Instagram posts are now searchable on Google
Instagram just broke out of its own walls, giving you a new way to get traffic on Instagram directly from Google Search.
If you want your content to appear, as Instagram posts are now searchable on Google, you need to treat your profile and posts with the same level of optimization as you would your website. As of July 10, 2025, Instagram announced that Google now officially indexes public posts, Reels, carousels, captions, alt text, and geo tags from Business and Creator accounts. That means your Instagram content can show up in Google search results for the exact keywords you use, turning your posts into valuable, searchable assets.
For small business owners, content creators, influencers, and entrepreneurs, who want to grow their business online, this is a huge game-changer. When optimized correctly, your posts can continue driving discovery months or even years after publishing.
Key Takeaways
Small business owners, content creators, and entrepreneurs now have a powerful new way to get traffic on Instagram. With Instagram posts now searchable on Google, your content can appear in front of people actively searching for the services, products, or expertise you offer, even if they’ve never visited your profile before. This means your Reels, carousels, and captions can work like evergreen assets, continuing to bring in leads directly from Google search long after you post them.
The potential is huge, but it also means you can’t rely on posting without a plan. If your Instagram account is not showing in Google search, it’s often because it’s not optimized for indexing. Using the right keywords, refining your alt text, and aligning your Instagram content strategy with your website SEO can turn every post into a strategic discovery point for your audience. In this article, we’ll walk you through the exact steps to make sure your Instagram is fully optimized for search so you can boost visibility, reach, and results.
How To Get Your Instagram Posts To Show Up in Google Search Engine Results Page
If you want your Instagram content to appear in Google search results, you need to treat your profile and posts with the same level of optimization as you would your website. This isn’t just about looking good in the feed, it’s about making your content visible, searchable, and relevant to the people looking for it.
Think of it this way:
Your reels act as individual search results.
Your captions are your SEO keywords.
Your Instagram profile is also searchable and functions as a traffic source, driving visitors the way a website does.
Google determines how to index and rank your posts by analyzing multiple elements such as: captions, hashtags, alt text, account metadata (like your bio and location), and even public comments. At this stage, only Professional accounts (business or creator profiles) belonging to users over 18 are eligible to be indexed.
If you allow other users to remix your content on Instagram, those remixed versions can also be indeed and appear in Google search results, which gives your content additional reach.
While search engines have indexed other social media platforms for years, this is a first for Instagram, and it opens the door for your content to live well beyond the 24–48 hours of typical feed visibility. With the right strategy, your posts can now act as long-term, searchable assets that keep working for you long after you publish them.
Why This Matters for Your Business
Billions of searches happen on Google every day. Now, your Instagram posts can appear in those search results for topics relevant to your business. This means people can find you through Google, click to your Instagram profile, and become potential clients, without ever visiting your website. For a small business, that’s huge. It means your social content isn’t just fleeting in a feed, it can become a discoverable, evergreen asset that keeps bringing new eyes (and potential clients) to your brand long after you’ve hit post. Here’s what this really opens up:
Your Instagram Becomes a Search Tool
Your Instagram content can now drive traffic, inquiries, and sales directly from Google Portfolio. A great post today could be the reason someone finds and hires you months from now.
Longer Shelf Life for Posts
Indexed posts can show up in search results for weeks or even months after you publish them.
Instagram SEO is Now Real
Treat every post like it’s part of your search strategy. Use clear, relevant keywords in captions, add descriptive alt text, and include location tags when they’re relevant.
How to Optimize Your Instagram for Google Search
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown to get your Instagram account ready for Google Search:
1. Switch to the Right Account Type
Switch your profile to a public Business or Creator account and, in Account Privacy, enable Search Engine Indexing so Google can access your content.
2. Use Keywords Strategically
Update your bio, captions, and alt text with clear, relevant keywords your ideal clients actually search for, and add location tags when geography matters.
3. Treat Posts Like Mini Blog Articles
For Reels and carousels, use a simple headline on screen, reinforce it in the caption, and keep the message focused.
