If you’re a Brisbane business relying on Instagram to tell your story, there’s a brand new reason to get excited (and to sharpen up your captions).
From 10 July 2025, public Instagram posts from professional accounts can now get indexed by Google (and Bing, for the Bing lovers out there). That means your Reels, carousels, and even good old single-photo posts might turn up in someone’s Google search—without them even opening the Instagram app.
Why should you care?
This is a massive shift for local brands, freelancers, and anyone running a small business account. Until now, Instagram mostly played in its own backyard: “post here, be found here.” But now your Insta grid can boost your Google visibility, helping people find your business from a simple search.
For smaller brands and local operators, this is huge. Suddenly, you’ve got another way to show up right where people are looking for answers, without the need for deep blog posts or complex web pages.
Now your IG isn't just a gallery - it's a genuine part of your SEO game
How to Tap Into Social SEO (Without Losing Your Mind)
If “SEO” makes your eyes glaze over, don’t stress. You’re probably already halfway there. Here are some simple ways you can step up:
- Use keyword-rich captions — Think about what a customer might Google, not just catchy captions.
- Add alt text to every post — It helps Google (and Instagram) understand what you’re sharing, plus it’s great for accessibility.
- Tag your posts thoughtfully — Location and targeted hashtags work in your favour on both platforms.
- Answer real questions — Share content that directly answers what your customers are asking (“Where can I get dog training on Brisbane Southside?”).
Who needs to take action?
This change only applies to professional public accounts — BUSINESS or CREATOR accounts with public profiles, run by people over 18. If you don’t want your posts on Google, you can tweak your privacy settings.
If you’re a Saturday-brunch-and-cute-dog-pics-only kind of Instagram user, you’re safe.
Getting Ahead in the New (Searchable) Instagram
Ready to take it up a notch? Here’s what local businesses can do right now:
- Turn FAQs into quick Reels
- Post before/afters with specific, searchable captions
- Make your Instagram bio tight and loaded with your main offerings
- Use calls to action so people know what to do next
Remember, your next customer may find you from a Google search—landing directly on your Instagram post.
The way we search is changing. With this update, showing up on Google just got a whole lot simpler for small business. Want a hand with your social SEO strategy? Reach out and let’s get your content working harder in search.
