The Most Important SEO Experts You Need to Be Reading and Following
Search engine optimization (SEO) continues to be an essential digital marketing capability for businesses in 2023. With more companies competing for visibility online than ever before, having the right SEO strategy is crucial to reach customers and drive growth.
One of the best ways to level up your own SEO skills and knowledge is to follow leading industry experts and influencers. They can provide invaluable insights and lessons learned that will help you succeed.
In this comprehensive post, I'll highlight 25 must-follow SEO influencers and practitioners that should be on your radar this year.
Why You Should Follow SEO Influencers?
Here are some of the key benefits of following influencers in the SEO space:
Get exposed to new SEO strategies and tactics. The top influencers are always testing innovative approaches and will share the results.
Learn the best practices for optimizing websites. From technical SEO to site architecture to content creation, influencers share proven techniques.
Stay on top of Google algorithm updates. Know what changes at Google could impact your rankings.
Gain insights from their experience. Influencers have already learned lessons optimizing their own sites or clients' sites.
Get inspired to improve your skills. Following experts motivates you to implement what you learn.
No matter your focus area in SEO, there are knowledgeable influencers putting out great content almost daily. Let's dive in to the list!
The Top 25 SEO Influencers You Need to Follow
1. Brian Dean - Founder of Backlinko
Brian Dean is one of the most prolific SEO influencers out there today. As the founder of the popular SEO blog Backlinko, Brian has built an engaged audience of over 1 million followers.
He is known for creating actionable, data-driven SEO content that delivers results. Some of his most popular content provides step-by-step guides on link building, keyword research, content optimization, and conversions.
Brian also hosts the Backlinko YouTube channel with over 700k subscribers. Whether you're looking to learn technical SEO, build better backlinks, or boost traffic, Brian's content will help get you there.
2. Neil Patel - Co-Founder of NP Digital and Forbes Top 100 Entrepreneur
It's impossible to create a list of top SEO influencers without including Neil Patel. He is arguably one of the most prominent experts in the digital marketing arena.
Neil co-founded the SEO and content marketing agency NP Digital that has served major companies like NBC, Google, Forbes, and HP. He was also recognized by Forbes as a top 100 entrepreneur.
In addition to consulting Fortune 500 companies, Neil generously shares his marketing knowledge online. He publishes blog posts and YouTube videos where he breaks down everything from keyword research to link building to SEO trends.
Any marketer, both new and experienced, can gain volumes from Neil's teachings. His content helps simplify complex SEO strategies to boost results.
3. Cyrus Shepard - CEO of Zyppy
Cyrus Shepard is an energetic and engaging SEO influencer who makes learning SEO fun and accessible. He is the CEO of Zyppy, an SEO training site, and host of The SEO Guide podcast.
Cyrus earned his reputation as an SEO expert thanks to his focus on technical SEO and site optimization. He shares very tactical advice on improving site speed, enhancing UX, fixing crawl errors, and more. His actionable strategies help websites gain visibility and traffic through technical improvements.
Plus, Cyrus presents at major SEO conferences like Pubcon, SES, and SearchLove on a regular basis. His speaking sessions are full of actionable tips that attendees can immediately implement.
4. Danny Sullivan - Founding Editor of Search Engine Land
When it comes to staying on top of the latest in search engine news and SEO, Danny Sullivan is an indispensable resource. He is a digital marketing veteran who has covered search engines since the 1990s.
As founding editor of Search Engine Land, Danny oversees one of the top publications on search marketing and delivers breaking news and analysis. He also has a knack for accurately predicting the likely impact of Google updates.
Beyond news coverage, Danny shares tips on content creation, keyword research, link building, and SEO storytelling through Search Engine Land. He also hosts live Q&A videos where he answers common SEO questions from followers. Danny is one of the most authoritative voices in the SEO industry.
5. Rand Fishkin - Co-Founder of Moz and Sparktoro
Rand Fishkin is practically synonymous with SEO given his high-profile role as co-founder of Moz, one of the top SEO tools and resources. Their popular blog and software tools have helped educate a generation of digital marketers.
Rand authored the bestselling book on SEO "The Art of SEO" and has been featured in publications from Forbes to the New York Times for his SEO expertise. Today he runs Sparktoro, a company offering analytics on social media audiences.
Through his acclaimed blog and lively appearances at conferences, Rand continues to provide invaluable SEO education on everything from keyword targeting to site structure to user experience. He's especially insightful when it comes to content marketing and SEO.
6. Barry Schwartz - Founder of RustyBrick and Search Engine Roundtable
Staying on top of the latest news, trends, and updates in the world of SEO is what Barry Schwartz does best. He founded RustyBrick, an NY-based SEO software company, as well as the influential Search Engine Roundtable blog.
