31 Top SEO Influencers to Follow in 2026
SEO changes every week with Google updates, AI results and new user habits. This list brings together 31 SEO influencers who are shaping how search works today. They are chosen for original ideas and consistent value, not follower counts, and this is a curated list, not a ranking.
You will find top technical experts like Aleyda Solis, Barry Adams, Jamie Indigo and Cindy Krum, content and on-page strategists like Lily Ray, Glen Allsopp and Cyrus Shepard, link building and digital PR specialists like Ann Smarty, Paddy Moogan, Stacey MacNaught and Bibi Raven, analytics and data-driven leaders like Dana DiTomaso, Simo Ahava and Mark Webster, AI, AEO and semantic experts like Koray Tugberk Gubur, Tom Niezgoda, Jason Barnard and Kristina Azarenko, and thought leaders like Rand Fishkin, Brian Dean, Matt Diggity, Barry Schwartz, Marie Haynes, Neil Patel, John Mueller, Danny Sullivan and Brian Halligan. It also covers 4 honorable mentions to watch and how to engage with them through social, communities, newsletters and events.
Who are the Most Respected SEO Influencers?
The most respected SEO influencers are Koray Tuğberk Gübür, Aleyda Solis, Rand Fishkin and others, curated in this list for original ideas and consistent value. The table below highlights their areas of expertise.
| SEO Influencer | Expertise |
| Aleyda Solis | International & Technical SEO |
| Barry Adams | News & Editorial SEO |
| Jamie Indigo | JavaScript & Technical SEO, AI Crawler Management |
| Cindy Krum | Mobile SEO, ASO & Mobile-First Indexing |
| Lily Ray | E-E-A-T, AI Overviews & Algorithm Updates |
| Glen Allsopp | SEO Strategy & Content Research |
| Cyrus Shepard | On-Page SEO & Content Strategy |
| Ann Smarty | Link Building, Digital PR & AI SEO |
| Paddy Moogan | Link Building & Digital PR |
| Stacey MacNaught | Digital PR & Content-Led Link Building |
| Bibi Raven | Relationship-Based Link Building |
| Dana DiTomaso | SEO Analytics, GA4 & Local SEO |
| Simo Ahava | GA4, GTM & Data Layer Implementation |
| Mark Webster | Affiliate SEO & Data-Driven Frameworks |
| Koray Tuğberk Gübür | Semantic SEO, Topical Authority & Cost of Retrieval |
| Tom Niezgoda | AI-Powered SEO, AEO & GEO |
| Jason Barnard | Brand SERP, Knowledge Panel & AEO |
| Kristina Azarenko | Technical SEO, eCommerce & Core Web Vitals |
| Rand Fishkin | Audience Intelligence & Ethical Marketing |
| Brian Dean | Former Founder Backlinko (Sold to Semrush 2022), Link Building & Content |
| Matt Diggity | Data-Tested SEO & Affiliate SEO |
| Barry Schwartz | Google Algorithm Updates & Search News |
| Marie Haynes | E-E-A-T, SpamBrain & Helpful Content |
| Neil Patel | Content & Growth SEO |
| John Mueller | Technical SEO, Crawling & Indexing |
| Danny Sullivan | Google Algorithms & Search Liaison |
| Brian Halligan | Inbound Marketing & Flywheel Model |
| Greg Gifford | Local SEO & Google Business Profile |
| Olga Zarr | Technical SEO Audits & Advanced Guides |
| Brodie Clark | SERP Features & Google Updates |
| Areej AbuAli | Technical SEO & Community Building |
Top Technical SEO Experts
Top technical SEO experts are Aleyda Solis, Barry Adams, Jamie Indigo and others. These experts know how websites really work. They share tips to fix crawl issues, improve speed and make sure Google can read every page. Detailed information about each expert is given below to help you improve your site’s technical health and visibility.
1. Aleyda Solis
Aleyda Solis, the founder of Orainti, is a renowned international SEO consultant and speaker. She shares the latest news, updates, and strategies for technical and international SEO through her social media and SEOFOMO newsletter.
Many companies, such as Under Armour and FreshBooks, followed her strategy to establish a global presence.
- Current role: Founder of Orainti
- Expertise: International and technical SEO
- Active since: 2007
- Social media: YouTube, LinkedIn, and X
- Newsletter: SEOFOMO (40k+ subscribers), Crawling Mondays
- Consultation: Available for international SEO strategy
- Awards: European Search Personality of the Year 2018
- Speaking: Regular at MozCon and BrightonSEO
What You Can Learn from Aleyda Solis: Learn how to expand your SEO reach across global markets. Aleyda demonstrates how technical and international SEO can enhance visibility and support global brand growth.
