Instagram Content Now Searchable on Google: What It Means for Small Business Owners in 2025

Hey there, my friend, welcome to episode 353 of the Small Business Made Simple Podcast.

Thanks for leading me your ears right now – I know you have lots of other things you could be doing or listening to – so I appreciate you.  For those who are loyal listeners, deep apologies for the lateness of this podcast, for those who are new listeners – welcome, great to have you here!

This week, Instagram made a BIG change to our lives – and possibly to the visibility of our business, our expertise and certainly our content.

Instagram and google have jumped in bed together! In other words, all public content from a professional Instagram account is now eligible to appear in Google search results. Yep – that’s right – your insta posts, Reels, videos and carousels can now pop up on Google – without someone need to even open the Instagram app!

Does that excite you? Maybe, Maybe not? I’ll give the pros and cons in this episode and then ask that question again at the end!

But before we get into my chat with Zoe Simmons, who is one of my speakers at my 2025 Social Media and Marketing Conference. If you didn’t get a chance to listen to that one, take a listen – episode 349 – www.socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/352

Speaking of the 2025 Social Media and Marketing Conference – do you have your ticket as yet? You can get tickets here – https://www.socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/conference and check out where to stay, the speakers, schedule, ability to get more involved by getting into the goodie bags and so much more – just on one webpage!

Love to spend the day with you! You might learn even more than you do listening to me every week!

Okay, so let’s get into what this change or possible change to your content means for your business.

It could mean a massive opportunity for visibility. But on the other – for some, it’s a little bit like someone turning on the house lights when you thought you were only dancing in the lounge room!

So, let’s break it down:

• What’s happening
• Why it matters
• Pros and cons

What you need to do now (yep, some simple action steps coming your way)

So, grab a cuppa, or pop those headphones in while you’re walking the dog, and let’s dive into what could be a game changer for your business visibility.

What’s Happening?

As of 10 July 2025, Instagram and Google are teaming up. This means:

• If you’ve got a professional Instagram account,
• And your posts are public,
• Your content (images, Reels, videos, and carousels) can now be found directly in Google search results.

Instagram has confirmed that no personal posts or private accounts will be affected. So, yes, you still have control.

Pros (the sparkly bits):

1. More Visibility, No Extra Work

Your posts can reach people outside of Instagram – hello, Google traffic!

2. SEO Boost Without a Blog

If you don’t blog (or do it inconsistently), this is your chance to boost SEO through social content.

3. Great for Evergreen Content

Got posts that answer common questions or showcase your product brilliantly? They can live longer through search!

4. Local Search Opportunities

Google is smart – if you’re using location tags or local keywords, you could show up for people in your area.

Cons (the “eep” bits):

1. Old Posts Could Resurface

That dodgy carousel from 2020? It might pop up in search unless you clean up your grid.

2. You’ll Need to Think About Captions Differently

Keywords matter now – just like blogs or web pages. Time to write for humans and search engines.

3. Increased Scrutiny

More eyeballs (hello, Google!) mean more pressure to look polished and professional – potentially or not really but for some perhaps.

So, what do you do? Here’s where I think you should start:

1. Audit Your Feed

Go through old posts and archive (not delete – do not delete – just archive) anything that doesn’t align with your current brand or messaging.

2. Write Smarter Captions

Use searchable keywords (think: what would someone type into Google to find this post?). Still be YOU – but think “caption meets blog”. You should already be thinking about this when doing your Instagram anyway – people are still searching on Instagram with keywords- so this should be a thing you already do, but you might need to up the ante on the strategy.

3. Use Alt Text

Instagram lets you add alt text to your images – this helps both accessibility and search engine indexing. I definitely need to get better and more consistent with this one – so this one was a reminder for me!

4. Update Your Bio

Make sure your Instagram profile clearly states who you are, what you do, and where you are – because that bio might be someone’s first Google click. Not sure about your bio – get in touch. I can do a quick and FREE bio audit for you – just DM me, email etc and I am more than happy to do this for you – no strings attached!

5. Add Location Tags

Especially for service-based or local product businesses – location tagging helps Google show you in local search results.

6. Batch Your Keywords

Think about a handful of phrases or keywords your customers search for (e.g., “eco-friendly candles Australia”, “wedding photographer Mildura”) and weave those into your captions.

7. Don’t Panic, Plan

This isn’t an overnight make-or-break. But it is a great moment to tidy things up and be more strategic.

This update might feel a bit big and scary – but honestly? It’s giving small businesses a seat at the big SEO table. You don’t need a blog or fancy website tweaks to start showing up on Google. You just need to use the content you’re already making – just a bit smarter.

