As we move into 2025, the search landscape is more dynamic than ever. Advances in AI and machine learning have transformed search engines. “SEO is no longer just about climbing a list of little blue links on Google,” notes WordStream. “New technology, user behavior, and regulations changed that.” 

Google’s rollout of generative AI overviews and answer engines means websites must now optimize for intent and authoritative content, not just keywords. In this complex environment, expert strategists who can blend technical SEO, content marketing, link-building, and even personal branding into a coherent strategy are indispensable.

SEO specialists today also emphasize personal branding and trust signals. For example, Bhavik Sarkhedi, featured in Forbes and The New York Times, has built a career around helping individuals dominate search results for their own names. Likewise, agencies like Ohh My Brand focus on making people’s names “rank for hundreds of relevant keywords” through SEO and social media. This personal-brand focus aligns with Google’s emphasis on E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trust).

Below is a ranked list of 20 top SEO experts and agencies (individuals and firms) to consider for 2025. Each profile highlights their technical SEO, content strategy, link-building, and local SEO offerings, the industries they serve, and why their approach is suited to the challenges of AI-driven search. (Numbers indicate ranking, not paid endorsements.)

1. Rand Fishkin – SparkToro Founder & SEO Innovator

Rand Fishkin (co-founder of Moz and SparkToro) is a pioneer in search marketing. He co-founded Moz and later launched SparkToro (an audience-research tool) and co-authored The Art of SEO. Rand specializes in audience research and technical SEO, helping companies (especially tech and SaaS businesses) understand who is searching and how to reach them. 

He offers services in site audits, content strategy, and outreach planning, with a focus on user intent. In 2025, Rand’s emphasis on data-driven insights is crucial: as WordStream points out, SEO now requires understanding new user behaviors and technology. 

His background in algorithm analysis and marketing software makes him ideal for enterprises (e-commerce, education, media) looking to adapt to AI overviews and complex ranking factors.

2. Neil Patel – NP Digital CEO & Content Marketing Authority

Neil Patel is a globally recognized SEO and content marketing guru. He co-founded NP Digital (2017) and is a New York Times bestselling author “and one of the world’s most influential marketers.” 

Forbes and WSJ praise him for digital marketing thought leadership. Neil’s agency offers end-to-end SEO solutions: technical audits, keyword strategy, content creation, link-building, and paid media. He serves diverse industries, including SaaS, e-commerce, and healthcare.

Patel built his own personal brand (blogs, podcasts, Ubersuggest tool) and knows how to rank for competitive terms. In 2025, his data-driven approach (together with AI-assisted content tools) helps clients leverage both classic SEO and emerging semantic search. Whether optimizing mobile SEO or large-scale content marketing, Patel’s experience with algorithm changes keeps businesses at the forefront.

3. Brian Dean – Backlinko Founder & Link-Building Strategist

Brian Dean is the founder of Backlinko (now part of Semrush) and a celebrated SEO educator. Entrepreneur.com called him an “SEO genius,” and Inc. magazine called him a “brilliant entrepreneur.” His specialty is off-page SEO: advanced link-building techniques, skyscraper content, and targeted outreach. 

Brian’s award-winning blog (Backlinko) provides deep case studies on on-page SEO and backlink growth. He primarily helps B2B tech and SaaS companies seeking viral content and high domain authority. In 2025, with Google’s emphasis on content quality and E-E-A-T, Dean’s rigorous content optimization and strategic link tactics are invaluable. He also trains teams via courses, ensuring marketing departments can implement scalable SEO.

4. Aleyda Solís – International & Ecommerce SEO Consultant

Aleyda Solís is an award-winning global SEO consultant and speaker. Forbes named her a Top 10 online marketing expert, and USA Today listed her among 2022’s most influential SEO experts. She runs Orainti, specializing in technical SEO for international and ecommerce sites.

