Published by NewsPR Today | July 2025
The internet is always changing, and that means how people find things online is changing too. “SEO,” which stands for Search Engine Optimization, is the art of making your website or content easier for people to find on search engines like Google.
This July 2025, some big updates are happening that are shaking things up. We’re talking about changes on social media (like Instagram), new AI-powered search tools, and some tweaks to Google’s own tools for website owners.
Don’t worry, it might sound techy, but we’ll go through it in simple terms. We’ll cover what these changes are, how they might help you, and what challenges they might bring. This info is fresh from July 2025, so it’s the latest and greatest!
1. Instagram Posts Are Popping Up in Google Search!
What’s the Deal?
As of July 10, 2025, if you have a professional Instagram account (like for a business or if you’re an influencer), your public posts – photos, videos, Reels, even those carousel posts – can now show up directly in Google search results.
Before, Google might sometimes find social media stuff, but now it’s a standard thing for professional accounts. Think of it like Google adding Instagram posts to its massive library of websites and content.
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How Does It Work?
Imagine you search on Google for “best pizza in Chicago.” In the results, you might see websites and Instagram posts from local pizzerias. Maybe a picture of a drool-worthy slice that someone posted on Instagram.
Google is now looking at the captions, hashtags, and even the account details on Instagram posts to figure out if they’re relevant to what you’re searching for.
Related Article: Crack the Code: How to Rank in Google’s AI Overviews
Why Should You Care?
This is a huge opportunity if you have a business or create content. Your Instagram posts can now reach people who aren’t even on Instagram but are searching on Google. It’s like bridging the gap between social media and regular search!
For example, a small bookstore that posts photos of its cozy reading nook on Instagram might attract new customers who are searching for “bookstores near me” on Google.
The Good Stuff:
- Mini-Website Power: Your Instagram account can almost act like a mini-website now, which is awesome if you don’t have a website yet.
- Showcase Your Stuff: Great for small businesses or freelancers who want to show off their work visually.
- Consistent Posting Pays Off: If you post regularly with clear, descriptive captions, you’re more likely to pop up in Google searches.
Things to Think About:
- Not Every Post Will Show: It’s still a bit of a mystery exactly how Google picks which posts to display.
- Public is Key: Your posts must be public to show up.
- More Competition: With more Instagram content in Google, it might be harder to stand out.
- Optimization is Important: You might need to put more effort into optimizing your Instagram posts for search (think keywords!).
- Pro Accounts Only: This only works for professional accounts, so personal accounts won’t see this benefit.
2. Google’s AI Mode is Now in India!
What’s the Deal?
Google’s AI Mode is a brand-new way to search that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to give you direct, conversational answers instead of just a list of website links.
Related Article: Google AI Overviews: How to Get Your Content Featured Consistently
In July 2025, Google rolled out AI Mode to all users in India. Before, it was only available in the US as a test. This is the first time AI Mode has expanded beyond the States!
How Does It Work?
Imagine asking Google, “What’s the best time of year to visit Japan?” Instead of showing you 10 different travel blogs, AI Mode uses Google’s Gemini AI to analyze tons of info and give you a clear, summarized answer, like a mini-guide with tips and links to a few helpful websites.
You can even ask questions using text, voice, or images!
Related Article: In the War for Web Traffic, Cloudflare Gives Publishers a New Weapon Against Google AI
Why Should You Care?
AI Mode is designed to be faster and more user-friendly, especially for complex questions. If you’re in India, this means it’s easier to get quick answers on pretty much anything.
If you have a business, appearing in AI Mode’s answers can really boost your visibility, as it often mentions the sources it uses (like websites or forums).
The Good Stuff:
- Saves You Time: AI Mode summarizes information, so you don’t have to click through multiple websites.
- Traffic Boost (Maybe): If your website is cited in AI Mode, you could get more traffic from people who want more details.
- Great for “How-To” Content: Especially useful if your website has content that answers specific questions clearly, like tutorials or local business info.
Things to Think About:
- Fewer Clicks to Websites?: AI Mode might not always show links to tons of websites, so some businesses might see less traffic if they’re not mentioned.
- Tracking is Tricky: Google Search Console (a tool for tracking website performance) tracks AI Mode data, but it’s not super clear, making it hard to know the full impact.
