Instagram’s Latest Update Could Boost Your Visibility, If You Know How to Use It
- Amanda Hughes
- Jul 10
- 3 min read
Instagram just made a BIG move and if you're a small business owner trying to get seen online, this one’s worth paying attention to.
From 10th July 2025, your public Instagram posts (if you’re using a professional account) will now be eligible to show up in Google, Bing, and other search engines.
Yip, you read that right.
Your Reels, carousels, and even single-image posts might start showing up when someone searches for what you offer… even if they’ve never been on Instagram and even if they don't currently follow you!
This is a huge shift, one that could work in your favour, if you know how to take advantage of it.
Let’s break it down 👇
What’s the Instagram SEO Update All About?
If you have a public business or creator account and are over 18, your Instagram content can now be indexed by search engines like Google and Bing.
That means your content could show up in search results alongside websites, YouTube videos, and blog posts.
This includes:
Feed posts
Reels
Carousels
Video posts
This update does not include:
Stories
Private accounts
Personal profiles
Content from users under 18
Posts published before 2020
Why It Matters for Small Business Owners
If you’ve ever felt like Instagram is a hamster wheel, you post, hope for likes, and maybe get a few DMs but nothing major, this change could finally let your content work harder for you.
Here’s what this could mean for your business:
🌱 More visibility: Your posts can now show up on Google, not just inside the Instagram app
⏳ Longer content life: A Reel you post today could still be bringing traffic months from now
📍 Local discovery: A search like “yoga classes in Ayrshire” or “bespoke baby gifts London” could bring up your content
📈 Traffic you didn’t pay for: No ads. Just good content, optimised well.
But, here’s the kicker, you won’t magically show up in search just because you posted. Search engines still need the right signals to know what your post is about.
That’s where SEO comes in.
How to Make Your Instagram Content More Search-Friendly
Here’s what you can start doing today:
✅ Use clear, descriptive keywords in your captions→ Think like your ideal client. What would they search for if they were looking for someone like you?
✅ Add alt text to your images and carousels→ Not just for accessibility—it tells Google what’s in the image.
✅ Include location keywords if you’re local→ Don’t just write “wedding photographer” — write “wedding photographer in Glasgow”
✅ Post from a professional (public) account→ Only business and creator accounts over 18 with public profiles are eligible
✅ Be consistent with your niche→ Random posts about your cat won’t help you rank for “copywriter for coaches” 😉
But... What Should You Actually Write in Your Captions or Alt Text?
This is where most small business owners get stuck.
What counts as a keyword?
Should you write for Google or your followers?
What if you sell products and offer a service?
That’s exactly why I created a brand new resource for you👇
This guide breaks down exactly what’s changing, why it matters, and, most importantly, how to make it work for your small business.
✅ Inside You’ll Get:
A clear, jargon-free explanation of the update
Step-by-step instructions to optimise your posts
Examples of what keywords and alt text actually look like
A quick-start checklist you can action today
Swipeable caption & alt-text ideas for both product + service-based businesses
Whether you feel overwhelmed by SEO or just want someone to tell you what to do, this guide was made for you.
Perfect for:
Small business owners, creators, makers, and service providers who want more visibility without spending more time on social media
📥 Download instantly after checkout and start making your content Google-ready today
💬 FREE for members of Get Seen Get Sales: The Social Media Mentorship
✨ Created by award-winning social media mentor Amanda Hughes, host of an Apple Top 30 podcast and Amazon #1 bestselling author
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