Your Instagram Posts Can Now Appear on Google: Here’s How to Make It Work for Your Business

Instagram just got a major SEO upgrade. Starting July 10, 2025, Google is officially indexing public Instagram content from business and creator accounts, meaning your posts, Reels, and carousels could start showing up in Google search results.

This is big news for small business owners. For years, your Instagram content was essentially locked inside the app. Now it can work much harder for you, showing up when customers search on Google, not just when they’re scrolling.

In this blog, we’ll explain what this update means, who it affects, how you can take advantage of it, and the consequences of ignoring it. We’ll also share tips on what to do next so your Instagram content works hand-in-hand with your SEO strategy.

Until now, Instagram used technical blocks like robots.txt and noindex tags to stop search engines from indexing most content. That meant your content lived only inside the Instagram platform.

But as of July 10, 2025, Google can now crawl and index public posts from professional accounts, which includes your business page. So, when someone searches for topics related to your product or service, your Instagram content could show up on Google alongside your website, reviews, and more.

This change applies only to Instagram professional accounts (Business or Creator accounts). Here's the breakdown:

Your content can be indexed if:

• Your account is set up as a Business or Creator profile
• Your posts are public (not private or restricted)
• You’re over 18

Your content will not be indexed if:

• You use a personal Instagram account
• You’ve set your content to private
• You’re under 18 years of age

If you're unsure of your account type, go to your profile settings on Instagram and switch to a Professional Account under Account > Switch account type.

1. You’ll Reach More Than Just Your Followers

   • Previously, your posts were only seen by people following you or scrolling through hashtags. Now, they can appear when someone Googles your business name, a product you sell, or even local services, even if they don’t follow you on social media.

2. Longer Lifespan for Your Posts

   • Instagram posts typically fade from view after a few days. But once indexed on Google, they can keep driving traffic to your business for weeks or months, especially if they answer popular search queries.

3. A New Piece in Your SEO Strategy

   • Your website is no longer the only part of your business being crawled by Google. Your Instagram feed becomes an extension of your digital footprint, offering even more content that positions you as the expert in your niche.

If your Instagram account isn’t optimised, you might miss out on valuable visibility and traffic. Worse, content that doesn’t reflect your brand or is outdated could become part of your online presence, without context or explanation.

Head to your Instagram settings:

• Go to Privacy
• Tap Searchability
• Toggle on “Allow public photos and videos to appear in search engine results.”

• Add clear keywords to your bio, describing what you do and where you are
• Write caption text like you would a blog or web page with keywords your ideal client might be searching for
• Include location tags where relevant

Instagram allows you to manually write alt text for images, which helps Google understand what’s in them. This boosts accessibility and search visibility.

Review your past posts, especially anything that might not reflect your brand anymore. If it’s public, it could now be indexed.

Start thinking of Instagram as part of your search engine marketing strategy, not just your social media. Here’s how:

• Plan posts around keywords and frequently asked questions
• Share tips, advice, or insights people are already Googling
• Highlight your location, especially if you’re a local service-based business
• Encourage engagement, which can increase the visibility and value of your content

This update is part of a broader trend. AI search engines like Google SGE, Bing with Chat, and Perplexity AI are changing how people search and discover information.

These engines pull from a wide range of online sources, including blogs, reviews, and now Instagram, to answer questions. Businesses that only focus on their website risk being left behind. Those who embrace new visibility opportunities will be the ones who grow.

If you're unsure how to prepare your Instagram for search or want to make the most of this change, we're here to help.

At Bloomtools, we work with small business owners every day to improve visibility across all digital touchpoints, from Google and social media to AI-powered search tools.

If you need help with this and want to grow your presence on Google through smart SEO and AI search strategies, reach out to the Bloomtools team.

We’ll help you be found, be trusted, and be chosen.