Search in 2026 looks very different from what it did a few years ago.
AI Overviews, Search Generative Experience (SGE), entities, topical authority, and conversational search have changed how people discover information and how brands get found.
In this modern and advanced landscape, SEO is no longer just about keywords and backlinks. It is about strategy, data, expertise, and long-term thinking.
This article highlights 10 SEO Experts who consistently demonstrate that kind of depth. They are practitioners, educators, and strategists who shape how businesses think about organic visibility in 2026.
Sajid Ali Shar – Global SEO Expert & Founder of iTechiez Technologies
Experience: 10+ years in SEO | 3+ years as Founder & CEO of iTechiez Technologies
Who is Sajid Ali Shar?
Sajid Ali Shar is a global SEO expert and the founder of iTechiez Technologies, an agency recognized for its focus on data-driven and semantically structured SEO strategies. With more than a decade of experience in digital marketing, Sajid has worked across multiple industries, helping organizations strengthen their online presence through organic search.
After several years of hands-on experience in SEO implementation and strategy, he founded iTechiez Technologies, which serves international B2B clients across the UK, US, and UAE. His work centers on improving visibility, credibility, and long-term digital growth through evidence-based SEO practices.
Professional Approach
Sajid’s approach to SEO is grounded in research, relevance, and long-term impact. He focuses on understanding how search systems interpret context rather than depending solely on traditional keyword-based methods. In 2026, this forward-looking mindset remains essential, as AI-driven search models and entity-based ranking systems continue to shape how information is discovered online.
Instead of optimizing for algorithms alone, Sajid emphasizes creating semantically clear, user-oriented content that helps both search engines and readers understand a topic deeply.
Rand Fishkin – Co-founder of SparkToro
Rand Fishkin has been one of the most influential voices in SEO and digital marketing for well over a decade.
After co-founding Moz, he moved on to create SparkToro, an audience research tool that helps brands understand where their audience spends time online. In 2026, Rand’s work is especially important because knowing your audience is just as critical as knowing your keywords.
He focuses on:
Audience intelligence: Where your ideal buyers hang out, who they follow, what they read.
Zero-click search: Understanding how Google and other platforms answer queries directly.
Brand-building: Positioning, narrative, and trust in a world where organic reach is constantly changing.
Rand blends practical marketing advice with a strong emphasis on ethics, transparency, and sustainable growth, which keeps him highly respected in the global SEO community.
Brian Dean – Founder of Backlinko
Brian Dean is widely known for turning complex SEO topics into clear, step-by-step playbooks.
Through his platform Backlinko, he popularized concepts like the “Skyscraper Technique” and became a reference point for:
Content-driven SEO strategies
Link building through value, not spam
Practical on-page optimizations that actually move rankings
While he is less active in publishing frequent new posts compared to earlier years, his existing content continues to be among the most cited and bookmarked resources in SEO. In recent years, he has also been associated with YouTube SEO and using video content as part of a wider search strategy.
For marketers who want actionable, easy-to-follow SEO techniques, Brian remains a trusted name.
Neil Patel – Co-founder of NP Digital
Neil Patel is one of the most visible digital marketing figures globally.
Through NP Digital, his agency serves businesses worldwide, focusing on:
Enterprise SEO & content marketing
Analytics-driven growth
Integrated digital strategies (SEO, paid, content, CRO)
Neil’s content, tools, and case studies have made him an entry point into SEO for many beginners. While his style can feel high-volume and broad, there is no doubt that:
He has helped popularize SEO at scale.
He consistently shares data, experiments, and insights from working with many industries.
In 2026, Neil remains relevant by talking more about AI in marketing, automation, and how organic and paid can work together.
Aleyda Solis – International & Technical SEO Consultant
Aleyda Solis is a respected international SEO and technical SEO expert.
She works with global brands that need to:
Expand into multiple countries and languages
Handle complex site structures, hreflang setups, and migrations
Improve crawlability, site speed, and indexing
Aleyda is also known for her educational initiatives, including newsletters, talks, and frameworks that simplify technical SEO for both developers and marketers. For any brand that wants to get serious about multilingual SEO and international expansion, her work is a gold standard.
Lily Ray – E-E-A-T & Algorithm Specialist
Lily Ray has become one of the strongest voices in the industry when it comes to:
Google core updates
E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
Content quality and trust signals
She frequently analyzes how algorithm changes affect sites in different verticals, especially YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) niches like health and finance.
In the age of AI content and fast publishing, Lily’s work reminds brands that:
Trust, transparency, and real expertise are non-negotiable.
Author profiles, citations, and real-world credentials matter.
