Does Social Media Affect SEO?
“Does social media affect SEO?” – it’s one of those questions that is often asked of the team here at our Brisbane SEO (search engine optimisation) agency. And with good reason.
Every time the social platforms roll out a big update, it’s only natural that business owners start wondering if their posts, likes, and shares are influencing where they appear on Google.
The short version? Your Instagram followers or Facebook likes aren’t a direct ranking factor. Google isn’t secretly counting your social engagement and bumping you up the results page.
But social media is playing an increasingly important indirect role in SEO – and the latest Instagram update proves it.
Social Media and SEO: The Current Landscape
For years, Google has maintained that social media activity – things like your follower count or how many likes your post gets – isn’t a direct ranking factor. Social platforms like Facebook and X have always been treated like any other website in the eyes of Google.
Instagram was always a different kettle of fish. Its content was largely contained within the app and not indexed by external search engines – until July 10, 2025 when Meta announced that public posts from professional Instagram accounts can now appear in Google search results.
For businesses and creators, this means that your reels, carousels, and captions aren’t just content for your followers anymore. They’re now potential SEO assets – discoverable by a wider audience on Google. In other words, Instagram has officially joined the search party! 🥳
So, if you haven’t already, forget the hashtags – start weaving your keywords into your Instagram captions. Think of them like mini blog posts – descriptive, keyword-rich, and aligned with how your ideal audience might search.
How Social Media and SEO Work Together
While the Instagram update is exciting, the broader relationship between social media and SEO has always – and continues to be – about the indirect benefits.
Here’s how they connect:
- Drive traffic to your website. Sharing your latest blog or resource on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, or Pinterest can funnel more people to your site. More visits and engagement send strong signals to Google that your content is valuable.
- Dominate the search results page. When someone Googles your business, it’s not just your website that can show up – it’s also your social profiles. With Instagram posts now being indexed, you’ve got another chance to control the first page of search results and leave less room for competitors.
- Social media as a search engine. Platforms like YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn – and now, increasingly, Instagram – are being used as search engines in their own right. Optimising your content for these spaces increases your visibility – so you’ll want to use your keywords in all captions as well as in alt-text on your images and videos.
At the end of the day, both social media and SEO are great ways to boost your business online – and like any collaboration, there is much to be gained from working together.
At Front Page SEO, we find it extremely rewarding to help small businesses with their Search Engine Optimisation, while our good friends at Brisbane social media agency, Jayne Media, can help you to launch, establish and grow your social media platforms. Contact us today to find out more.