And if you’re unsure where to begin – start by picking five of your best posts and give them an SEO-friendly refresh.

Have you Googled your own Instagram handle lately? Give it a try and see what shows up! Then come tell me in the Like Minded Business Owners Facebook Group – I want to hear what’s popping up!

And if you’re ready to get serious about your social media strategy in this new searchable world – book a power session with me. I’ll help you make your content sparkle like the star you are.

Is it opt-in or opt-out?
By default, it’s opt-in. If your account is set to public and you’re a professional account, your content is eligible to show up in Google search. If you don’t want this, you’ll need to switch off the visibility in your Instagram settings or make your account private.

Still feeling a bit unsure? You’re already creating great content – now it just has the chance to work harder for you without YOU working harder – so that’s got to be a great thing, right?

Think of this as Instagram finally sending your content to do a bit of overtime. You don’t have to work harder – your posts will. Your content doesn’t just exist for your current followers – now it can go out and find new ones.

So, for those asking, Will this change bring more Instagram followers? Or just more content visibility?

Short answer:

It’s likely to increase your content visibility far more than it will grow your follower count — at least initially.

Here’s the breakdown:

What will happen:

Your posts can now appear in Google when someone searches for keywords related to your business, products, location, or services.

This means people who have never heard of you can stumble across your content.

You may see a boost in website clicks, product discovery, or direct messages if your content is compelling and clickable.

What might not happen (automatically):

Viewers who find your post via Google may not click through to follow you, especially if they just wanted quick info or a visual answer.

Google doesn’t currently send users into the Instagram app with an auto-follow — that’s still a conscious decision someone would need to make once they land on your profile.

So how do you turn visibility into followers?

Here’s where you bring in your business-savvy marketing brain:

Tips to turn Google views into Instagram followers:

Make your profile bio brilliant

Your bio should instantly tell people:

• What you do
• Who you help
• Where you are
• What to do next (aka call-to-action!)

Have a strong content theme or visual hook

If your feed is scroll-stopping and clearly on-brand, you’re more likely to convert viewers into followers.

Use strong CTAs in your posts

Say things like:

• “Follow for more tips on [your niche]”
• “We share weekly inspo for [your audience]”
• “Love this? Tap follow to see more”

Create content that solves a problem or answers a question

That’s what people Google. If you answer their question well in a post, they’ll be more inclined to follow you for more.

Optimise your handle and name field for search

For example:

@JaneSmith_Designs

Name field: “Interior Designer | Melbourne”

= more searchable, more relatable, more follow-worthy.

Final thoughts:

Think of this change like getting a billboard on a busy highway.

People will see your content more, yes – but whether they follow you is down to how compelling your brand presence is when they arrive.

So, will it skyrocket your followers overnight? Probably not.

But will it supercharge the chances of being found, liked, clicked and followed?

Absolutely – if you optimise your content and bio for conversion.

So, what’s your thoughts? Does this update from Instagram excite you now?

Any thoughts or ideas or concerns, you know how to reach me!

Before I go – another plug for my conference – The link to get your ticket is https://www.socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/conference – Early Bird Tickets for $199 won’t be on sale for much longer. So, get your ticket today!

PS – if you want to do a payment plan for the $199 – that’s 100% fine – just get in touch and we can arrange that for sure.

Thanks for tuning in.

If you’re enjoying this podcast, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode and share this with a friend.  And maybe leave me a rating and a review wherever you listen in.  Those things are like gold for podcasters like me!  PS – you can leave more than one rating and review – just saying!

If we aren’t hanging out on social media then let’s get social on social – you’ll find me on Instagram, Facebook, and my fav LinkedIn.

But whatever you do,

…….. remember small business peep, as my opening song says, there’s no point in dreaming small!

What People Also Ask (Google FAQ-style):

Q: Is Instagram content now visible on Google search?
Yes, from July 10, 2025, public posts from professional Instagram accounts are eligible to show up in Google search results.

Q: Can I opt out of having my Instagram posts appear on Google?
Yes, this feature is opt-in by default. You can opt out by adjusting your Instagram professional settings or switching your account to private.

Q: Will being searchable on Google grow my Instagram followers?
This update primarily increases content visibility. Gaining followers depends on your bio, calls to action, and how engaging your content is.

Q: What should I do to optimise my Instagram for Google search?
Update your bio, use keywords in captions, add alt text, tag locations, and audit your old content to align with your brand and messaging.

Q: How can small business owners benefit from Instagram appearing on Google?
It’s a visibility boost without extra content creation. It gives your posts a second life through Google search, helping attract new leads.