Aleyda serves the travel, marketplace, and SaaS industries, advising on multi-lingual site structure, hreflang, and mobile optimization. In 2025’s AI landscape, her focus on localization and structured data helps brands rank worldwide. 

She offers site audits, content strategy, and training, enabling businesses to optimize large-scale, multilingual content and stay ahead of Google’s evolving algorithms.

5. Barry Schwartz – Search Marketing Journalist & Analyst

Barry Schwartz is a long-time SEO analyst and founder of Search Engine Roundtable. He’s CEO of RustyBrick and news editor at Search Engine Land, covering daily updates on Google and Bing. Barry’s offerings are mainly SEO news analysis and consulting for search agencies and clients.

He has deep expertise in local search and webspam issues. Industries: legal, media, government, and any business tracking algorithm changes. In 2025, Barry’s skill in interpreting each new update – from Google’s AI features to local map tweaks – is critical. Companies hire him for his keen insights into Google’s “medic” or Penguin-like changes, ensuring strategies adapt quickly to AI-driven search behaviors.

6. Marie Haynes – Google Algorithm & E-E-A-T Specialist

Dr. Marie Haynes has been an SEO practitioner since 2008, focusing on Google’s algorithms. She is renowned for content quality audits, penalty recovery, and expertise in E-E-A-T (expertise, authoritativeness, trustworthiness). 

Marie serves healthcare, finance, and high-authority publishers who require rigorous content analysis. She closely studies AI and machine learning in search, having co-authored “SEO in the Gemini Era” on AI-driven Google. In 2025, as Google leans further into AI, Marie’s approach – emphasizing semantic relevance and trust signals – helps sites survive major core updates.

Her consultations often involve revamping content strategy to meet Google’s AI-enhanced quality standards.

7. Bhavik Sarkhedi – Personal Branding & SEO Consultant (Ohh My Brand)

Bhavik Sarkhedi is an Indian SEO and personal branding strategist. He’s been featured in Forbes, the NY Times, and Entrepreneur for building powerful online identities. Bhavik’s firm Ohh My Brand, offers SEO, content, and LinkedIn marketing with a personal branding focus. 

He helps entrepreneurs, authors, and influencers rank their own names by optimizing profile content, websites, and backlink portfolios. For example, he built his own Google Knowledge Panel and ranks for hundreds of industry keywords purely through SEO. 

In 2025, as search highlights “People Also Ask” and AI-generated summaries, Bhavik’s expertise in branding (combining social and SEO signals) is invaluable. He coaches clients on thought leadership content and authority, ensuring they appear prominently in both search results and AI answer boxes.

8. Ohh My Brand – Personal Branding Agency & SEO Solutions

Ohh My Brand is the agency founded by Bhavik Sarkhedi, specializing in personal-brand SEO. This award-winning firm helps leaders and solopreneurs enhance visibility via content strategy, website SEO, and social media (especially LinkedIn). 

They serve coaches, consultants, and business founders who need to establish credibility online. Ohh My Brand’s strategies include building knowledge panels and optimizing personal content for SEO, a need that’s growing: Google’s search now heavily weighs expertise and brand mentions. 

By 2025, as AI Search pulls from across the web, the agency’s blend of SEO and branding ensures clients’ names dominate relevant queries.

9. Lily Ray – Technical SEO & E-E-A-T Director (Path Interactive)

Lily Ray is Director of SEO at Path Interactive, with over a decade of experience. She is passionate about technical SEO and Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines. Lily has worked extensively with news publishers, fashion e-commerce, and large media brands. 

Her services include site performance optimization, content auditing, and structured data strategy. In 2025, her focus on site architecture and high-quality content alignment will help sites adjust to AI-powered search features (like AI Overviews). 

Her case studies often show how improving user experience and trust factors leads to sustained rankings, making her a go-to expert for companies facing Google’s evolving standards.

