5 Ways to Capitalize on Instagram’s July 2025 Update

Instagram just made a move that could be a game changer for small businesses and personal brands that are trying to grow their audience online: Instagram Reels are now being indexed by Google.

That means your content, captions, and video can now show up on Google when someone searches your name, your business, or services you offer.

If that sounds huge, that’s because it is!

Have you noticed that Reddit posts, even those that are years old, seem to pop-up more and more at the top of your Google searches? Well, starting July 2025, Instagram will join the fray. According to bemysocial.com Instagram will be including content from as far back as 2020.

If you are looking to maximize this opportunity, here are 5 ways to make the most of this new visibility:

1. Make Sure Your Account Is Public, Searchable, and Permitted to Index

Private profiles will immediately be omitted from search results. Ensure that you have a searchable, public profile that anyone can find.

You can then go to your Instagram settings and make sure you allow search engines like Google to show your profile and content in their results.

Banana Bread Media Co, Raleigh Hood and Tina Thomas (Owner of TinaTakeMyPhoto), creating content for professionals on Instagram.

2. Treat Instagram Reels Like Google Content — Not Just Social Posts

Think of your Instagram Reels like unique landing pages. If someone finds your video in a Google search, what will they learn?

When they visit your profile, what will they see?

Is there a clear call to action or way to contact you?

Make sure you're offering value with your content. Highlight your differentiating factors, answer common questions, or show something useful that encourages viewers to follow you for more.

3. Add Targeted Keywords to Captions, Audio, and On-Screen Text

Every word you type, caption, and potentially speak can be factored into the algorithm. Use the same words your potential customers might use when searching on Google.

Most people search in plain verbiage:

“Richmond home inspector”

“Best brunch spots near Short Pump”

“Tips for buying a house in Virginia on a budget”

Don’t overthink it, simply use as many targeted keywords as you can while stilll maintaining your own voice.

4. Prioritize Posting Original Content

This should come as no surprise to anyone who knows Banana Bread Media Co’s story. Authentic, original content is the foundation of what we offer.

The fact is that, now more than ever, reposting other creators' stuff or relying too heavily on templates just won't perform as highly as well received, original ideas.

Reels that show you, your voice, your ideas, and your face, will now do more than get likes. They'll build trust with potential customers before you ever say a word.

5. Focus on the “Share-Worthy Moments”, Not Filler Content

Instagram’s updated algorithm is pushing content that gets saved and rewatched, not just the latest thing you posted.

That means quality > quantity.

One crafted video, that even your “haters” want to save for later, can outperform five or more rushed pieces of content.

In a social media landscape that is constantly evolving and searching for new trends, original ideas can garner big engagement with minimal effort.

The Takeaways

If you’ve been dragging your feet on making video content, this is the sign you’ve been waiting for.

Users can now reliably generate the impact of a traditional ad campaign, organically, simply by showing up with something real to say.

This is great news for anyone that has been investing in quality content for years, as Raleigh talks about in his own Instagram Reel from earlier this month.

If you are looking for more on this topic, our creative partner Tina Thomas (Owner of TinaTakeMyPhoto), made a reel of her own that breaks down all this and more.

If YOU want to capitalize on this change, but don’t know where to start, contact Banana Bread Media Co. at hellobbmco@gmail.com

We’re a Richmond, VA, based content creation team that can help you reach more customers by generating your own bananas content.