SEO in 2026

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SEO in 2026 episodes

July 16, 2025 It's hard to imagine a future in which building a brand is a negative ROI activity - Greg Heilers
Greg Heilers shares that it's hard to imagine a future in which building a brand is a negative ROI activity.
Talking points include:
Why is building a brand so important for SEO in 2025?
Why is this likely to be just as important in the future?
In relation to SEO, what do you have to do to build a successful online brand?
What are the specific SEO activities that contribute to brand success?
How do you measure the impact of brand on SEO?
How do you measure the ROI of these activities?
How do you incorporate brand SEO into a marketing strategy?
20 min
July 09, 2025 The Yin and Yang of SEO: being human in an AI-driven world - with Kerstin Reichert
Kerstin Reichert discusses the importance of the Yin and Yang of SEO - being human in an AI-driven world.
Talking points include:
How do you stay human in an AI-driven world?
What do you mean by an AI-driven world?
You recommend using AI to quickly scale - what does that look like?
How do you use AI to enhance processes?
How do you use AI to produce better insights?
How do you use AI to remain competitive?
How do you continue to show your human side, authenticity and expertise - and what good does this do?
19 min
July 02, 2025 AI is an influencer, PR is vital, and CRO is going to be more integrated into SEO - Bruce Clay
Bruce Clay shares that SEO will be more important in the future: AI is an influencer, PR is vital, and conversion rate optimization going to be more integrated into the SEO effort.
Discussion points include:
Is SEO more important than it used to be?
What do you mean when you say that AI is an influencer?
When you say that PR is vital, how does PR fit into the SEO world and what aspects of PR are key for SEO?
What does conversion rate optimization have to do with SEO?
How do you measure the impact of conversion rate optimization on SEO?
How do you plan an SEO strategy with so many considerations in mind?
What will SEO look like in a year's time?
26 min
June 25, 2025 Expertise combined with opinions of people is what matter - with Gagan Ghotra
Gagan Ghotra shares that expertise combined with opinions of people is what matter.
Discussion points include:
How do you demonstrate expertise in content?
Why are opinions of people important?
How do you incorporate opinions in content?
How do you measure the success of this strategy in search engines?
How should this be incorporated into a content strategy?
How do you measure the success of this strategy?
How is AI impacting this strategy?
15 min
June 18, 2025 Focus on Relevancy, with Less Outreach, Fewer Links, and Less Content - with Vince Nero
Vince Nero advises focusing on relevancy in 2025, meaning less outreach, fewer links, and less Content.
Discussion points include:
Why is less more?
What do you mean by focusing on relevancy?
Why less outreach?
Why fewer links?
Why less content?
What does this mean for strategy?
How do you track success?
How do you persuade senior managers that less is more?
18 min
June 11, 2025 There are proven ways to smartly rank better in the AI models - with Jon Mest
Jon Mest shares that there are proven ways to smartly rank better in the AI models.
Talking points include:
What does ranking better in AI models actually mean in practice?
What measurable impact does this have?
How do you measure leads from AI models?
Is ChatGPT the best source of leads?
How do you SEO for AI models?
How is the space continuing to evolve?

Read the full transcript of Jon's interview at: https://majestic.com/seo-in-2025/additional-insights/jon-mest
17 min
June 10, 2025 Learn anything through identifying your transferable skills - with Petra Kis-Herczegh
Petra Kis-Herczegh shares how you can learn anything through identifying your transferable skills.
Talking points include:
Why should you just keep on learning, no matter what you’re learning?
How do you know what you are learning will be useful in the future?
How do you know what to focus on?
What skills tend to be transferable?
How do you identify transferable skills?
How do you stay motivated to keep on learning?
How does mindset come into this?
How do we continually adapt our approach to learning over time?
How does this help us find another job?
What if we’re recruiting? Should we be looking for continuous learning as an important skillset in someone that we’re interviewing?

