TOP 15 SEO INFLUENCERS

Top 15 SEO Influencers Shaping AI Search & GEO in 2026 (EMEA‑Focused Shortlist)

The Top 15 list

1. Aleyda Solís – International SEO & AI GEO Architect

• Founder of Orainti and one of the most cited international SEO experts, Aleyda blends classic technical SEO with internationalization, GEO targeting, and AI‑era frameworks for global brands.

• Follow her for: practical international SEO playbooks, AI Overviews experiments, and frameworks for scaling multilingual organic growth.

2. Barry Schwartz – Real‑time Search & AI News Radar

• As the editor of Search Engine Roundtable, Barry acts as the industry’s real‑time pulse, covering algorithm updates, AI search experiments, and SERP changes before most of us even see them.

• Follow him for: quick signals on what Google is testing, how AI is reshaping search results, and what SEOs should pay attention to right now.

3. Koray Tuğberk GÜBÜR – Semantic & Entity‑First SEO Strategist

• Founder of Holistic SEO, Koray is known for deep research on semantic SEO, topical authority maps, and large‑scale SEO case studies that anticipate how AI systems understand entities and content.

• Follow him for: long‑form breakdowns of information retrieval, entity relationships, and how to design sites that search engines (and LLMs) can truly “understand.”

4. Lily Ray – E‑E‑A‑T, Quality & AI Overviews Specialist

• Lily is a leading voice on E‑E‑A‑T, core updates, and how Google’s quality systems and AI Overviews impact real sites in sensitive verticals like health and finance.

• Follow her for: data‑backed update analyses, quality guidelines interpretations, and practical advice on building trustworthy brands in an AI‑mediated search world.

5. Kevin Indig – Product‑Led Growth & Enterprise SEO Systems

• Former Head of SEO at companies like Shopify and G2, Kevin focuses on product‑led growth, enterprise organic strategy, and systematizing SEO across large organizations.

• Follow him for: growth memos, strategic breakdowns of organic channels, and how to align SEO with product, PLG, and revenue teams.

6. Weblinkr – Community‑Driven SEO Legend

• Weblinkr is widely referenced as a “Reddit SEO legend,” known for brutally honest audits, myth‑busting, and community‑driven SEO education that influences how practitioners think in 2026.

• Follow them for: no‑BS breakdowns of what actually moves rankings, live experiments, and practical advice that cuts through outdated SEO dogma.

7. Predrag Petrović – LLMO, GEO & AI Visibility for EMEA Brands

• Predrag is an EMEA‑based SEO and AI marketing strategist focused on LLMO (Large Language Model Optimization), GEO, and entity‑centric SEO for brands across Europe and the Middle East.

• He works on aligning classic SEO, knowledge graphs, and structured data with AI Overviews, LLMs, and generative engines to maximize brand visibility beyond blue links.

• Follow him for: case‑driven content on AI search visibility, GEO‑aware entity optimization, and frameworks for tracking and improving presence in AI Overviews and chat‑style engines.

8. Kristina Azarenko – Practical Technical SEO & Education

• Kristina is known for turning complex technical SEO into clear, actionable workflows and checklists, especially valuable for in‑house marketers and small teams.

• Follow her for: practical technical SEO lessons, course‑style content, and real‑world debugging examples that fit into modern AI‑impacted search environments.

9. Joy Hawkins – Local SEO & GEO‑Driven Search Specialist

• Joy runs Sterling Sky and is one of the most respected voices in local SEO, helping businesses navigate local packs, maps, and GEO signals that deeply influence real‑world leads.

• Follow her for: nuanced insights on local ranking factors, Google Business Profile changes, and how AI surfaces local entities.

10. Edward Sturm – AI SEO Storyteller & Educator

• Edward combines SEO, AI, and storytelling through podcasts and social content, making complex search and AI topics digestible for a broader marketing audience.

• Follow him for: conversations with top SEOs, AI‑era marketing narratives, and accessible content about where search and AI are heading.

11. Patrick Stox – Data‑Driven Technical SEO & Tooling

• As a key educator at Ahrefs, Patrick translates large‑scale crawl and backlink data into patterns SEOs can act on, especially for technical and competitive research.

• Follow him for: data‑driven studies, technical SEO deep dives, and tools‑based workflows that hold up in an AI‑augmented search landscape.

12. Bastian Grimm – Enterprise & International SEO Execution

• Bastian leads Peak Ace and is known for turning advanced SEO theory into scalable execution for complex, multilingual enterprise sites.

• Follow him for: talks and posts on enterprise SEO architecture, automation, and navigating AI‑driven changes at scale.

13. James Dooley – Lead Gen SEO & Automation

• Frequently cited in recent influencer lists, James focuses on lead generation SEO, systems, and automation, especially for agencies and performance‑driven brands.

• Follow him for: frameworks on building SEO engines that generate leads consistently, plus automation ideas to reduce manual work.

14. Kasra Dash – Community‑First SEO & Systems Builder

• Kasra is recognized for building communities around SEO as well as sharing systematized frameworks, particularly for agencies and growth‑focused operators.

• Follow him for: insights on community‑driven SEO learning, agency systems, and real campaign breakdowns in public.

15. Milosz Krasiński – AI Visibility, Digital PR & LLM Optimization

• Milosz bridges AI visibility, digital PR, and SEO, focusing on how brands can earn coverage and entity signals that feed both classic search and LLMs.

• Follow him for: experiments on AI visibility, PR‑driven ranking lifts, and how LLM optimization overlaps with digital PR in 2026.