SEO is the bread and butter of any content marketer. Sure the marketing tool is useful for other aspects of your business, like optimizing your site copy and digital marketing plans, but it’s arguably most important in any content you’re trying to push for traffic and leads. This means that whether you’re an SEO content writer for an article company or just a business owner trying to craft content on their own, it’s extremely valuable to know a lot about search engine optimization.
The problem with SEO in general is that it isn’t a stagnant marketing form. There are a lot of rules in marketing that don’t generally change, but SEO is one tool that has gone through major upheaval recently. Anytime Google changes their search engine algorithm, you have to change your SEO strategy – and that’s just a major example of when this is necessary. It’s important to constantly stay on top of SEO trends so your own keyword and optimization attempts can be updated with the times.
One of the most important methods of learning about SEO trends and updates is by paying attention to industry insiders and influencers. While they may not be calling the shots at Google and literally changing how SEO works, these 30 SEO influencers are your best source for up to date information, strategies and tips about all things SEO.
1. Rand Fishkin
Founder of powerhouse analytics and more company Moz.
Best way to sell something – don’t sell anything. Earn the awareness, respect, & trust of those who might buy.
— Rand Fishkin (@randfish) February 4, 2015
2. John Doherty
Founder of GetCredo; SEO and growth expert.
A post about why I create side projects that never launch – https://t.co/CBFaE9GOQ0. I also have a blog page – https://t.co/ElL5YxPbQD \m/
— John Doherty (@dohertyjf) March 29, 2016
3. Ed Fry
General Manager of Inbound.org and SEO expert.
Q&A’s blown up in a big way on https://t.co/QH99DA6cGi recently – post your biggest marketing questions here: https://t.co/o07JecATZV
— Ed Fry (@edfryed) February 3, 2016
4. Wil Reynolds
Founder of SEO business SEER Interactive.
Every min trying to explain “why” a ranking is what it is, is a min not spent on doing something that is highly likely to improve rankings
— Wil Reynolds (@wilreynolds) March 28, 2016
5. Danny Sullivan
Founder of both Search Engine Land and Marketing Land, both marketing and SEO businesses.
The Future of Microsoft Is Chatbots https://t.co/iJZoEHM6fo – must-read from @dinabass on Microsoft’s bots-are-the-new-apps strategic change
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) March 30, 2016
6. David Mihm
Expert on local SEO.
Just published my first of an indefinite # of weekly newsletters. Very exciting! —
? Minutive: Vol. 1: https://t.co/QZBNxB0duH
— David Mihm (@davidmihm) March 26, 2016
7. Jordan Kasteler
Digital Marketing Strategist for GET MWI and is versed in social media, SEO and content marketing.
The real impact of Google’s new paid search ad layout on organic search https://t.co/pvR5Wxoxh1 via @sengineland
— Jordan Kasteler (@JordanKasteler) March 29, 2016
8. Dan Shure
Moz associate and owner of EvolvingSEO.com.
The real impact of Google’s new paid search ad layout on organic search https://t.co/pvR5Wxoxh1 via @sengineland
— Jordan Kasteler (@JordanKasteler) March 29, 2016
9. Marissa Mayer
CEO of Yahoo!.
News You Need, Conversations You Want – New Updates to the Yahoo App and Homepage – yahoo: By Simon Khalaf,… https://t.co/GCA9rDOalg
— marissamayer (@marissamayer) January 28, 2016
10. Bruce Clay
Active SEO expert since 1996.
.@e2msolutions asked our #SEO manager @ramirez_robert what he reads to stay up on local SEO. Get his blog roll here https://t.co/Djha7k5oPM
— Bruce Clay, Inc. (@BruceClayInc) March 31, 2016
11. KISSmetrics
One of the best and most respected analytics companies online today.
Make visitors happy in ways that make Google happy https://t.co/sZJ0GirRzr pic.twitter.com/G15rAmsA3f
— Kissmetrics (@Kissmetrics) March 25, 2016
12. SEER Interactive
Wil Reynolds’ business focusing on SEO and analytics.
Thank you to our great crew for helping us become a 2016 Top Workplaces winner! https://t.co/Nh5Id07FVb pic.twitter.com/DiAkquA2Bt
— Seer Interactive (@SeerInteractive) March 20, 2016
13. Tom Critchlow
Founder of Fiercely Curious and SEO expert.
And if you want a sense of what I’m up to these days I made a /now page:https://t.co/QNircE2wB2
— Tom Critchlow (@tomcritchlow) October 24, 2015
14. Distilled
Intelligent and emotional marketing business.