2. Barry Adams
Barry Adams is a leading SEO consultant specializing in optimizing news and media. He helps top publishers, such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Condé Nast, improve their technical and editorial SEO performance.
Known for his deep expertise in Google News, Barry also shares insights through global conferences, guest lectures, and his newsletter SEO for Google News.
- Current role: Founder of Polemic Digital (SEO consultancy for news publishers)
- Expertise: News and editorial SEO, Google News optimization
- Active since: 1998
- Social media: LinkedIn and X
- Newsletter: SEO for Google News (seoforgooglenews.com)
- Consultation: Available for publisher SEO strategy
- Awards: UK Search Awards, DANI Awards winner
- Speaking: Regular at BrightonSEO and SMX
What You Can Learn from Barry Adams: Understand how to optimize news and media websites for Google News and Top Stories. Barry’s insights reveal how publishers can boost visibility and maintain authority.
3. Jamie Indigo
Jamie Indigo is a leading technical SEO expert known for her deep work with JavaScript websites. As the Director of Technical SEO at Cox Automotive and founder of Not A Robot, she combines deep technical skills with practical SEO strategies for enterprise sites and AI crawler management.
- Current role: Director of Technical SEO at Cox Automotive, Founder of Not A Robot
- Expertise: JavaScript SEO, technical SEO for complex sites, AI crawler management
- Active since: 2010
- Social media: X (@jammer_volts) and LinkedIn
- Newsletter: Rich Snippets – insights on technical SEO
- Consultation: Founder of Not A Robot (100% Human SEO)
- Speaking: BrightonSEO, SMX, SearchLove, and Tech SEO Summit 2026
What You Can Learn from Jamie Indigo: Gain a deeper understanding of JavaScript SEO and how AI bots crawl and render. Jamie teaches how to fix technical issues that limit visibility in traditional and AI search.
4. Cindy Krum
If you prefer learning mobile and app SEO. Cindy Krum is the answer for you. She founded MobileMoxie, a company helping brands grow through mobile and app SEO. She focuses on how Google algorithms and SEO developments shape the future of search.
Cindy frequently discusses algorithm updates, teaches mobile marketing, and assists companies in preparing for new changes in SEO.
- Current role: Founder and CEO of MobileMoxie
- Expertise: Mobile SEO, ASO, and Google algorithms
- Active since: 2008
- Social media: LinkedIn and X
- Newsletter: MobileMoxie Insights
- Consultation: Offers SEO and mobile strategy training
- Awards: Named one of USA Today’s top 10 SEOs
- Speaking: Global events on mobile-first and AI search
What You Can Learn from Cindy Krum: Discover how mobile SEO, entity indexing and app optimization drive organic visibility in a mobile-first and AI-driven world.
Top Content & On-Page SEO Strategists
Top content and on-page SEO strategists are Lily Ray, Glen Allsopp and Cyrus Shepard. Good content brings people and search engines together. These strategists show how to write and structure pages that rank higher and build trust. Detailed information about each expert is given below.
5. Lily Ray
With 16+ years of SEO experience, Lily Ray shares data-driven SEO insights that help brands grow. She is known for her deep research on Google’s algorithm updates, E-E-A-T, and visibility in AI Overviews and AI-driven search.
- Current role: VP, SEO & Research at Amsive
- Expertise: E-E-A-T, Google algorithms, and AI Overviews
- Active since: 2010
- Social media: LinkedIn and X
- Newsletter: Amsive Digital Insights
- Consultation: Available for SEO and content strategy
- Speaking: Regular at BrightonSEO, SMX, and global SEO events
What You Can Learn from Lily Ray: Learn how to strengthen your site’s reputation using E-E-A-T. Lily’s research helps you respond to Google updates and build long-term visibility in the AI era.
6. Glen Allsopp
Glen Allsopp, the founder of detailed.com (acquired by Ahrefs), is known for his data-driven, research-heavy approach to SEO. Many SEO specialists, including those from Buffer and Amazon, follow his SEO blog to gather knowledge.
He developed the Detailed SEO Extension, which gained over 450,000 weekly users before being acquired by Ahrefs. Additionally, his marketing agency scaled to a seven-figure revenue, demonstrating his ability to combine data science, innovation, and real business growth in the SEO industry.