Read the full transcript of Petra's interview at: https://majestic.com/seo-in-2025/petra-kis-herczegh
18 min
June 09, 2025 Small changes can make a big impact - with Adelina Bordea
Adelina Bordea shares that small changes can make a big impact.
Talking points include:
What are the small changes you are talking about?
How do you know which small changes will have the biggest impact?
How do you know what changes to make?
How do you measure the impact these changes have?
How do you work with other internal teams to get these changes done?
What if it's likely to take a long time to get some basic changes done?
You say it is important to have a roadmap - what do you mean by this and what does a roadmap look like?

Read the full transcript of Adelina's interview at: https://majestic.com/seo-in-2025/adelina-bordea
17 min
June 06, 2025 Invest in expanding your skillset - with Giulia Panozzo
Giulia Panozzo shares about the importance of investing in expanding your skillset.
Talking points include:
What is changing in SEO?
What additional skills need to be learned?
What soft skills need to be learned?
What adjacent topics need to be learned?
Where are some of the best places to learn?
How often should you learn?
How should you share what you learn in your own organisation?
How can you be sure that you are using your time effectively and learning the right things?

Read the full transcript of Giulia's interview at: https://majestic.com/seo-in-2025/giulia-panozzo
19 min
June 05, 2025 SEO is much more than it has ever been - with Emina Demiri-Watson
Emina Demiri-Watson shares that SEO is much more than it has ever been.
Discussion points include:
What are the key new trends of SEO to stay on top of?
- Search has developed (strong performance of UGC platforms such as Reddit, AIO roll-out, development of Perspectives, recent core updates and emphasis on brand in search, TikTok as a search engine…).
- User journey is not linear - finally it's dawning on companies!
- Attribution is not really possible - particularly in the age of privacy!
- One touch point is certainly not enough (no longer true even in ecommerce)
How does an SEO stay on top of things without stretching themselves too thinly?

Read the full transcript of Emina's interview at: https://majestic.com/seo-in-2025/emina-demiri-watson
18 min

About SEO in 2026

From the publisher's feed

SEO is continuing to change at an alarming pace. And yet, in some sense, the principles of good SEO remain the same.

Hello, and welcome to SEO in 2026 – a significant repository of current thinking from many of the world’s leading SEOs.

We're pleased to be able to welcome you to the fifth book and fifth series in this podcast, now well and truly an annual tradition, brought to you by Majestic.

“How people search has seen a bigger shift in the last 12 months than the last 12 years, and this makes SEOin2026 a must-read for anyone working in the industry. Majestic has brought together 117 of the SEO industry's brightest minds to share their insights into what matters, and what doesn't, to continue to drive growth with organic search during a period of massive uncertainty, and the book should be seen as a valuable reference point to keep your strategy on the right track.”

JAMES BROCKBANK

Managing Director and Founder, Digitaloft

“I highly recommend that every SEO professional set aside a couple of days for SEOin2026. You'll thank me for helping you plan your year effectively. I'm extremely grateful to have the opportunity to work alongside some of the world's leading SEO champions.”

NITIN MANCHANDA

Founder & Chief SEO Consultant, Botpresso

“This collection of wisdom from many of the best minds in SEO today is a great line in the sand of where we as an industry are, what problems we face, and how we tackle them. Anyone in SEO or marketing should be dipping into this on a regular basis.”

SIMON COX

Technical SEO Consultant, Cox and Co. Creative

“This series continues to be the industry’s leading source of the most timely advice a marketer could ever want. The most forward-thinking SEO experts in the world come together once a year to create this invaluable collection of new knowledge that should never be passed up on!”

PAM AUNGST CRONIN

President and Founder, Pam Ann Marketing and Stealth Search and Analytics

“2025 has been a sprint for the SEO industry, with AI reshaping how we understand visibility, relevance, and authority. SEOin2026 is not just another trends book; it’s a roadmap for what’s actually coming. I loved being part of it and seeing how experts around the world approach the same challenges from different angles.”

RAMONA JOITA

SEO Consultant and Founder

“David is good at drawing out the substance of a conversation. He will explore the topic and challenge assumptions, steer the conversation into an unexpected direction, and build on your ideas – making you think a bit deeper and sharper. Our recent conversation flew by as always, and as always – I’ve come out energised about the topic with more to think about.”

SUKHJINDER SINGH

Freelance SEO Consultant