I’ve been in the SEO game for over a decade, and let me tell you, this industry moves faster than almost any other area of digital marketing. Experience helps, but to stay ahead, you’ll have to learn from the people who are always pushing boundaries.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to connect with and follow some of the most brilliant SEO professionals in the world. These are the experts who continually raise the standard for what great SEO looks like. If you’re serious about growth in 2026, these are the SEO mentors you need to follow.
The Best SEO Experts to Follow in 2026
| Name | Position | Known As |
| Nikola Baldikov | Founder, InBound Blogging | SEO expert helping brands grow visibility and scale organic traffic. |
| Kasra Dash | Founder, The Masterminders & mySEO App | Globally recognized SEO entrepreneur and conference founder. |
| James Dooley | Founder, PromoSEO & FatRank | Specialist in lead generation and digital marketing. |
| Scott Keever | Owner, Keever SEO & Reputation Pros | Expert in SEO and online reputation management. |
| Katarina Dahlin | Senior Growth Hacker, WhitePress® | Finnish SEO expert focused on B2B, B2C, and eCommerce. |
| Szymon Slowik | Founder, takaoto.pro | SEO consultant specializing in eCommerce, B2B, and industrial SEO. |
| Gareth Hoyle | Founder, Marketing Signals | AI-driven SEO and PPC strategist. |
| Russell Lobo | Founder, RussLobo.com & WHLinks | Helps eCommerce brands grow visibility on AI search platforms. |
| Yash Singh | Founder, HVAC10x | Local SEO and lead generation expert for HVAC businesses. |
| Thomas Vavougios | SEO Executive | Advancing Greece’s SEO community and creating high-impact SEO strategies for international brands. |
| David Peranić | Digital Strategist, Scoreminds | Drives data-led campaigns for SEO and performance marketing. |
| Kristjan Mar Olafsson | SEO Strategist | Focuses on adaptable SEO strategies across international markets. |
| Dean Signori | Founder, UK WEB GEEKZ | Full-stack digital marketing agency owner delivering measurable results. |
| Craig Campbell | SEO Consultant & Educator | UK-based SEO trainer with a practical, hands-on approach. |
| Mark Slorance | Founder, Pixel Juice | Runs a digital agency specializing in measurable SEO campaigns. |
| David Johnson | Founder, LoudCrowd | SEO expert for Shopify and eCommerce growth. |
| Viktoria Altman | Founder & CEO, BSPE Legal Marketing | Leading law firm digital marketing expert in the US. |
| Nestor Vazquez | SEO Consultant | Expert in technical SEO and content strategy for organic growth. |
Nikola Baldikov
I’ll start with a quick introduction of who I am and what I do. I’m an SEO expert and founder of InBound Blogging, a link-building and Digital PR agency that helps brands grow their online visibility and authority. Over the past decade, I’ve worked closely with SaaS companies to build scalable organic growth strategies through strategic outreach, digital PR, and content partnerships.
What drives me is helping brands grow sustainably, not through shortcuts, but through systems that compound over time. You can keep up with me here on my blog or follow me on LinkedIn, where I regularly share my insights on the latest developments in SEO.
My passion for this field also motivates me to follow and learn from the incredible professionals below.
James Dooley
James Dooley is a true “Investorpreneur”—an entrepreneur, investor, and SEO strategist rolled into one. He’s the founder of PromoSEO and FatRank, both of which specialize in no-win, no-fee lead generation models. His empire of digital real estate is one of the largest in the UK.
He’s also the author of Leads First: Everything Flows Downstream After Lead Generation, a must-read for marketers who want to master predictable growth.
What I find most inspiring about James is his commitment to measurable outcomes. His insights into lead generation and automation are years ahead of most in the field.
Scott Keever
Scott Keever is both an SEO expert and a reputation management specialist. As the founder of Keever SEO and Reputation Pros, he’s helped countless businesses dominate search results while maintaining pristine online reputations.
I follow Scott for his holistic approach. He understands that SEO and reputation are two sides of the same coin. His professionalism makes him one of the most trusted names in digital marketing today.
Katarina Dahlin
Katarina Dahlin is a Finnish SEO expert and Senior Growth Hacker at WhitePress®, where she leads R&D in links and SEO. She’s a thought leader in international SEO and link building for the Nordic markets, and her work in AI-driven content optimization for ecommerce is groundbreaking.
Her approach to scaling thousands of product descriptions through automation is genius—efficient, data-backed, and creative.
Kasra Dash
Kasra Dash is a Scottish entrepreneur and globally recognized SEO expert. He’s the founder of The Masterminders, an international conference and community built for advanced marketers and business leaders. He also created mySEO App, a private invite-only platform that connects verified SEOs, agencies, and suppliers.
I admire Kasra for his relentless drive to elevate the SEO industry and his creativity in building community-driven solutions.
Szymon Slowik
Szymon Slowik is an SEO consultant and founder of takaoto.pro, a digital marketing agency specializing in ecommerce, B2B, and industrial SEO. Based in Poland, Szymon is known for focusing on the customer journey and business outcomes rather than just vanity metrics.
He’s also a respected international SEO speaker with deep knowledge across CEE and global markets. I value Szymon’s data-driven mindset and his ability to balance analytics with human intent—a skill that defines the best SEO strategists today.
Yash Singh
Yash Singh is the founder of HVAC10x, an agency laser-focused on helping HVAC businesses generate more leads and revenue. His plug-and-play local lead-gen system is transforming how small service businesses attract consistent clients.