- Current role: Founder of Detailed.com and Gaps
- Expertise: SEO strategy, content marketing, and digital growth research
- Active since: 2004
- Social media: Twitter (X) and LinkedIn
- Newsletter: Detailed SEO Insider
- Consultation: Offers SEO and content growth consulting
- Awards: Recognized for uncovering SEO trends and link patterns
- Speaking: Guest speaker at top digital marketing events
What You Can Learn from Glen Allsopp: See how data-driven insights uncover SEO trends. Glen’s methods demonstrate how to utilize research, testing, and competitive analysis to increase traffic and establish authority.
7. Cyrus Shepard
Cyrus Shepard is a respected SEO strategist and founder of Zyppy, a company known for its data-driven consulting and research-based SEO software.
He worked at Moz for several years, playing a key role in the company’s content and organic growth strategies.
Cyrus has deep knowledge about how Google evaluates website quality and brand authority. A trusted voice in the industry, he has authored influential resources, including “Inbound Marketing and SEO” and “How to Rank,” and contributed to the “Beginner’s Guide to SEO.”
- Current role: Founder of Zyppy
- Expertise: On-page SEO, content strategy, and search optimization
- Active since: 2009
- Social media: Twitter (X) and LinkedIn
- Newsletter: Zyppy SEO Insights
- Consultation: Provides SEO training, audits, and strategic guidance
- Awards: Recognized for evidence-based SEO research and thought leadership
- Speaking: Regular at MozCon and major SEO conferences
What You Can Learn from Cyrus Shepard: Understand how Google measures website quality and authority. Cyrus teaches practical on-page strategies that improve ranking signals and long-term organic performance.
Top Link Building & Digital PR Specialists
Top link building and digital PR specialists are Ann Smarty, Paddy Moogan, Stacey MacNaught and others. Strong links help your website earn trust. These specialists know how to get the right links and build brand awareness. Detailed information about each expert is given below.
8. Ann Smarty
Looking to improve your knowledge on brand marketing, link building and Digital PR? Start following Ann Smarty. Her current focus is on the intersection of AI and SEO, Reddit marketing and content strategy. She shares insights through social media and weekly SEO newsletters.
- Current role: Co-founder of Smarty Marketing
- Expertise: Link building, digital PR, AI SEO and content strategy
- Active since: 2004
- Social media: X @seosmarty and LinkedIn
- Newsletter: Weekly insights on SEO, AI, and GEO
- Consultation: Offers custom SEO audits and organic growth strategies
- Awards: Former Editor-in-Chief of Search Engine Journal
- Speaking: Frequent speaker at Pubcon
What You Can Learn from Ann Smarty: Learn how to combine content strategy with AI-powered SEO. Ann’s approach focuses on earning natural backlinks and building sustainable visibility.
9. Paddy Moogan
Paddy Moogan is one of the most respected link builders in the world and co-founder of Aira, a digital agency based in Milton Keynes, UK. He has been working in SEO since 2004, when he got bored studying for his Law degree and started building websites via AdSense. He is the author of The Link Building Book, originally paid in 2013 and released free in 2020.
- Current role: Co-founder of Aira
- Expertise: Link building, digital PR, content promotion
- Active since: 2004
- Social media: LinkedIn and X @paddymoogan
- Newsletter: Aira Insights + The Link Building Book
- Consultation: Link building and digital PR strategy via Aira
- Speaking: BrightonSEO, SMX, MozCon
What You Can Learn from Paddy Moogan: Scalable, content-led link building without spam.
10. Stacey MacNaught
Stacey MacNaught is an award-winning SEO and digital PR consultant known for creative campaigns, storytelling, and link-earning strategies that drive visibility and organic growth. She has over a decade of experience. She spent 9 years with a Manchester agency before going solo and founded MacNaught Digital in April 2018. She has spoken at MozCon, BrightonSEO and Women in Tech SEO Fest.
- Current role: SEO Consultant / Director at MacNaught Digital
- Expertise: Digital PR, content marketing, link acquisition
- Active since: 2009
- Social media: LinkedIn and X @staceycav
- Consultation: SEO and digital PR for retail, healthcare, finance
What You Can Learn from Stacey MacNaught: How to craft viral, link-worthy campaigns that build brand authority.
11. Bibi Raven
Bibi Raven, also known as Bibi the Link Builder, is the founder of BibiBuzz, dedicated to “Natural Link Building by Humans, not Automation.” Before link building, she worked for 6 years in social media marketing, then in affiliate and growth hacking. Based in Amsterdam.