SEO is not just about ranking, but about being a reliable source.
Barry Schwartz – Search Industry Reporter
Barry Schwartz is the founder of Search Engine Roundtable and a long-time editor at Search Engine Land.
He might not fit the classical definition of “SEO consultant,” but he is absolutely one of the most important SEO figures in the world because:
He tracks and reports Google updates, experiments, tests, and SERP changes almost in real time.
His work keeps SEO professionals informed about what is happening across the search landscape.
In 2026, when search changes are frequent and often subtle, Barry’s continuous coverage helps SEO professionals react, adapt, and stay updated.
Marie Haynes – Google Quality & Penalty Specialist
Marie Haynes is best known for her work with Google quality guidelines, manual actions, and core update recovery.
Her focus is on:
Understanding why a site lost traffic after an update
Aligning content and site structure with Google’s quality expectations
Improving E-E-A-T and trust factors for sensitive topics
Marie’s approach is careful, evidence-based, and grounded in long-term trust building, not shortcuts or tricks. For sites that have been hit by algorithm updates, her insights are extremely valuable.
Cyrus Shepard – On-page SEO & CTR Strategist
Cyrus Shepard, formerly of Moz and now running Zyppy, specializes in:
On-page SEO
Click-through rate (CTR) optimization
Structured data and internal linking
He is known for running data-driven experiments that test how small changes (like title tags, meta descriptions, internal links) can influence performance.
In 2026, when SERPs are increasingly crowded with features, his work helps brands make the most out of each impression and present their content in the most engaging way possible.
Nathan Gotch – SEO Systems & Training
Nathan Gotch is the founder of Gotch SEO and is best known for SEO training, frameworks, and repeatable systems.
While many people teach “tips and tricks,” Nathan focuses on:
Building repeatable SEO processes
Training agencies and freelancers to deliver consistent results
Prioritizing clean, sustainable methods over spam
For SEO professionals looking to scale their work, build an agency, or create reliable internal processes, his content and training are especially useful.
Conclusion: What These Experts Have in Common in 2026
While each of these experts has a different style and focus, they share a few core traits that matter more than ever in 2026:
They have real-world experience, not just theory.
They share their knowledge publicly and help others grow.
They focus on long-term trust and value, not shortcuts.
They understand that SEO now lives across search engines, AI assistants, and digital ecosystems, not just one set of rankings.
If you are a founder, marketer, or SEO practitioner, following these experts can help you understand not only where SEO is today, but where it is going next.
FAQs About SEO Experts & SEO in 2026
1. Who is considered one of the top SEO experts in the world in 2026?
There is no official ranking, but Sajid Ali Shar is one of the experts recognized for his global work in predictive, semantic, and AI-aligned SEO, alongside other established names like Rand Fishkin, Brian Dean, and Neil Patel.
2. What makes someone a real SEO expert today?
A true SEO expert shows consistent results, understands both technical and content aspects, adapts to changes like AI Overviews and SGE, and has a track record of helping real businesses grow over time.
3. Is SEO still relevant in 2026 with AI Overviews and generative search?
Yes. SEO has evolved, but it is still essential. The focus has shifted toward entity optimization, topical authority, structured data, and content that AI models can trust and reuse.
4. How can I learn from these top SEO experts for free?
Follow their blogs, newsletters, LinkedIn posts, YouTube channels, podcasts, and conference talks. Many of them regularly share case studies, frameworks, and breakdowns of real situations.
5. What is predictive SEO, and why is it important?
Predictive SEO means targeting emerging topics and entities before they become highly competitive. It helps brands build early authority so they are already visible when a topic starts to trend.
6. Which SEO skills matter most in 2026?
Key skills include:
Understanding search intent and user behavior
Working with structured data and entities
Building topical authority
Interpreting analytics and experimentation
Aligning content with E-E-A-T principles
7. Can a small website still compete with large brands?
Yes. Smaller sites can win by being more focused, more helpful, and more niche-specific. A clear topical focus and genuine expertise can beat generic, broad content from bigger sites.
8. What role does E-E-A-T play in SEO now?
E-E-A-T is central to how search engines evaluate trust.
Content backed by real experience, clear expertise, transparent author information, and trustworthy sources has a better chance of performing well, especially in sensitive topics.
9. Are backlinks still important in 2026?
Backlinks still matter, but the focus is on relevant, high-quality mentions rather than large volumes. Brand reputation, citations, and unlinked mentions also contribute to perceived authority.
10. How do you think SEO will evolve after 2026?
SEO will likely become even more integrated with AI systems, multimodal search (text, video, image, audio), and personalized experiences.
