Your Reels?

Your posts?

Your captions with the perfectly timed dad jokes?

Yep. All of it. As of July 10th your Instagram content could be popping up on Google. Right next to blogs, business listings, and full-on websites.

Because the content you post on social isn’t just for social anymore – it’s for search.

So, if you’ve been phoning it in with your captions or skipping out on keywords and hashtags all along … this is your friendly nudge to take things up a notch.

Let’s talk about what’s happening and what to do about it.

LET’S GO DEEPER ⤵

Until now, people mostly found your Instagram posts through hashtags, the Explore page, or inside Facebook and Instagram.

But as of July 10, Instagram allowed Google to show your posts too. That means your Reels, photos, and videos can show up when someone searches on Google – even if they don’t follow you.

Here’s what you need:

• A business or creator account
• A public profile
• Be 18 or older
• And you post things like Reels, videos, or photos

If that’s you, your content can start showing up in Google search – but only if you turn on the setting.

There’s a small switch in your Instagram settings that makes this happen.

Go to Settings > Account > Privacy and look for the option that says “Allow public photos and videos to appear in search engine results.”

Some accounts already have it turned on. If not, flip the toggle and you’re good to go.

WHY IT MATTERS

Search is changing fast… especially with the onset of AI. Google still leads with over 63% of web traffic, but this could mark the beginning of social media and SEO finally coming together and playing nice.

When it comes to search, all the social media platforms are gaining ground and this new update will allow your content to live longer outside the Instagram app. 

What this means for you:

✔ More people can find your posts, even if they don’t follow you

✔ Your posts can stay useful longer, not just for a day or two

✔ You can show up when people search for help, not just when they scroll

✔ You might show up before your competitors when someone searches on Google

HOW TO PUT THIS INTO ACTION 🥊

Want to start showing up in Google search? Here’s what to do this week – with examples just for you.

✔ Turn on the setting

Go to Instagram > Settings > Account > Privacy and make sure “Allow public photos and videos to appear in search engine results” is switched ON.

✔ Update 3 of your top posts

Take a few posts that already did well and tweak the captions. Use words your audience might actually search.

Example: Instead of “Dream trip for the books,” say “Planned a 7-day Italy vacation for a couple from Chicago.”

✔ Create 1 new post that answers a real question

Think about what your clients ask all the time. Turn that into a Reel or carousel and use that exact question in the caption.

Example:

“What should I put in my email welcome series?”

“What’s the first step to selling my home?”

“Do I really need travel insurance?”

✔ Optimize your bio

Make sure your name and niche are clearly stated in your Instagram or LinkedIn profile. That helps Google (and people) know exactly what you do. We covered some best practices on how to do this in our May newsletter here.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Your Instagram posts aren’t just for your followers anymore – they can help new people find you through Google.

This is a big chance to get seen by the right people at the right time, just by showing up and answering the questions they’re already asking.

If you’re already posting, you’re halfway there.

Now it’s time to post with purpose… and let your content do the work for you.