The top SEO experts in 2026, in my verdict, are Julian Goldie, Aleyda Solis, Lily Ray, Areej AbuAli, Darren Shaw, Andy Crestodina, Luke Carthy, John Shehata and Derral Eves, with each one winning a different speciality.
You deserve a clear disclosure first.
This is my own list, and I've ranked myself at number one, so please treat that position as my opinion and check the evidence yourself.
I've given each speciality one winner, because "best SEO expert" means nothing until you say what kind of SEO you need.
Each verdict below uses only facts that I confirmed on the person's own site or in reputable coverage.
I haven't given anyone a score out of ten, and I explain why further down the page.
The Quick Verdict On The Top SEO Experts
Here is the full verdict before the detail.
| Rank | Expert | Speciality won | Verdict in one line |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julian Goldie (Goldie Agency) | Link building and AI agent SEO | The pick for links plus agents that do the repetitive work |
| 2 | Aleyda Solis (Orainti) | International SEO | The pick for multi-country and multilingual sites |
| 3 | Lily Ray (lilyray.nyc) | AI search and E-E-A-T | The pick for understanding updates and AI visibility |
| 4 | Areej AbuAli (Women in Tech SEO) | Technical SEO | The pick for technical learning and community |
| 5 | Darren Shaw (Whitespark) | Local SEO | The pick for Google Maps and local rankings research |
| 6 | Andy Crestodina (Orbit Media) | Content marketing | The pick for content that is backed by data |
| 7 | Luke Carthy (lukecarthy.com) | E-commerce SEO | The pick for shops that care about sales as well as traffic |
| 8 | John Shehata (NewzDash) | News SEO | The pick for publishers and Top Stories |
| 9 | Derral Eves (VidSummit) | YouTube SEO | The pick for video search and channel growth |
How I Reached This Verdict On The Top SEO Experts
I judged every person against the same four criteria.
- The first criterion was a clear speciality that the person is publicly known for.
- The second criterion was a track record that I could confirm on their own site.
- The third criterion was free material that lets you test their thinking.
- The fourth criterion was relevance in 2026, when AI answers sit beside classic search results.
I didn't rank on follower counts, and I didn't include anyone whose current role I couldn't confirm.
I also avoided repeating my lists of the best SEO professionals and the best SEO consultant, so this page adds new names and a new angle.
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The Top SEO Experts: Full Verdicts By Speciality
1. Julian Goldie — Link Building And AI Agent SEO
What I'm known for: I'm known for link building, for Goldie Agency and for teaching AI SEO on YouTube.
I've spent over a decade in SEO, and it began with a cryptocurrency site that got no traffic until I learned to build links.
Goldie Agency started as a one-person business, and it's now a 7-figure agency with 70+ people in Bangkok.
The agency publishes case studies, and one of them shows The Wheel Generator growing traffic by 767% with six backlinks between May and August 2025.
I've taught 29,000+ students on Udemy, and my YouTube channel has 400,000+ subscribers.
Can you hire me: Yes, you can use the agency, a free SEO strategy session or the SEO Elite Circle.
Verdict: I'm the right pick if you want links and an AI agent workflow, and I'm the wrong pick if you only need news SEO or YouTube advice.
2. Aleyda Solis — International SEO
What she's known for: She's known for international SEO, for the SEOFOMO newsletter and for the free LearningSEO.io roadmap.
She founded Orainti in 2014 after working in agencies and in-house.
The consultancy lists international SEO, e-commerce, SaaS and AI search among its services.
She was named European Search Personality of the Year in 2018.
Can you hire her: Her consultancy takes clients, so I'd check the Orainti site for how to enquire.
Verdict: She's my pick for any site that targets more than one country or language.
3. Lily Ray — AI Search And E-E-A-T
What she's known for: She's known for research on E-E-A-T, AI search, Google Discover and algorithm updates.
Her site lists her as the founder of Algorythmic, an SEO and AI search consultancy.
It also lists her as VP of SEO and AI Search at Amsive.