- Current role: Founder and Managing Director of BibiBuzz
- Expertise: Relationship-based link building, blogger outreach, creative email outreach
- Active since: 2015
- Social media: LinkedIn and X
- Website: bibibuzz.com
- Awards: Foreword author for Ahrefs SEO for Beginners
What You Can Learn from Bibi Raven: Human-first outreach that gets replies, vetting sites for real traffic and building links through empathy, not automation.
Top Analytics & Data-Driven SEO Leaders
Top analytics and data-driven SEO leaders are Dana DiTomaso, Simo Ahava and Mark Webster. These leaders use data to make better choices and improve results. Detailed information about each expert is given below to help you turn data into smart SEO strategies.
12. Dana DiTomaso
Dana DiTomaso blends analytics, local SEO, and strategy to turn data into actionable growth. She is the President and Partner at Kick Point, a full-service marketing agency where she helps organizations make better decisions through strategy, analytics, and SEO.
After two decades of watching clients struggle with data that didn’t answer real questions, Dana founded Analytics Playbook, a learning platform focused on practical, accessible analytics education. She is elite with Google Analytics 4, Google Tag Manager, and Looker Studio.
- Current role: President & Partner at Kick Point, Founder of Analytics Playbook
- Expertise: SEO Analytics, GA4, GTM, Looker Studio, Local SEO
- Active since: 2000 (24+ years)
- Social media: LinkedIn and X @danaditomaso
- Newsletter: Kick Point Playbook and Analytics Playbook
- Consultation: Offers SEO, analytics and reporting strategy through Kick Point
- Awards: Former SEO Speaker of the Year, ∼200 keynotes
- Speaking: Regular at MozCon, LocalU, MnSearch Summit, BrightonSEO
What You Can Learn from Dana DiTomaso: Learn how to turn GA4 and messy marketing data into clear SEO decisions. Dana teaches how to set goals, track what matters, and prove ROI.
13. Simo Ahava
Simo Ahava is a leading analytics developer and educator, focusing on Google Tag Manager and GA4. His expertise bridges SEO, data tracking, and technical performance measurement.
He is a recognized expert on customizing web analytics and tag management solutions to improve the entire life cycle of data collection, processing, and reporting. Google has appointed him as a Google Developer Expert in Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager.
- Current role: Co-founder at Simmer Oy, Senior Data Advocate at Reaktor
- Expertise: GA4, Google Tag Manager, server-side tagging, data layer and custom tracking
- Active since: 2008
- Social media: LinkedIn and X @SimoAhava
- Blog: simoahava.com (most popular GTM & GA4 blog)
- Consultation: Advanced tracking implementation and analytics audits via Simmer
- Awards: Google Developer Expert (GDE) for GA and GTM
- Speaking: Regular at MeasureSummit, SuperWeek, BrightonSEO
What You Can Learn from Simo Ahava: Learn how to implement bulletproof SEO tracking. Simo teaches how to correctly track conversions, Core Web Vitals, and SEO performance through GTM without breaking data.
14. Mark Webster
Mark Webster is the co-founder of Authority Hacker, helping marketers build profitable affiliate sites. He’s known for transparent, practical SEO frameworks backed by data, process, and repeatable results.
He quit his corporate job in 2009 and ran a digital marketing agency in Budapest from 2010 to 2014 before co-founding Authority Hacker in 2014.
- Current role: Co-founder at Authority Hacker
- Expertise: Affiliate SEO, data-driven SEO systems, website building and monetization
- Active since: 2009
- Social media: LinkedIn, X, and YouTube @AuthorityHacker
- Newsletter: Authority Hacker Newsletter and Podcast
- Consultation: Offers SEO training, affiliate growth strategies and site building systems through Authority Hacker
- Awards: Built Authority Hacker into a leading SEO education brand
- Speaking: Regular at affiliate and SEO conferences
What You Can Learn from Mark Webster: Learn how to build profitable affiliate sites with systems. Mark teaches repeatable processes for keyword research, content creation, and link building that scale.
Top AI, AEO, Semantic SEO & Future of Search Experts
Top AI, AEO, semantic SEO and future of search experts are Koray Tuğberk Gübür, Tom Niezgoda, Jason Barnard and others. Search is changing fast with AI and new tools. These experts teach how to use AI and AEO to stay ahead. Detailed information about each expert is given below.
15. Koray Tuğberk Gübür
Koray Tuğberk Gübür is a world-renowned Turkish SEO expert, data scientist, and the Founder & CEO of Holistic SEO & Digital. He specializes in Semantic SEO, Technical SEO, E-E-A-T (Expertise, Authority, Trust) development, and data science.