With over 20 years of SEO experience, Barry has established himself as the go-to source for updates on Google algorithm changes, Bing announcements, SEO patents, and more. He offers thoughtful analysis of the latest developments.
Beyond reporting news, Barry is also passionate about SEO training and education. He shares a wealth of knowledge on link building, content development, page speed, mobile optimization, and voice search. Barry has an approachable way of communicating even complex SEO topics.
7. Brian Harnish - Senior SEO Consultant
Brian Harnish takes a metrics-driven approach to solving critical SEO challenges. He has over a decade of experience specifically focused on technical SEO audits and fixes for global companies.
On his personal site, Brian shares in-depth guides and tutorials focused on site migrations, improving site speed, conducting technical SEO audits, resolving crawl errors, and more. His specialization in large-scale technical SEO projects gives him unique insights.
Brian also co-hosts the engaging SEO podcast Solve for Why where they explore topics like rank tracking, link building, URL optimization, and voice search. It consistently provides actionable tips that SEO pros can implement.
8. Aleyda Solis - Founder and CEO of Orainti
If you're looking to boost your international SEO results, then Aleyda Solis should be one of your go-to influencers. Originally from Spain, Aleyda is the founder of Orainti, a digital marketing agency focused on SEO.
She is considered one of the leading authorities when it comes to international SEO and multilingual search marketing. Aleyda shares invaluable insights into localizing content, optimizing websites for international audiences, and earning local rankings.
Not only does she publish in-depth posts and videos, but Aleyda also speaks at conferences like SEMrush's SearchLove events worldwide. She delivers actionable multilingual SEO strategies that engage any audience.
9. Britney Muller - Senior SEO Director at Moz
At one of the top SEO companies, Moz, Britney Muller heads up SEO training and content strategy. She started her SEO career back in 2010 and has expanded her expertise across many aspects of SEO.
Britney creates comprehensive SEO educational content through blogs, webinars, conferences and Moz's tools. Some of her most insightful posts reveal how to build a rock-solid SEO foundation, optimize site architecture, earn high-quality backlinks, and analyze your SEO performance.
Whether you're an SEO beginner looking to learn the basics or an experienced practitioner, Britney delivers extremely valuable SEO knowledge through Moz.
10. Marie Haynes - Founder of Marie Haynes Consulting
Rounding out my list of top 10 influencers is Marie Haynes. As an SEO consultant since 2010, Marie built her reputation by helping fix complex SEO issues through meticulous audits.
She specializes in solving algorithm penalties, spam deindexing, site migrations, and other technical challenges. Marie shares step-by-step guides on her site on properly recovering from manual actions and improving site health.
While Marie has impressive technical knowledge, she also creates very readable beginner content on SEO. She covers everything from keyword research to Meta data optimization to link building. Marie is one of the most thoughtful SEO educators out there.
11 More Notable Influencers Driving the SEO Industry
While my top 10 covers some of the biggest SEO thought leaders today, there are many other great influencers pushing the industry forward. Here are 11 more experts doing great work that you should follow:
Glenn Gabe - SEO specialist at G-Squared who analyzes algorithm updates and publishes detailed reports on his site.
Dan Petrovic - Founder of DEJAN Marketing and leading expert on technical SEO factors like site speed. Known for his high-quality educational posts.
Eric Enge - Long-time digital marketing expert and CEO of search marketing agency Perficient Digital. Eric has authored multiple books on SEO and hosts live video shows.
Bill Slawski - SEO expert and founder of SEO by the Sea blog. Known for his cutting-edge analysis of search engine patents and algorithms.
Martin MacDonald - Award-winning international SEO consultant based in the UK. Focuses on technical SEO audits and high-authority link building tactics.
Matthew Barby - Digital marketing consultant specializing in link building and content marketing. Co-host of popular SEO podcast The Digital Marketing Podcast.
Ross Tavendale - Founder of Premium SEO NZ and influential international SEO consultant. Known for actionable tips on optimizing global ecommerce sites.
Kristopher Jones - Founder of LSEO.com and leading voice on technical SEO. Kristopher speaks regularly at major SEO conferences worldwide.
Mordy Oberstein - Head of SEO at Semrush, one of the top SEO software companies. Mordy shares actionable tips and training through Semrush.
John Mueller - Google search advocate known for his expertise in Google search algorithms. John participates in video office hours providing insights into SEO best practices.
Sean Si - CEO of SEO Hacker and digital marketing agency GrowMap. Sean is a top SEO influencer in Asia known for his very tactical tips.
