Liam Walsh
Liam is a Co-Director at Intelligency and heads up the agency's Digital Intelligence & Paid Social activity. Over the last decade, he has worked with brands from the world of sports such as Premier League clubs to entertainment such as Channel 4 and Disney.
As of July 10, 2025, Instagram has taken a major step forward—public posts from professional accounts are now searchable on Google and other search engines. This means your Instagram content—photos, videos, Reels, and carousels—can appear directly in search results, expanding your visibility far beyond your followers. For brands and creators, this is a game-changer.
Instagram Content Is Now Web-Visible
If you have a business or creator account and are over 18, your public content is now eligible to appear in Google search results by default. This is controlled in your Instagram settings (Settings → Privacy → Allow public photos and videos to appear in search engine results). If you’d prefer your content to stay within Instagram only, you can turn this off at any time.
Why This Matters to Your Business
Your Instagram posts are no longer just social content—they’re now part of your online presence, just like your website or blog. The first line of your caption functions like a headline in Google search, and your alt text (image descriptions) helps search engines understand the content’s subject matter. Even your hashtags now help you appear in search results. In short, Instagram is becoming a new front door to your brand.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a client with an active Instagram presence, now is the time to think strategically. We’ll help you update your bios, polish captions with relevant keywords, and ensure your most important posts are pinned or highlighted. From now on, we’ll also be tracking how your Instagram content performs not just in the app, but in Google search, too.
This update means more ways for potential customers to discover your brand. It’s visibility you don’t want to miss—and we’re here to help you make the most of it.
