image: chatgpt
Instagram expanding its reach with google.
The number #1 question is – will this be a game changer for Professional Accounts’ visibility?
Instagram makes it easier for public photos and videos from professional accounts to be directly indexed by search engines such as Google.
With love,
Natasha x
Founder, Busy Goddess Marketing Co.
Let’s unpack what we know
Search engine indexing
PSA for all you Insta-loving legends: Instagram has started sliding into DMs (literally) to let professional users know that from July 10, search engines like Google and Bing will be able to show all your public photos and videos in search results. Yep – your content could be popping up way beyond the ‘Gram.
But hold your hashtags – before you dive headfirst into the drama or start second-guessing your strategy, there are a few very important details to keep in mind.
This update sounds like a game-changer (and it can be!), but it’s not a free-for-all. It’s time to get clear on what’s public, what’s private, and what this actually means for your brand visibility.
Stay tuned, boss babes – we’re unpacking it all.
An important change, but for public… and professional accounts
Insta is about to play nice with Google – and it’s kind of a big deal.
Starting July 10, your public content (yep, that gorgeous grid of yours) from professional accounts can be directly indexed by search engines like Google. Translation? Your posts, Reels, and videos might finally show up in search results outside the ’Gram.
Instagram has always been a bit of a walled garden – unless someone knew your exact @handle, your content stayed pretty cosy in-app. But now? The door’s swinging open.
So if you’ve been treating your Instagram like your digital portfolio or lead gen playground – good news: your visibility just got a juicy upgrade.
Hot tip: Make sure your profile is public, your content is polished, and your strategy is on point – because eyes beyond Insta are about to land on your brand.
Your public photos & videos may soon appear in search engine results
- From 10 July 2025, search engines will automatically be allowed to show all photos and videos on result pages
- This means that more people could discover content from your professional account outside of Instagram
- Change your preferences below now or later in account privacy settings
On its official site
explains
- The account owner is over 18 years of age.
- The account is currently public.
- It is currently a professional account.
Once an account meets the criteria for search engine indexing, all photos and videos of public posts and reels it has published may be indexed (including those published before turning 18)”.
On its official site, Instagram now explains that “when third-party search engines index content, they can display it in their search results to anyone on the internet. Meta does not own or control any third-party search engines. Such engines and other people accessing your content through search engine results can use your information at their own discretion.
Generally speaking, Instagram requests that search engines like Google and Microsoft Bing do not index photos and videos from stories, reels, posts, and highlights of the users. However, we allow search engines to index public photos and videos of posts and reels posted or published after January 1, 2020, for accounts that currently meet all the following criteria:
How to disable indexing
Of course, there may be cases of professional accounts that do not wish to enjoy this enhanced visibility in search engines. To avoid this, Instagram offers three options.
In any case, Instagram warns that the measure may not be immediate: “These third-party engines may take some time to re-index your content and suppress it from the public photo and video search results, even if you delete your account. Your profile information, including your username, profile photo, and bio information, could continue to appear in the search results of third-party engines”.
- Go to the account’s privacy settings to disable the capability for public photos and videos to appear in search engine results.
- Set the account as private.
- Change the account settings from professional to personal.
relevant turning point
For Brands
This new level of Insta-openness? Oh honey, maybe this is a major moment for creators and biz babes alike.
Imagine this: you run a fashion label, and suddenly your latest “dreamy wedding dress in Paris” post is showing up in Google Images without lifting a finger. Or you’re a travel queen dropping Reels from Bali, and now your content pops up when someone Googles “best sunsets Uluwatu”. That’s right — real, qualified traffic coming straight from the search bar to your IG.
BUT NOW, LET US SPECULATE A LITTLE…
We do not know how this change will impact SEO until we see it in action, but it is likely that for many businesses and influencers, it will represent a new source of visibility they will not want to give up. In this context, optimizing one’s own posts on Instagram to achieve the greatest possible visibility in Google search results will start to play a crucial role.
01
Keywords in descriptions and biography:
Including relevant keywords in post descriptions will become very important, as well as alternative image texts and, concisely, in the profile biography.
02
QUALITY CONTENT
We know that (theoretically) Google prioritizes useful and high-quality content. Instagram posts that offer real value to users (recipes, tutorials, information, inspiration) should have more chances of ranking well.
03
REELS AND ORIGINAL CONTENT:
The short video format (Reels) continues to be preferred by Instagram’s algorithm, and now, its visibility potential on Google is amplified. The originality of content will also be key.
And what about personal accounts
While this heads-up is mainly aimed at professional accounts, it’s definitely sparked some panic among everyday users worried their selfies might start trending on Google. But here’s the tea: Google’s already been able to show Instagram profiles and public posts in search results for years — this isn’t entirely new.
What is new (as of July 10) is that all content from public + professional + over-18 accounts could now show up more directly — Reels, vids, the lot.
If you’re a personal user and not vibing with the idea of your brunch pics or dance breaks becoming search engine stars, you can totally opt out.
Here’s how:
Settings > Account Privacy > Disable Search Engine Access
Easy, breezy, more control over your content.
JOIN THE SUCCESS
Let’s create something extraordinary together
Schedule a free consultation with me and let’s make things happen!