Can you hire her: Her site lists both a consultancy and an agency role, so I'd start there.
Verdict: She's my pick for understanding why visibility changes after an update.
4. Areej AbuAli — Technical SEO
What she's known for: She's known for founding Women in Tech SEO and for speaking on technical SEO.
She founded Women in Tech SEO in 2019, and the community is free to join.
It runs WTSFest, with conferences listed in London, Portland and Philadelphia.
Search Engine Land gave her its Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Search Marketing award in 2020.
Can you hire her: Her bios describe her as the founder of the technical SEO consultancy Crawlina, so I'd check her own channels for availability.
Verdict: She's my pick for learning technical SEO inside a supportive community.
5. Darren Shaw — Local SEO
What he's known for: He's known for Whitespark and for the Local Search Ranking Factors survey.
He founded Whitespark in 2005, and the company moved its focus to local search in 2010.
Whitespark now provides local search software and services.
Can you hire him: Whitespark sells tools and services, so the company's site is the place to look.
Verdict: He's my pick for anyone whose customers find them on Google Maps.
6. Andy Crestodina — Content Marketing
What he's known for: He's known for Orbit Media, for the book "Content Chemistry" and for an annual blogger survey.
He's the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Orbit Media Studios.
"Content Chemistry: The Illustrated Handbook for Content Marketing" is in its seventh edition.
Can you hire him: Orbit Media is a web design and development agency, so enquiries go through the agency.
Verdict: He's my pick for content strategy that is measured properly in analytics.
7. Luke Carthy — E-commerce SEO
What he's known for: He's known for e-commerce SEO, conversion optimisation and conference talks.
His site describes him as an e-commerce consultant specialising in growth through SEO, Google Analytics and conversion optimisation.
His services include e-commerce audits and e-commerce SEO, and the site mentions fixed-price projects and monthly retainers.
Can you hire him: Yes, his site presents him as a consultant, and you can enquire on lukecarthy.com.
Verdict: He's my pick for online shops that want organic traffic that turns into sales.
8. John Shehata — News SEO
What he's known for: He's known for NewzDash and for the News and Editorial SEO Summit.
He founded NewzDash, a tool that helps publishers win visibility in Google Top Stories and Google News.
His company bio lists a former role as Global VP of Audience Development at Condé Nast.
He created the News and Editorial SEO Summit together with Barry Adams.
Can you hire him: NewzDash is a software product, so most people will use the tool and learn from his talks.
Verdict: He's my pick for newsrooms and anyone publishing time-sensitive content.
9. Derral Eves — YouTube SEO
What he's known for: He's known for VidSummit, for "The YouTube Formula" and for The Chosen.
He founded VidSummit in 2013 as an annual event for YouTube creators.
Wiley published "The YouTube Formula" in 2021, and he's an executive producer of The Chosen.
Can you hire him: I'd treat him as someone to learn from through the book and the conference.
Verdict: He's my pick for anyone who treats YouTube as a search engine.
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Head-To-Head: Which Expert Wins Each SEO Speciality?
This table shows the winner and the name I'd read second.
| Speciality | Winner | Also worth reading |
|---|---|---|
| Link building | Julian Goldie | Andy Crestodina |
| AI agent SEO workflows | Julian Goldie | Lily Ray |
| International SEO | Aleyda Solis | Areej AbuAli |
| AI search and answer engines | Lily Ray | Aleyda Solis |
| Technical SEO | Areej AbuAli | Aleyda Solis |
| Local SEO | Darren Shaw | Julian Goldie |
| Content marketing | Andy Crestodina | Derral Eves |
| E-commerce SEO | Luke Carthy | Aleyda Solis |
| News SEO | John Shehata | Lily Ray |
| YouTube SEO | Derral Eves | Andy Crestodina |
The "also worth reading" column is my opinion, and it's based on the topics each person publicly covers.
Why I Don't Score The Top SEO Experts Out Of Ten
This site normally gives tools a score, so I want to explain the gap.