At Holistic SEO & Digital, Koray leads global initiatives focused on data-driven and AI-powered search optimization. He shares insights through global SEO conferences and his YouTube channel.
- Current role: Founder and CEO of Holistic SEO & Digital
- Expertise: Semantic SEO, Technical SEO, and data science
- Active since: 2015
- Social media: LinkedIn, Twitter (X), and YouTube
- Newsletter: Holistic SEO Insights
- Consultation: Offers SEO strategy and data-driven consulting
- Awards: Credited for “Topical Authority” and “Cost of Retrieval” concepts
- Speaking: Regular at international SEO and AI-driven search events
What You Can Learn from Koray Tuğberk Gübür: Understand how Semantic SEO connects data and meaning. Koray’s frameworks help you build topical authority and rank higher using AI and structured strategies.
16. Tom Niezgoda
Learning best SEO practices will become straightforward if you follow Tom Niezgoda. He continuously posts AI SEO studies in his LinkedIn profile.
The best part is that he launched a free course for marketers and business owners, named AI Search Optimization Masterclass. You can adapt to the AEO and GEO era by learning from this course and gaining the skills to optimize for AI-driven and generative search systems.
- Current role: Co-founder and Head of Marketing at Surfer
- Expertise: Content strategy, SEO optimization, and AI-powered search marketing
- Active since: 2014
- Social media: LinkedIn and Twitter (X)
- Newsletter: Surfer SEO Insider
- Consultation: Provides growth and SEO strategy guidance through Surfer
- Awards: Recognized for advancing data-driven and AI-assisted SEO
- Speaking: Regular speaker at SaaS and digital marketing events
What You Can Learn from Tom Niezgoda: Learn how to adapt SEO skills for the AEO and GEO era. Tom’s lessons help marketers optimize for AI-driven and generative search results.
17. Jason Barnard
Jason Barnard, known as “The Brand SERP Guy,” helps brands and founders control how they are represented by Google and AI. He bridges semantic SEO, Knowledge Graphs, and online reputation.
- Current role: Founder and CEO at Kalicube, premium Digital Branding Consultancy in France, SaaS platform Kalicube Pro
- Expertise: Brand SERP optimization, Knowledge Panel management, AEO, Knowledge Graph and personal brand intelligence
- Active since: 2012
- Social media: LinkedIn and X @jasonmbarnard
- Podcast: Kalicube Tuesdays and “With Jason Barnard”
- Book: The Fundamentals of Brand SERPs for Business
- Consultation: Offers Brand SERP and Knowledge Panel audits, Kalicube Pro SaaS
- Awards: Recognized as The Brand SERP Guy, bestselling author
- Speaking: Regular at BrightonSEO, Pubcon, global brand search events
What You Can Learn from Jason Barnard: Learn how to own your brand in Google and AI. Jason teaches how to optimize your Knowledge Panel, Brand SERP, and entity signals so AI Overviews and search cite you correctly.
18. Kristina Azarenko
Kristina Azarenko is that red-haired girl who talks about eCommerce and technical SEO, helps her clients thrive online, and teaches no-BS SEO. She is an eCommerce & Technical SEO Consultant and the founder of MarketingSyrup based in Toronto, Canada.
- Current role: Founder & SEO Consultant at MarketingSyrup Digital Inc.
- Expertise: Technical SEO, eCommerce SEO, Core Web Vitals, site audits and website migrations
- Active since: 2011 (10+ years)
- Social media: LinkedIn and X @azarchick
- Newsletter: MarketingSyrup Blog
- Courses: SEO Challenge Course (45-Day), Tech SEO Pro, eCommerce SEO Mastery
- Consultation: High-impact SEO consulting for B2C companies ready to scale, corporate SEO workshops
- Awards: Creator of SEO Pro Extension (40K users), 15,000+ students trained
- Speaking: Women in Tech SEO Festival, BrightonSEO eCommerce SEO Summit, Google Search Central
What You Can Learn from Kristina Azarenko: Learn how to fix complex technical issues that kill eCommerce revenue. Kristina simplifies site audits, Core Web Vitals, and migrations into practical steps you can apply immediately.
Top SEO Industry Thought Leaders & Educators
Top SEO industry thought leaders and educators are Rand Fishkin, Brian Dean, Matt Diggity and others. They teach, share ideas and lead by example. Detailed information about each expert is given below to help you grow your SEO skills.