- AI Isn’t Always Perfect: There’s a risk that AI Mode’s answers might not always be 100% accurate.
- Still Evolving: This feature is still pretty new, so its impact is still a bit of an unknown.
3. Shopping on ChatGPT? Shopify is Now Part of the Mix!
What’s the Deal?
In July 2025, OpenAI (the folks behind ChatGPT) announced that Shopify, a big platform for online stores, is now a partner for ChatGPT Search. ChatGPT Search is an AI-powered search tool that’s trying to compete with Google.
This basically means ChatGPT Search can now pull product info directly from Shopify stores to answer shopping questions.
How Does It Work?
Imagine asking ChatGPT, “Where can I find a nice journal for under $20?” ChatGPT Search might show you products from Shopify stores, including prices, pictures, and reviews – and it doesn’t rely on paid ads to do it!
It uses things like how relevant the product is and what you seem to be looking for to decide what to show. This builds on some shopping features ChatGPT added earlier in May 2025.
Why Should You Care?
If you have a Shopify store, this is a whole new way to reach customers who are using ChatGPT instead of Google. It’s a sign that AI-driven search is becoming a bigger deal for online shopping, which could give smaller businesses a chance to compete with the big guys like Amazon.
The Good Stuff:
- Free Visibility: Your Shopify products can get seen without paying for ads!
- Fair Playing Field: ChatGPT’s product suggestions are based on relevance, not who paid the most.
- Faster Shopping for Customers: Users get faster, more direct answers when they’re shopping online.
Things to Think About:
- Not Every Product Will Show: It’s unclear exactly how ChatGPT decides which products to show.
- Good Descriptions Matter: Stores with poor product descriptions or missing details might get overlooked.
- New Kind of Optimization: You might need to learn how to optimize your products for AI search, which is different from regular SEO.
- Uncertain Impact: This is a new partnership, so it’s hard to say for sure how it will affect sales and traffic in the long run.
4. Google Search Console Gets a Forum Filter!
What’s the Deal?
Google Search Console, which is a free tool for website owners, now has a “Discussion forums” filter in its Search performance report (as of July 2025).
This filter shows you if your website’s forum content (like those Reddit-style discussion boards) is showing up in special search results called “Discussion forum rich results.” These rich results highlight user-generated content, which is pretty cool.
How Does It Work?
If your website has a forum where people chat about different topics, Google might show those discussions in search results with extra details, like how many replies there are or the date of the latest post.
The new filter lets you see how often your forum content appears in search and how many clicks it gets. It even works with Google’s API (a way for developers to access data automatically).
Why Should You Care?
Forums are popular places to find real user opinions, like product reviews or travel tips. This update helps you understand how your forums are performing in search, so you can attract more users who are looking for community-driven content.
The Good Stuff:
- More Visibility for Forums: Websites with active forums can get more visibility through these rich results.
- Great for Niche Communities: This is awesome for hobbyist forums or support groups, as it highlights authentic discussions.
- Track Performance: The filter helps you track how your forums are doing and make improvements.
Things to Think About:
- Proper Formatting is Key: Only websites with properly formatted forums (using specific coding called schema markup) will benefit. This might require some tech skills.
- Competition with Big Forums: Smaller forums might struggle to compete with the giants like Reddit.
- No Guarantees: The filter doesn’t guarantee more traffic, and its impact depends on how many people search for forum content in your niche.
What Does This All Mean for You?
These updates show that online search is becoming more connected to social media, AI, and content created by users. For businesses and creators, this means new ways to get found online, whether it’s through Instagram posts, AI-powered answers, or community discussions.
But it also brings some challenges, like more competition and the need to adapt to new tools and ways of doing things.
Here’s the bottom line:
- Focus on Great Content: Create high-quality, relevant content that people actually want to see.
- Clear Descriptions are Crucial: Use clear and descriptive captions and product descriptions.
- Keep Things Updated: Keep your website or social profiles up-to-date.
- Google Search Console is Your Friend: For website owners, tools like Google Search Console can give you valuable insights, but they take time and effort to learn.
If you want to stay on top of these changes, newsletters like Core Updates SEO can offer weekly tips and insights.
The world of search is always changing, so staying informed and adaptable is the key to success!