10. Cyrus Shepard – SEO Strategist & Google Algorithm Expert

Cyrus Shepard is a veteran SEO expert (formerly Moz’s Chief Strategist) who “specializes in decoding Google’s ever-changing rules.” He runs Zyppy SEO, providing technical SEO audits and strategy to enterprises and startups. Cyrus also served as a Google Quality Rater, giving him insider insight into search algorithms. 

He helps clients in tech, finance, and publishing optimize content and site structure. With AI enhancing search, Cyrus’s deep understanding of ranking signals (and emphasis on content relevance) helps brands adapt. 

He trains teams on optimizing for semantic search and voice queries, making him especially valuable as search grows more AI-driven.

11. Mike King – Technical SEO Innovator (iPullRank Founder)

Mike King is the founder and CEO of iPullRank, a data-driven marketing agency. Known for combining “deeply technical and highly creative” SEO, he has generated billions in revenue for clients. His agency focuses on enterprise-level technical SEO, schema markup, and analytics. Serving industries like tech and media, Mike’s team integrates machine learning to forecast SEO trends. 

In 2025, Mike’s strength in analytics means he can quickly pivot strategies as AI search patterns emerge. His workshops often cover leveraging AI tools for keyword research and testing, helping brands capitalize on Google’s new features (like AI summaries) without losing organic visibility.

12. Ann Smarty – Link-Building & Content Marketing Guru

Ann Smarty is a 20+ year SEO and content expert known for innovative link-building and blogging. She founded MyBlogU and runs a consulting agency (SmartyMarketing) offering SEO audits, content strategy, and outreach campaigns. 

Ann’s clients are often B2B companies and tech startups needing brand authority. She emphasizes creative content and relationship-building for SEO. In 2025, her expertise in high-quality content creation and community-driven promotion aligns with search’s trend toward user engagement and AI. She also champions using AI for content optimization (while maintaining human voice), keeping her services on the leading edge.

13. David Amerland – Global SEO Strategist & Author

David Amerland is an international SEO consultant and best-selling author. He advises corporations and startups on SEO and social media strategy. With a background in journalism and corporate finance, David brings a narrative-driven approach to SEO. He works with global tech companies, publishers, and educational platforms. 

He often speaks on emerging trends like voice search and AI in marketing. In 2025, his focus on aligning SEO with brand storytelling ensures content is both engaging and optimized. 

His clients benefit from his holistic vision, blending user experience with technical SEO, which is crucial as Google’s AI increasingly assesses content relevance and user satisfaction.

14. Wil Reynolds – Enterprise SEO & Analytics Champion

Wil Reynolds is the founder/CEO of Seer Interactive and a legendary SEO speaker. He built Seer on analytics-driven search marketing, focusing on large brands (healthcare, finance, and manufacturing). 

Wil’s team delivers SEO strategy intertwined with paid search and analytics. He advocates user-centric SEO – understanding what users truly want. In 2025, Wil’s approach (using big data to uncover trends) will help enterprises master AI-driven search. 

For example, Seer runs experiments on click behavior and adjusts SEO for “intent optimization.” Companies facing evolving algorithms rely on Wil’s guidance to integrate brand development and SEO for sustainable growth.

15. Bruce Clay – SEO Pioneer & White-Hat Advocate

Bruce Clay is an industry pioneer (CEO of Bruce Clay Inc. since 1996) renowned for “white hat” SEO practices. He developed the SEO ToolSet and has taught SEO to thousands through training programs. 

Bruce serves a wide range of industries (real estate, government, healthcare) through consulting and software tools. His expertise includes site architecture, keyword strategy, and Google algorithm compliance. 

In the era of AI, Bruce’s emphasis on fundamentals (clear site navigation, semantic markup, ethical link-building) helps sites remain authoritative. He continues to update his methodologies for new search developments so clients can adapt SEO strategies safely as search evolves.

16. Mike Blumenthal – Local Search & Maps Expert

Mike Blumenthal is a leading local SEO authority and co-founder of LocalU and NearMedia. He’s offered web services since 1995 and focused on local search since Google Maps launched in 2004. 