19. Rand Fishkin
Rand Fishkin co-founded Moz and is the CEO of SparkToro. He is one of the most influential voices in the field of SEO. Known for his focus on audience intelligence and ethical marketing, he shares insights on how search and social platforms influence visibility.
- Current role: Co-founder and CEO of SparkToro
- Expertise: Audience intelligence, ethical marketing, and SEO strategy
- Active since: 2003
- Social media: Twitter (X) and LinkedIn
- Newsletter: The SparkToro Newsletter
- Consultation: Offers strategic guidance on brand visibility and audience research
- Awards: Recognized industry leader and Moz co-founder
- Speaking: Frequent keynote speaker at global marketing and SEO events
What You Can Learn from Rand Fishkin: Discover how ethical marketing builds trust and audience loyalty. Rand shares insights on transparency, visibility, and smarter strategies for modern digital growth.
20. Brian Dean
Brian Dean is the founder of the Skyscraper Technique. He built the award-winning SEO blog Backlinko (acquired by Semrush in January 2022) and trend research platform Exploding Topics (acquired by Semrush in 2024). He now contributes as advisor to Semrush.
- Current role: Former founder of Backlinko & Exploding Topics, Advisor at Semrush
- Expertise: Link building, content marketing, and SEO growth
- Active since: 2010
- Social media: YouTube, LinkedIn, X
- Newsletter: Backlinko SEO Newsletter (via Semrush)
What You Can Learn from Brian Dean: Proven techniques for link building and content growth that attract authority links.
21. Matt Diggity
How could any SEO conversation feel complete without mentioning Matt Diggity? A name that stands for results, data, and trust. Known for his data-driven SEO methods, Matt tests everything, turning insights into proven ranking strategies that actually work.
- Current role: Founder of Diggity Marketing, The Affiliate Lab, and Chiang Mai SEO Conference
- Expertise: Data-driven SEO, affiliate marketing, and website optimization
- Active since: 2009
- Social media: YouTube, Twitter (X), and LinkedIn
- Newsletter: Diggity Marketing Insider
- Consultation: Offers SEO training, audits, and affiliate growth strategies
- Awards: Recognized for advancing tested, experiment-based SEO practices
- Speaking: Regular speaker at global SEO and affiliate marketing conferences
What You Can Learn from Matt Diggity: See how data-backed SEO experiments lead to real results. Matt’s testing-based approach helps you understand what truly drives ranking success.
22. Barry Schwartz (SEO Barry)
Barry Schwartz is a central figure in the SEO community. He has reported on search engines on Search Engine Roundtable for over two decades with 40,000+ articles. Known as the unofficial mouth of Google.
- Current role: CEO of RustyBrick and founder of Search Engine Roundtable
- Expertise: Google algorithm updates, SEO news
- Active since: 2003
What You Can Learn from Barry Schwartz: Stay informed on every major Google update. His reporting helps you understand algorithm changes and make timely decisions.
23. Marie Haynes
Marie Haynes made her an industry leader in the SEO community with her expertise in topics such as SpamBrain, E-E-A-T, and Helpful Content.
- Current role: Founder and CEO of Marie Haynes Consulting
- Expertise: E-E-A-T, SpamBrain, and AI-driven SEO
- Active since: 2008
- Social media: LinkedIn and Twitter (X)
- Newsletter: Search News You Can Use
- Consultation: Offers SEO coaching and site quality reviews
- Awards: Widely recognized for Google algorithm expertise
- Speaking: Frequent speaker on AI and Google updates
What You Can Learn from Marie Haynes: Learn how AI shapes search rankings and quality signals. Marie’s insights on E-E-A-T and Helpful Content help you align with Google’s evolving systems.
24. Neil Patel
The world’s most recognized digital marketers and a New York Times bestselling author, Neil Patel’s blog reaches over 4 million readers. He has built a massive online following, with over 774,000 LinkedIn followers and nearly 1.5 million YouTube subscribers.
- Current role: Co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and Ubersuggest
- Expertise: Content marketing, SEO, and digital growth strategy
- Active since: 2001
- Social media: YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), and Instagram
- Newsletter: Neil Patel’s Marketing Newsletter
- Consultation: Provides SEO and marketing consulting through Neil Patel Digital
- Awards: New York Times bestselling author and top global marketer
- Speaking: Keynote speaker at global marketing and business conferences
What You Can Learn from Neil Patel: Understand how simple, data-driven SEO strategies can scale growth. Neil teaches actionable ways to attract traffic, boost authority, and increase online visibility.