Read our detailed guide to tracking offline interactions in #GoogleAnalytics by @THCapper: https://t.co/djepz2vCBq pic.twitter.com/GfhOcqT6cV
— distilled (@distilled) March 30, 2016
15. TJ Welsh
Stryde Marketing Director and SEO expert.
Join me on Traffic1M to find out how the pros get millions of visitors! https://t.co/ZDNLpIovW5 via @sumome
— tj welsh (@ttwelsh) March 14, 2016
16. Raven Tools
Brand and SEO marketing business.
Join the 30,000+ marketers receiving actionable advice each month! https://t.co/eb2WKR3ud6
— Raven Tools (@RavenTools) August 5, 2015
17. PubCon
Convention for all things SEO, analytics and business news.
March 2016 Google Algorithm Updates – Was it Panda, More Quality Updates, or Something Else? https://t.co/t99tz2lCez pic.twitter.com/MqGk4Xw9ae
— Pubcon (@Pubcon) March 30, 2016
18. Shane Barker
Digital strategist and prolific writer on SEO topics.
8 SEO Strategies To Improve Your Local Rankings http://t.co/z8N64EdvUO #sacramentoseo #GeoRanker #LocalRankings #SEO #SEOStrategies
— Shane Barker (@shane_barker) May 15, 2014
19. Matt McGee
Editor-in-chief of Search Engine Land and Marketing Land.
Cool Q&A from @amygesenhues talking to GE about how a big, industrial company uses live video in marketing. https://t.co/1NVy4RlFG7
— Matt McGee (@mattmcgee) March 30, 2016
20. Danny Dover
Viral social media sensation who speaks on entrepreneurial topics like SEO and social media marketing.
Top Bloggers And Entrepreneurs Share Their Most Successful Single Social Media Action: https://t.co/Y6Wni237lb
— Danny Dover (@DannyDover) February 15, 2016
21. Barry Schwartz
Rusty Brick CEO and content marketing expert.
Earlier today, Google Image Search Save Image Feature https://t.co/ZJPVulF1EU
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) March 30, 2016
22. Neil Patel
Crazy Egg and KISSmetics co-founder.
7 Content Marketing Tips to Get You Through the Week | https://t.co/gTu3EgvN6B My latest from @inc
— Neil Patel (@neilpatel) March 31, 2016
23. Ann Smarty
Co-founder of Viral Content Buzz and brand manager for Internet Marketing Ninjas.
25 Actionable Ideas to Smartly Re-Use Your Old Content to Get You Busy Right Now https://t.co/FesiigBDP3
— Ann Smarty (@annsmarty) March 30, 2016
24. Kristi Hines
HubSpot and Inbound marketing certified who often writes about SEO and marketing topics.
Don’t miss the ultimate guide to 160+ #business and #digitalmarketing conferences in 2016! https://t.co/b2imCgNoem
— Kristi Hines (@kikolani) October 28, 2015
25. Avinash Kaushik
Founded marketing site Market Motive and writes books on analytics topics.
[My new post!] Should you Own or Rent platforms/audiences? Plus, a launch of something new!https://t.co/e6xhLqSZQ7 pic.twitter.com/q5PONs6cLW
— Avinash Kaushik (@avinash) March 7, 2016
26. Search Engine Land
One of the leading sites in SEO and small business news and information.
A century of celebrating Mom: smart ad strategies for the mother of all holidays https://t.co/ZjO92FAvvJ
— Search Engine Land (@sengineland) March 31, 2016
27. Aaron Wall
Founder of SEO Book and personal SEO coach.
“The Google case is about misuse of a dominant position, to promote yourself in a neighboring market not on your merits but because you can”
— . (@aaronwall) October 26, 2015
28. Ash Buckles
InterContinental Hotels Group’s Global SEO manager.
Summary: Building Trust with Clients and Users Through SEO on #SEOchat https://t.co/QRRFb1R9r4
— Ash Buckles (@ashbuckles) March 28, 2016
29. Michael Gray
SEO expert since 1998, CEO of Gray Wolf SEO.
Anything Google does to obfuscate it’s true intent, is not good news for the humans
— Michael Gray (@graywolf) August 10, 2015
30. Moz
Powerful analytics tools and SEO resources for all businesses.
Are Keywords Really Dead? An Experiment https://t.co/COPno55g5D By @samnemzer pic.twitter.com/tbah3sRNsh
— Moz (@Moz) March 31, 2016