Since July 10, 2025, Instagram has taken a major step forward by becoming a true SEO channel. This is a significant evolution that offers businesses a new opportunity to improve their visibility on search engines… provided they know how to adapt. Let’s break it down.
A game-changing update
Until now, Instagram content remained confined to the platform. But Meta’s latest update marks a turning point: posts from public business accounts, published since 2020, are now indexable by search engines like Google or Bing.
This means that your Reels, carousels, photos, or videos can now appear in search results outside of Instagram. A well-crafted Instagram post can now boost your organic visibility, just like an optimized web page.
📌 Note: Stories, comments, and content from private accounts are not included in this indexing.
What does it mean for businesses?
This evolution transforms Instagram into a strategic channel for organic search optimization (SEO). Here’s what it changes:
- Greater visibility on Google: Your posts can now appear in search results, especially in the “Short Videos” or “Images” sections.
- A new source of traffic: You can now generate traffic to your Instagram profile or website directly from search engines.
- Increased value for visual content: An Instagram post becomes an entry point to your brand, just like a blog article or a product page.
- Stronger local competitiveness: For local businesses and artisans, this improves your visibility in geo-targeted search results.
Best practices to take advantage of this update
To make your Instagram posts truly contribute to your SEO strategy, here are a few essential tips:
1. Use a public business account
Make sure your account is set to public and that indexing is enabled in your privacy settings.
2. Craft SEO-friendly captions
Think of your caption as a mini SEO content:
- Put keywords at the beginning of the caption,
- Write a clear, relevant, and structured message,
- Avoid hashtag stuffing.
3. Add alternative text (alt text)
Alt text helps describe your visuals to make them both accessible and searchable. Don’t skip it!
4. Prioritize engaging formats
Reels and carousels are particularly favored in search results. Focus on short, attractive, and well-subtitled content.
5. Post regularly
As with traditional SEO, consistency is a positive signal for algorithms. One well-optimized post per week can be enough to enhance your presence.
In conclusion
Instagram is no longer just a social network — it’s now a strategic visibility tool within your digital ecosystem. This change offers professionals an opportunity to make their visual content more long-lasting, discoverable, and SEO-effective.
👉 Start applying these best practices today to boost your online presence and reach new customers through search engines.