25. John Mueller
Who doesn’t want to get the latest Google Updates and News straight from the horse’s mouth? In this case, you mustn’t miss following John Mueller.
As Google’s Search Advocate, he simplifies complex SEO topics, answers community questions, and clears common myths. Through his social media, he shares practical and reliable guidance to help marketers better understand Google Search.
- Current role: Search Advocate at Google
- Expertise: Technical SEO, crawling, indexing, and Google Search systems
- Active since: 2007
- Social media: Twitter (X), LinkedIn, and YouTube
- Newsletter: Shares updates via Google Search Central Blog
- Consultation: Provides public SEO guidance through Google forums and live sessions
- Awards: Widely respected as the “unofficial voice of Google” in the SEO community
- Speaking: Regular speaker at Google Search Central Live and major SEO conferences
What You Can Learn from John Mueller: Learn directly from Google’s perspective. John explains how crawling, indexing, and site structure impact rankings and overall technical SEO performance.
26. Danny Sullivan
Danny Sullivan is the Director at Google Search who connects the public with Google’s internal teams. He is considered one of the founders of search engine marketing. Also, he popularized the term “search engine marketing” (SEM).
- Current role: Public Liaison for Search at Google
- Expertise: Google algorithms, search communication, and SEO education
- Active since: 1996
- Social media: Twitter (X) and LinkedIn
- Newsletter: Formerly published Search Engine Land insights
- Consultation: Shares official search updates and clarifications from Google
- Awards: Recognized as a pioneer in search journalism and SEO transparency
- Speaking: Regularly represents Google at global search and marketing events
What You Can Learn from Danny Sullivan: Understand how Google’s algorithms evolve. Danny’s updates help SEOs stay aligned with Google’s goals and apply strategies that follow official guidance.
27. Brian Halligan
Brian Halligan is the co-founder and Executive Chairman of HubSpot, the company that popularized Inbound Marketing and transformed how businesses attract and engage customers online.
Brian coined the term “inbound marketing” and together with Dharmesh Shah, built a movement around the concept, which included organizing the INBOUND event and co-authoring the book Inbound Marketing. He served as HubSpot’s CEO until 2021 and as executive chairperson until May 2025. He also created the “flywheel model,” focusing on customers as key drivers of growth, using satisfaction and referrals to enhance visibility.
- Current role: Co-founder and Executive Chairman / Board Member at HubSpot, Senior Lecturer at MIT
- Expertise: Inbound marketing, flywheel model, business growth models and SEO as part of inbound
- Active since: 2006 (HubSpot founded 2006)
- Social media: LinkedIn and X @bhalligan
- Book: Inbound Marketing (co-authored with Dharmesh Shah)
- Consultation: Guides inbound growth and digital strategy, teaches MIT’s Scaling Entrepreneurial Ventures class
- Awards: Glassdoor Best CEO, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year
- Speaking: Frequent keynote speaker at INBOUND and global business conferences
What You Can Learn from Brian Halligan: Discover how inbound marketing and SEO work together as a customer-focused growth engine. Brian’s flywheel model shows how customer satisfaction drives referrals, visibility, and sustainable business growth, not just traffic.
Honorable Mentions: 4 Talented SEO Influencers to Watch
These rising stars are the next big names in SEO. They bring fresh ideas, helpful guides, and new ways to solve SEO challenges. Watch Areej AbuAli, Brodie Clark, Olga Zarr, and Greg Gifford as they continue to inspire the SEO community.
28. Areej AbuAli
Areej AbuAli is the founder of Women in Tech SEO, a global community at the intersection of marketing and technology. Founded in 2019, Women in Tech SEO has over 10,000 global members and 60,000 followers who connect through online groups and in-person conferences in the UK, Europe, and the USA.
- Current role: Founder of Women in Tech SEO and Crawlina (independent SEO consultancy)
- Expertise: Technical SEO, community building, career mentorship and inclusive SEO education
- Active since: 2017
- Social media: LinkedIn and X @areej_abuali
- Community: Women in Tech SEO (womenintechseo.com), 10k+ members, 60k+ followers
- Book: Community Building for Marketers
- Awards: BIMA 100 Champions for Change 2024, Google Women Techmakers Ambassador
- Speaking: BrightonSEO, Women in Tech SEO Fest, international SEO conferences
What You Can Learn from Areej AbuAli: Learn technical SEO and how to grow through community. Areej teaches inclusive, practical SEO strategies and how to build a supportive network that advances your career.