Why You Should Follow Multiple Influencers
As you can see, there is no shortage of talented experts creating great SEO content. By following several influencers, you get exposed to diverse perspectives, strategies, and insights.
Different influencers have various specialties across technical SEO, content marketing, link building, and more. Follow influencers aligned with your goals to take your knowledge to the next level.
Consume their content through whichever channels work for you - blogs, YouTube, podcasts, social media, and conferences. Make it a habit to stay updated on the latest from your list of top SEO influencers.
Key Takeaways - Who You Need in Your SEO Feed
Brian Dean - Link building tactics and strategies
Neil Patel - Digital marketing and content marketing
Cyrus Shepard - Technical SEO and UX optimization
Danny Sullivan - SEO news, Google updates and trends
Rand Fishkin - SEO and content marketing education
Barry Schwartz - Search marketing news and analysis
Brian Harnish - Technical SEO audits and fixes
Aleyda Solis - International SEO and multilingual search
Britney Muller - Holistic SEO strategies and best practices
Marie Haynes - Solving complex SEO issues
Glenn Gabe - Google algorithm analysis
Dan Petrovic - Site speed optimization
Eric Enge - Overall SEO education
Bill Slawski - Search algorithm research
Martin MacDonald - Technical audits and link building
Matthew Barby - Link building and content marketing
Ross Tavendale - International ecommerce SEO
Kristopher Jones - Technical SEO
Mordy Oberstein - SEO software and tools
John Mueller - Google search advocate
Sean Si - Tactical SEO and digital marketing
This list represents the top group of influencers and experts that you need to follow closely for SEO success in 2023. Keep their blogs, videos, and podcasts queued up to expand your skillset.
Use their advice and lessons learned to refine your own website optimization efforts. Implement their recommendations on technical fixes, content creation, link building, and conversions.
Following SEO influencers consistently will ensure you have the knowledge to boost your visibility and traffic on search engines this year.
Keeping up with the Latest Trends and Updates with Slaterock Automation
At Slaterock Automation, we don't just keep up with the latest SEO trends - we stay ahead of them. As a premier SEO agency, we have our finger on the pulse of every new Google update, every shift in algorithmic focus, and every emerging tactic within search engine optimization.
We integrate these insights instantly into client campaigns to maximize their visibility and traffic. While competitors scramble to react, we've already optimized our strategies based on the future of SEO.
Our secret is an obsession with influencer content. We consume blogs, videos, podcasts and more from the top experts like Neil Patel, Cyrus Shepard, and Danny Sullivan. This gives us a competitive advantage for clients.
Want to gain that same advantage? Our SEO services leverage the latest innovations to get you results now and into the future. Let us customize a data-driven SEO plan tailored to your business goals. Book a meeting to start dominating the SERPs with Slaterock Automation!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the best SEO practices to follow?
If you're looking to optimize your website for search engine rankings, it's essential to follow some of the best SEO practices consistently. These practices include: ensuring your website loads quickly, making your site mobile-friendly, using SEO-friendly URLs, optimizing your content with the right keywords, and using social media marketing. It's also important to stay updated with SEO tips and trends to make sure your strategies are up-to-date. Besides, consider following best SEO influencers on social media to learn from their experiences.
2. Who are some of the top 10 SEO influencers that I should follow on social media?
There are many excellent SEO influencers you can follow on social media. These individuals are recognized figures in the SEO industry, who can provide insights into SEO tips, trends, and best practices. Although there isn't a definitive list of the top 10 SEO influencers – as this can change based on one's personal preference – some names often recognized as top figures in the SEO industry include Rand Fishkin, who was also the founder of SEO at Moz, and Neil Patel, a prominent figure in the SEO industry and the co-founder of Crazy Egg and Hello Bar.
3. Which are some of the best SEO tools for improving search engine rankings?
Increasing your website's visibility in search engine rankings involves using some of the best SEO tools available. Tools like SEMRush, Ahrefs, Google Keyword Planner, Moz, and Yoast SEO are all commonly used. Many of these resources also offer free SEO tools or trials, so you can explore each platform's benefits and decide which one serves your SEO needs the best.
4. What are some effective SEO strategies?
To ensure effective SEO, there are several strategies one could follow. These include: focusing on long-tail keywords, creating high-quality content, making your site mobile-friendly, optimizing page load times, leveraging social media to promote your content, performing regular SEO audits on your website, and tracking your SEO performance with Google Analytics. It's also essential to stay up-to-date with the latest SEO trends and best practices.
5. What is the role of social media in SEO?
Social media marketing is an important component of SEO. Though social media signals do not directly affect search rankings, they affect your website's traffic, which in turn can improve your search rankings. By promoting your content on various social media platforms, you can get your
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