4. Write Custom Alt Text
Write alt text for your images that accurately describes the content and includes your primary keyword naturally.
5. Audit and Refresh Your Feed
Archive outdated or off-brand posts, and update high-performing content with stronger captions and keywords.
6. Integrate Instagram Into Your SEO Plan
Embed posts in blogs, link them in newsletters, and make sure the keywords you use on Instagram align with your website SEO Strategy.
7. Post Consistently
Keep a steady posting rhythm so there’s a consistent flow of quality content for Google to index and for people to discover.
How to Align Your SEO Strategy with Your Instagram Content
To get the most out of this update, your Instagram content strategy should work hand-in-hand with your overall SEO plan. When your website and Instagram target the same core keywords and themes, you create multiple touch points for people to find you, whether they start on Google or scroll through Instagram.
Start with your keyword list
Identify the primary and secondary keywords you’re targeting on your website. These might be service-specific (“branding agency for coaches”), location-based (“wedding photographer in Austin”), or topic-focused (“how to improve social media engagement”). Use these same keywords in your Instagram captions, bio, and alt text so Google sees a consistent brand message across platforms.
Plan content around what your audience is searching for
Use keyword research tools, Google Search Console, and Instagram insights to find the topics and questions your audience cares about. Create educational posts that answer those questions, think “how-to” guides, industry tips, or trend breakdowns. This type of content not only builds trust but also positions your Instagram as a valuable resource in search results.
Keep topics consistent across channels
If you publish a blog post on your website, create complementary Instagram content, Reels, carousels, or graphics, that cover the same topic from a visual or bite-sized perspective. Link them together through cross-promotion so you reinforce your authority on that subject.
Think long-term
When you align keywords and topics between your website and Instagram, you’re building a library of content that works together to increase visibility, strengthen brand authority, and bring in the right audience over time.
Instagram Google Search FAQs
1. Can Instagram posts be found on Google now?
Yes. Public posts, Reels, carousels, captions, alt text, and geo tags from Business and Creator accounts can now appear in Google search results. Private accounts, Stories, and Highlights are excluded.
2. How do I optimize my Instagram content for Google Search?
Use a public Business or Creator account with Search Engine Indexing enabled. Add keywords to your bio, captions, and alt text. Use location tags where relevant and treat posts like mini blog articles with clear headlines and focused captions.
3. Will hashtags and captions impact visibility in search results?
Captions have a bigger impact for Google indexing. Hashtags help inside Instagram, but keywords in captions, alt text, and bios matter most for search engines.
4. Is this change available globally or only in certain regions?
The rollout appears to be gradual. Check by Googling your Instagram handle or a unique caption to see if your posts appear.
5. Does this mean Instagram SEO is now a real thing?
Yes. Instagram optimization now affects Google search visibility, so align your Instagram SEO with your website SEO and post consistently.
Final Thoughts
Creating searchable content that enhances your website’s visibility and performance is all about your keyword strategy. Without optimizing your content in a way that’s tailored specifically to your audience, crafted to their exact needs, and uses high-impact keywords, your posts won’t be searchable on Google.
Interested in growing your online business through Search Engine Optimization? Explore our SEO services to see how we help founders rank #1 on Google and drive consistent traffic to their website.
References
Instagram Help Center. (n.d.). Search Engine Indexing on Instagram. Instagram.
Instagram Help Center. (n.d.). About Remixing on Instagram. Instagram.
Google Search Central. (n.d.). Control What’s Indexed by Google. Google Developers.
Search Engine Journal. (2023). Instagram Posts Can Now Appear in Google Search Results. Search Engine Journal.
Razorfish. (2023). Instagram is Now Searchable—Is Your Content Ready? Razorfish.
We’d love to hear from you
Contact us and let’s discuss how we can make your project shine.
janae brown
This article was written by Janae Brown, the Head of Marketing at Meraki Branding.
