wins

Celebration creates momentum, and that momentum creates sales.

So… how do you fix all this without spending months rebuilding everything?

This is exactly why I created my Affiliate Program Makeover Sessions, a fast, hands-on way to fix what’s not working and activate the affiliates you already have.

During your Makeover Session, we will:

✨ Audit your tech + tracking
✨ Clean up your setup inside Awin, GoAffPro, Refersion, or whatever system you use
✨ Create a simple onboarding flow your affiliates will actually follow
✨ Build your next 30–90 days of affiliate campaigns
✨ Re-energize your program with easy-to-implement motivation strategies

By the end, you’ll walk away with a fully refreshed affiliate program designed to actually bring in sales – without needing to recruit more partners.

If your program has gone quiet (or never got off the ground because you may or may not have ghosted it), I’d love to help you fix it.

Click here to book your Affiliate Program Makeover Session.

1. Send a 2-line “Want to share this?” DM to past customers
   Something simple like: “Hey! I’m running a Black Friday sale next week… want a quick link/code so you can earn on any sales you send my way?”
   (Past customers make the BEST affiliates last minute.)
   
   
2. Create a fast VIP affiliate code
   Offer affiliates an extra 5–10% off code for their audience during the sale window. It feels exclusive and makes them more willing to share, because their audience is more likely to buy with a larger discount.
   
   
3. Give affiliates a ready-to-copy caption
   Always keep things super simple for your affiliates… Send them one caption and one image they can use instantly to promote your Black Friday Sale. Make it easy and they’ll actually post it.
   
   
4. Record a 15-second product demo video
   Upload it to Google Drive or Canva and tell affiliates they can use it in Reels/TikToks to promote the sale.  Again, the key here is to make things super easy for your affiliates.
   
   
5. Make a “Best Sellers to Promote” list
   Recommend 2–3 items that convert best so affiliates know where to focus for maximum commissions.
   
   
6. Offer a fast “sell 1 thing, get a free gift” challenge
   They don’t need weeks of prep, and everyone loves a fun incentive to jump in quickly.  Offering them a free gift if they make a sale incentivizes them to promote asap!
   
   
7. Create 3 story slides they can screenshot
   A simple “Swipe up and shop the Black Friday sale!” graphic is perfect for last-minute promo.  Give your affiliates a few story slides they can easily use.
   
   
8. Send a voice note to top customers who are on social
   Personal invites convert like crazy:  “Hey! I’d love to give you a link to earn a little fun money during my Black Friday sale… want me to set it up?”
   
   
9. Run a 48-hour micro “Affiliate Flash Push”
   Let affiliates know that any sales they generate during the biggest sale window go into a fun drawing (gift card, free product, huge discount, etc.).
   
   
10. Highlight one affiliate on your stories to inspire others
    “Shoutout to Jess for sharing the sale today! Her link already brought in 3 sales!”  Social proof = instant motivation for more affiliates to jump in.  And then include a link for people to sign up for your affiliate program!

🤓 If you don’t have an affiliate program yet, I can help you with that ASAP.  Book your Tech Setup Session here.

🖤 Already have an affiliate program? Use the above strategies to get your affiliates promoting your Black Friday Sale this coming week!  And if you want to really knock your Black Friday Sale out of the park. I’ve created these Partner Your Way to Profits templates to help you save time, reduce stress, and get results this Black Friday with your affiliate partners!

✨ Looking for other ways to promote your product-based business?  Come join us inside The Product Seller Community!

Feel free to DM me on Insta with any questions you might have about working with affiliate partners this Black Friday!

I don’t know about you, but May is BUSY.  I know my mom and dad friends are prepping for all the end of the school year chaos, I’ve got a niece that’s graduating, Mother’s Day is next weekend, and summer vacays will be starting soon.

What this means for us as business owners is that our audiences might not be glued to their phones and online shopping quite like they were in Q1.

But that doesn’t mean your product sales have to take a dip.

Here are 3 simple, strategic ways to boost your sales in May, without launching something new, having to post on Instagram 24/7, or reinventing your entire business.

1. Team Up With Affiliates to Sell for You 🤝

I will never not encourage you to work with affiliates.  Why?  Because one of the fastest ways to get more eyes on your products is to let other people share them for you.

Affiliate partners – like customers, creators, or brand friends – can promote your products to their audience and earn a small commission for every sale.

The best part? You only pay them when a sale happens.

Pro Tip: If you’ve been meaning to start an affiliate program but the tech has you stuck… I offer done-for-you affiliate tech setups so you can get started stress-free. All the details are here.

2. Run a Limited-Time Promotion ⏰

You don’t need a big, blowout sale. A little urgency goes a long way.

Try:

• A 2-day free shipping window if you’re selling physical products.
• A “May Mystery Deal” bundle
• A bonus gift with orders over $40
  

These offers work especially well when tied to a date (like Mother’s Day or Memorial Day weekend).

Just give your audience a reason to buy now instead of “maybe later.”

3. Re-Engage Your Existing Customers 👯‍♀️

Your current and past customers are your best sales opportunity – and they’re often just waiting for a little nudge.

This month, try one of these:

• Send a “We Miss You” email with a small discount
• Offer early access to a new product
• Reward repeat buyers with a small thank-you gift or points boost if you use a loyalty app like Smile.io

You don’t always need more people. You just need to warm up the ones who already love what you do.

May doesn’t have to be a slow month for your business. 🤓

Even if your audience is distracted by sunshine and school schedules, there are ways to meet them where they are, and still make meaningful sales.

Whether you bring on a few affiliates, try a flash promo, or reconnect with past customers, small actions can lead to big results.

Need help setting up the backend of your affiliate program or planning your May affiliate strategy?

Let’s chat – I’ve got tech setup sessions open this month.  Reach out with any questions you might have!