Why Romance Authors Should Care About Instagram SEO
Romance authors using Instagram to connect with readers need to be aware of a major update that rolled out in July 2025. Content from professional Instagram accounts is now being indexed by search engines like Google. That means your posts, Reels, carousels, and captions can show up in search results, even for people who don't follow you...yet.
If you’re strategic about how you post, this change can help new readers find you. Naturally, they'll then fall in love with your stories and stick around.
What Changed and Why It Matters
Historically, Instagram was a closed ecosystem. Your content lived inside the app, visible only to followers or those who stumbled across it. With this new change, public posts from professional accounts can appear in search engine results and be found by new potential readers. This includes:
Reels
Carousels
Captions
Alt text
Image file names
For romance authors, this means your content can reach readers who might be searching for terms like “slow burn romance,” “grumpy sunshine trope,” or “best romance books 2025.”
Your Instagram Posts Can Work Harder
With this update, every one of your Instagram posts now serves two audiences:
Your existing followers on Instagram
Potential readers searching Google for books just like yours
So think of Instagram as a mini homepage. A well-written caption or alt text could be the reason someone new discovers your book, joins your newsletter, or follows your account.
5 Best Practices for SEO on Instagram
To benefit from the new update, here are five ways that you can optimize your romance author Instagram account for search engines:
1. Use Keywords in Captions
Think about the types of keywords and phrases your ideal reader might be searching on Google, and try to include them in your post captions. For example, instead of “new book out now,” try “new enemies-to-lovers romance set in a cozy mountain town.” Be careful about 'keyword stuffing' though. Search engines hate that, so use keywords in ways you would usually speak (or write).
2. Add Alt Text to Every Image
Alt text not only improves accessibility but it also helps search engines understand your content. Try to describe your image clearly, for example, “romantic picnic scene with a stack of romance novels.”
3. Rename Your Image Files Before Uploading
Before you post, rename your image or video files with descriptive keywords. For example, “rom-com-bookstack.jpg” is better than “IMG_1234.jpg.” If you're working on a desktop or laptop that's easy enough, but it can get a little trickier if you're editing and uploading straight from your phone. One way that I've found (on iPhone) is to save a photo or video to your 'Files' and then you can change the name of it.
4. Use Purposeful Hashtags
While hashtags aren't the best way to reach new audiences anymore they can still be helpful to tell search engines what your post is about. Choose 3–5 hashtags that reflect your genre, tropes, or themes. Avoid hashtag stuffing. Quality matters more than quantity.
5. Post Consistently
Search engines favor fresh, active accounts. Regular posting helps your content stay visible and relevant.
Final Thoughts
Instagram is moving beyond a social platform and becoming a search engine in its own right, and should be part of your discoverability strategy. By tweaking your posts to make sure they're optimized for search, you’re making it easier for new readers to find you, engage with your content, and become loyal fans.
So whether you’re launching a shiny new book or building your author brand, SEO on Instagram is definitely worth your attention.