I admire Yash for his focus on a niche and his ability to dominate it. His methods prove that even local SEO, when done with precision, can produce massive results.
Thomas Vavougios
Thomas Vavougios is one of the leading SEO experts in Greece and Cyprus, with 8 years of SEO specialization and more than a decade in digital marketing. His international experience across three countries has helped him drive significant organic growth and conversions for global brands.
He’s also deeply active in the SEO community. As the founder of greekseocommunity.gr and the organizer of the SEO Athens Summit, he brings together top professionals and global speakers. Thomas has spoken at events such as Icon Cyprus and SEO Vibes, and has served as a judge for major industry awards, including the Global Search Awards and the UK Search Awards.
Gareth Hoyle
Gareth Hoyle leads Marketing Signals, a UK-based agency known for its AI-driven SEO and PPC strategies. His approach combines automation with human expertise, creating intelligent, scalable solutions that deliver measurable results.
I appreciate Gareth’s forward-thinking mindset. He’s one of the few professionals seamlessly integrating AI with SEO execution, setting the benchmark for modern marketing.
Russell Lobo
Russell Lobo is the founder of RussLobo.com, a GEO and AEO agency for ecommerce brands, and WHLinks, an outreach-based link-building agency. He helps brands boost sales by optimizing for emerging AI search platforms like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.
What sets Russell apart is his understanding of how AI-driven search is reshaping SEO. His insights on adapting to these new discovery channels are invaluable.
David Peranić
David Peranić is a Digital Strategist at Scoreminds, where he leads performance marketing initiatives across SEO, Google Ads, and analytics. His campaigns are data-driven, conversion-focused, and consistently deliver growth across industries.
David’s analytical depth and execution make him a standout in performance marketing.
Mark Slorance
Mark Slorance is the founder of Pixel Juice, a Glasgow-based digital agency known for its results-driven SEO campaigns. His focus on transparency and performance has built Pixel Juice’s reputation as one of Scotland’s most trusted digital agencies.
Mark’s pragmatic approach resonates with me; he’s focused on what actually works and doesn’t get distracted by vanity metrics.
Kristjan Mar Olafsson
Kristjan Mar Olafsson is a seasoned SEO strategist whose career was built on constant adaptation. With over a decade of hands-on experience, he’s mastered every stage of SEO—from planning and building to ranking and monetizing websites.
His adaptability makes him a standout SEO in competitive sectors like iGaming, where he manages complex international campaigns. I admire Kristjan for his resilience and versatility in tackling any market or language barrier.
Dean Signori
Dean Signori is the founder of UK WEB GEEKZ, a full-stack digital marketing agency offering SEO, lead generation, web design, and paid advertising. His team focuses on measurable, data-driven strategies that deliver real ROI.
I respect Dean’s commitment to transparency and tangible outcomes. His holistic approach shows how SEO integrates seamlessly with broader marketing goals.
Viktoria Altman
Viktoria Altman is one of the top law firm SEO experts in the United States. She’s the founder and CEO of BSPE Legal Marketing, one of the leading agencies helping law firms grow through SEO. Viktoria also hosts The Law Firm Accelerator Podcast and is the author of Small Law Firm Digital Marketing, a go-to guide for attorneys who want to scale online.
She’s also an established public speaker and lecturer at institutions like the New York City Bar Association and Arizona State University. Viktoria’s focus on education and empowerment makes her one of the most inspiring figures in digital marketing today.
Craig Campbell
Craig Campbell is a Glasgow-based SEO consultant and one of the UK’s most influential SEO educators. His straightforward, no-nonsense training style has built one of the most loyal communities in the industry.
I’ve always admired Craig’s generosity in sharing practical insights and advanced tactics. He’s proof that experience, honesty, and community can drive long-term success in SEO.
David Johnson
David Johnson is the founder of LoudCrowd, an SEO agency specializing in Shopify and ecommerce SEO. He’s recognized for technical precision and scalable content strategies that boost traffic and revenue for online stores.
David’s ecommerce expertise is second to none. His ability to combine technical optimization with storytelling makes him one of my favorite professionals to follow in this space.
Nestor Vazquez
Nestor Vazquez is a seasoned SEO consultant who specializes in technical optimization and content strategy. His analytical precision and hands-on approach consistently drive measurable visibility and traffic growth for his clients.
I value Nestor’s practical mindset and technical mastery. These qualities make him one of the most dependable SEO professionals to learn from.
Final Thoughts
As we move into 2026, I’ve learned that one thing about SEO remains true: success comes from relentlessly learning and surrounding yourself with the right people.
The experts we’ve just explored are providing actionable blueprints for building lasting online success.
My challenge to you is simple: Don’t just read their content—engage with it. Test their strategies, join their conversations.
These are the mentors I personally follow and the ones I believe every ambitious SEO should be following, too. Monitor the moves of these leaders, and you’ll be writing your own success story in no time.
FAQ
Is Matt Cutts still active in SEO?
No. Matt Cutts stepped away from the SEO industry in 2013 and transitioned into a government career in the United States.
Is Brian Dean still active in SEO?
No. Brian Dean sold Backlinko to Semrush and has since shifted his focus toward education and building new ventures, rather than day-to-day SEO work.
Is Rand Fishkin still active in SEO?
No. Rand Fishkin now runs SparkToro, an audience research and intelligence company, and no longer works directly in SEO strategy or consulting.
Is Neil Patel still active in SEO?
No. Neil Patel now concentrates on overseeing his software and marketing companies, NP Digital and Ubersuggest. While he remains influential in digital marketing, he’s not directly involved in hands-on SEO