Mike’s specialty is optimizing Google Business Profiles and review management for multi-location businesses. He serves retail chains, healthcare offices, and restaurants. In 2025, as voice assistants and mobile search grow, Mike’s knowledge of geo-targeting and local citation signals keeps businesses competitive in local results. 

His consultations help clients rank in map packs and featured snippets – areas heavily influenced by new AI search interfaces.

17. A.J. Kohn – Analytics-Driven SEO Consultant

A.J. Kohn is the founder of Blind Five Year Old, an SEO consultancy “specializing in search”. With nearly 20 years of experience, he blends data analysis and creative strategy. A.J. has curated SEO content (Marketing Land) and sat on SEO ranking factor panels. 

He offers services in SEO strategy, CRO, and analytics. His Bay Area client base spans tech startups and Fortune 500s. As SEO evolves, his strength lies in aligning SEO with technical analytics; he even uses SQL analysis for SEO insights. 

In 2025, this analytic focus helps clients adapt to AI ranking changes by measuring true user engagement beyond basic metrics.

18. Single Grain – Digital Marketing & Growth Agency (Eric Siu)

Single Grain is a data-driven digital marketing agency acquired by host Eric Siu. Under Siu’s leadership, it grew from a $2 purchase into a full-service firm working with clients like Uber and Amazon. Single Grain offers SEO, content marketing, PPC, and growth hacking. It specializes in the SaaS, fintech, and educational tech industries. 

The team emphasizes ROI – using analytics and experiments. In 2025, Single Grain’s innovative tactics (they’ve even applied blockchain for SEO tracking) help businesses stay ahead. They integrate AI tools in keyword research and content workflows, ensuring clients leverage both proven SEO techniques and emerging technologies for maximum impact.

19. Eric Enge – Former Stone Temple Founder & SEO Researcher

Eric Enge co-founded Stone Temple Consulting (now part of Perficient) and is a highly respected SEO consultant. He authored The Art of SEO and SEO for Growth and offers consulting to Fortune 1000 companies. Eric has “over 23 years” of SEO experience, building Stone Temple into a leading agency.

He excels in enterprise SEO and data-driven strategy. In 2025, his holistic SEO approach – combining content, technical SEO, and analytics, will guide companies through AI-driven changes. 

He helps brands develop long-term SEO roadmaps that align with overall digital transformation, an essential capability as search becomes increasingly sophisticated.

20. Joost de Valk – Yoast SEO Founder & WordPress SEO Expert

Joost de Valk is the creator of Yoast SEO, the most popular WordPress SEO plugin. An entrepreneur and developer from the Netherlands, Joost built Yoast from his consulting and blogging beginnings in 2004. 

His work has made millions of WordPress sites more search-friendly. He and Yoast also educate webmasters on SEO best practices. In 2025, Joost’s insights are invaluable for small businesses and agencies: the Yoast tools constantly update to reflect Google’s latest guidelines.

His experience with content optimization and the WordPress ecosystem means he can guide clients in applying AI-driven SEO improvements on their sites, from schema markup to site speed, ensuring they rank well in the new search paradigm.

Conclusion: Explore SEO Expertise & Strategy Development

The 20 experts and agencies above cover every dimension of modern SEO: technical optimization, AI-aware content strategy, authoritative link-building, local search, and even personal-brand visibility. They serve a wide range of industries, from tech and e-commerce to local services and professional services, and each brings skills tailored for the AI-driven era of search. 

Is your website or brand ready for 2025? Consider consulting one of these professionals or agencies to audit your site and craft a future-proof SEO plan. Their in-depth understanding of search algorithms and hands-on experience with tools and AI can help your business stay competitive. 

Whether you need a one-time SEO audit or an ongoing strategy partnership, reach out to these experts to build a roadmap that keeps your organic traffic growing in the year ahead.