On July 10, 2025, Meta rolled out a game-changing update: all public posts—photos, videos, Reels—from professional Instagram and Facebook accounts can now be indexed by Google and other search engines (source).
This is a huge shift in how social content can drive traffic, boost visibility, and even impact your broader SEO strategy.
1. What This Means for SEO
Meta’s update isn’t just a social media change—it’s an SEO opportunity. Here’s how:
Expanded search real estate: Your public Instagram and Facebook posts can now appear in Google Image, video, and even standard search results—just like blog content or landing pages.
Evergreen visibility: Unlike a typical social post that disappears from your feed after a few days, indexed posts can drive traffic for months or even years.
Higher-intent search exposure: People searching on Google have high buying intent. If your Reel or image appears for searches like “how to unclog a drain” or “AC repair in Dallas,” that visibility is powerful.
2. Why Organic Social Is No Longer Optional
This update officially merges social strategy with SEO. Organic social media management is now critical—not just for engagement, but for search rankings. Here’s why:
Captions = SEO content: Descriptive, keyword-rich captions now help search engines understand what your content is about.
Alt-text is now a ranking signal: Custom alt-text on Instagram and Facebook is indexed and used by Google’s algorithms to determine relevance.
Public profile setup matters: Only public Professional accounts (Business or Creator) with indexing enabled can benefit from this update. If your setup isn’t right, you’re invisible to Google.
3. How to Optimize Your Social Content for SEO
If you’re investing in content, make sure it performs in both the feed and the search engine. Here’s how:
Use Descriptive Captions: Think of your captions as micro blog posts. Example: “We just completed a full electrical panel upgrade in San Antonio. Our licensed electricians specialize in safe, efficient upgrades tailored to your home’s needs.”
Add Custom Alt Text: Replace auto-generated alt-text with your own. Focus on describing the image with relevant search terms.
Verify Your Profile Settings: Ensure your Instagram and Facebook accounts are set to Public, marked as Business or Creator, and that you’ve enabled “Allow public photos and videos to appear in search engines.”
Create Evergreen Content: Share tutorials, service walkthroughs, and FAQs that are always relevant and likely to match user search intent.
4. Why Redesign Is Ahead of the Curve
At Redesign.co, we’re already helping clients stay ahead in this evolving landscape. Our social SEO approach includes:
Creating keyword-optimized captions and content designed for both user engagement and search visibility.
Managing profile settings, alt-text, and media formats to align with Meta’s indexing requirements.
Monitoring performance in both social platforms and Google Search Console.
Integrating social media into your full-funnel marketing strategy.
Final Take
Meta’s July 2025 update marks a major shift—organic social media is no longer optional if you want to compete in local and national search.
Instead of thinking of Instagram and Facebook as “just social,” it’s time to think of them as your next most important SEO assets.
Want to see how your current social strategy stacks up?
👉 Request a Free Marketing Audit and we’ll help you turn scrolls into search traffic—and search traffic into customers.