29. Brodie Clark
Brodie Clark is an independent SEO consultant based in Melbourne, Australia, recognized as one of the sharpest analysts of Google’s SERP features and AI Overviews. He specializes in technical SEO for large-scale websites and global brands.
- Current role: Independent SEO Consultant at Brodie Clark Consulting (brodieclark.com)
- Expertise: SERP features, AI Overviews / AI Mode tracking, Search Console behavior, technical SEO for enterprise
- Active since: 2011 (10+ years)
- Social media: LinkedIn and X @brodieseo
- Newsletter / Blog: Brodie Clark Consulting Blog — Google SERP Features Timeline, AI Overview studies
- Awards: Young Search Professional of the Year 2019 (Australian Search Awards)
- Speaking: Friends of Search Amsterdam, Whitespark Local Search Summit, Melbourne SEO Meetup
What You Can Learn from Brodie Clark: Learn how SERP features are eating your clicks. Brodie breaks down AI Overviews, People Also Ask, and Search Console data so you can adapt and win visibility back.
30. Olga Zarr
Olga Zarr is the founder of SEOSLY and an independent SEO consultant with 13+ years of hands-on experience. She started SEOSLY in 2020 after more than 7 years in agencies where she led SEO projects for major global eCommerce brands like Procter & Gamble and LG.
- Current role: Founder and CEO of SEOSLY, Independent SEO Consultant
- Expertise: Technical SEO, SEO auditing, site migrations, on-page optimization and AI + SEO
- Active since: 2011 (13+ years)
- Social media: LinkedIn, X @olgazarr, and YouTube SEOSLY
- Blog / Newsletter: SEOSLY — in-depth guides, tutorials, checklists, podcast and YouTube
- Consultation: Offers technical SEO audits and consulting for eCommerce and large sites
- Awards: Recognized technical SEO educator, SEOSLY as top technical SEO blog
- Speaking: International SEO events, Wix SEO Hub
What You Can Learn from Olga Zarr: Learn how to audit like a pro. Olga teaches step-by-step technical audits, migration checklists, and how to balance 90% fundamentals with 10% AI.
31. Greg Gifford
Greg Gifford is the Vice President of Search Marketing at SearchLab, a boutique marketing agency specializing in Local SEO and PPC. He’s got over 19 years of online marketing and web design experience, and his expertise in Local SEO has helped hundreds of businesses gain more visibility in local searches.
- Current role: Vice President of Search at SearchLab Digital (Chicago-based)
- Expertise: Local SEO, Google Business Profile, citations, local content silos and automotive SEO
- Active since: 2002 (19+ years)
- Social media: LinkedIn and X @GregGifford
- Series: Local Search Tuesdays (weekly video series)
- Course: Local SEO Course with Greg Gifford at Semrush Academy (free)
- Consultation: Local SEO and PPC for SMBs and dealerships via SearchLab
- Speaking: BrightonSEO, SMX, Local Search Summit one of the most popular local SEO speakers worldwide
What You Can Learn from Greg Gifford: Learn how to dominate local search. Greg shows how to optimize Google Business Profiles, build citations, and use local content silos to rank in the Map Pack.
How to Engage with SEO Influencers
You can engage with SEO influencers by following their content, joining discussions, attending webinars, and applying their tips to grow your SEO skills.
- Follow Them on Social Media: Start by following influencers on LinkedIn, X, and YouTube. Read what they post, join the talks, and ask questions. A small comment or thank-you builds friendly connections.
- Join Their Communities: Many influencers run online groups or live sessions. Join those spaces to share ideas, ask questions, and meet other SEO learners who follow the same experts.
- Learn from Their Newsletters and Blogs: Most influencers share weekly insights and case studies. Read their emails and blog posts. Keep notes, test their tips, and track what works for your projects.
- Attend Events and Webinars: Influencers often speak at SEO events and online webinars. Listen carefully, take notes, and introduce yourself. A brief message after the session can initiate a genuine connection.
The fastest way to grow in SEO is to learn from people who do this work every day. Seasoned professionals share what actually worked, what failed, and how they fixed it. You get real lessons you can use right away, not just theory.
These 31 experts cover the parts that matter most. Technical health, content that earns trust, link building that lasts, data that guides decisions, and AI, AEO and semantic search for what comes next.
Follow these SEO influencers, read their posts and newsletters, watch their videos and join their live sessions. Try one idea at a time on your own site and see what moves the needle. Each update from a trusted seo influencer can save you weeks of trial and error and keep you ready for the next change.