A tool can be tested on the same task again and again, and a person can't.
I haven't hired every person on this list, so any number I gave them would be invented.
I'd rather give you a clear speciality and a verdict than a fake score.
The only measured scores I publish for SEO work are for AI models, and those are on GoldieBench.
How To Judge SEO Expertise Yourself
You can run this five-point check on anyone, including me.
| Check | What good looks like | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Published work | Research, a book, case studies or a long-running blog | Nothing you can read |
| Speciality | One clear area of depth | A claim to be the best at everything |
| Evidence | Numbers with start and end dates | Screenshots with no dates |
| Methods | Plain explanations that follow Google's spam policies | Secrets and "proprietary" link sources |
| AI search | A clear view on AI Overviews and AI Mode | No mention of AI at all |
Anyone who passes four of the five checks is worth your time.
Learn From Versus Hire: My Verdict
Most readers should learn from these experts first and hire second.
| Route | Verdict | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Follow free content | The best starting point for everyone | Beginners and small budgets |
| Buy a book or course | Good value when it matches your speciality | Self-learners |
| Join a mastermind | Strong when you want feedback on your own site | Serious practitioners |
| Book a strategy session | The fastest way to get a plan | Owners who are short on time |
| Hire an agency | The right call when you have budget and no time | Established businesses |
For the mastermind route, my own option is the SEO Elite Circle.
For the strategy route, you can book a free SEO strategy session with my team.
If you'd rather build the skill yourself, I've written a full guide to AI SEO training.
What The Top SEO Experts Have In Common
Nine very different specialists still share a few habits.
- Each of them has published their thinking in public for years.
- Each of them owns a clear speciality instead of chasing every topic.
- Each of them built something lasting, such as a community, a tool, a book, an agency or a conference.
- Each of them now treats AI search as part of the job.
That's the standard I'd hold any SEO expert to, including someone you meet locally.
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Final Verdict On The Top SEO Experts
My verdict is that the best expert is the one whose speciality matches your problem.
I'd pick me for link building and AI agent SEO, Aleyda Solis for international, Lily Ray for AI search and Areej AbuAli for technical.
I'd pick Darren Shaw for local, Andy Crestodina for content, Luke Carthy for e-commerce, John Shehata for news and Derral Eves for YouTube.
If you want a list based on who led the field this year, my verdict on the top SEO professionals in 2026 covers that.
The AI Money Lab is my free community, and it's a sensible first step if you aren't ready to pay for anything.
FAQ: Top SEO Experts
Who is the top SEO expert in 2026?
There isn't a single winner, because SEO has many specialities.
My picks are listed by speciality in the verdict table at the top of this page.
Who is the best technical SEO expert to learn from?
My pick is Areej AbuAli, who founded Women in Tech SEO in 2019.
The community is free, and its WTSFest talks are a strong way to learn technical SEO.
Who is the best local SEO expert?
My pick is Darren Shaw, the founder of Whitespark.
He leads the Local Search Ranking Factors survey, which is widely cited in local SEO.
Why is Julian Goldie number one on this list?
It's my own list, so I've put myself first for link building and AI agent SEO.
I'd ask you to judge the evidence rather than the position.
How do I get SEO help from Julian Goldie?
You can book a free SEO strategy session, join the SEO Elite Circle or hire Goldie Agency.
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About Julian
I'm Julian Goldie, an SEO entrepreneur, author and founder of the AI Profit Boardroom, which has 3,400+ members.
I help business owners scale with AI agents, automation and SEO.
- I've built a 7-figure SEO and link-building agency, Goldie Agency, with 70+ people in Bangkok.
- I've grown a YouTube channel to 400,000+ subscribers.
- I wrote the book "Link Building Mastery", which covers nine link building strategies.
- My Udemy courses have taught 29,000+ students.
→ Get my best AI training inside the AI Profit Boardroom
Choose the speciality you need first, and the right name from the top SEO experts becomes obvious.
