Top 48+ Local SEO Experts in 2026

10 Most Followed Local SEO Experts in 2026

When it comes to influence, reach matters. While follower count isn’t the same as expertise, it does give a good sense of whose insights are shaping the industry at scale. Here are the SEO experts with the largest combined followings in 2026 — the ones whose content, updates, and strategies reach millions of marketers worldwide.

1. Neil Patel — 4.5M+ Followers

Neil Patel continues to dominate the SEO space with the largest combined audience across YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X. His content reaches marketers at every level, making him the most visible SEO figure in the world.

2. Brian Dean — 812K+ Followers

Brian’s massive YouTube presence and long-standing influence through Backlinko keep him among the most followed SEO educators. Even after stepping back from day-to-day client work, his content continues to attract hundreds of thousands of learners.

3. Rand Fishkin — 705K+ Followers

With a huge audience on X and LinkedIn, Rand’s blend of SEO, marketing strategy, and audience research continues to resonate across the industry.

4. Barry Schwartz — 304K+ Followers

Barry’s footprint spans X, LinkedIn, and years of reporting on search news. His updates and analysis consistently reach one of the largest SEO communities online.

5. Matt Diggity — 378K+ Followers

Matt’s strong YouTube audience and performance-driven training content make him one of the most followed SEO voices — especially in affiliate and technical SEO circles.

6. Aleyda Solís — 283K+ Followers

Aleyda’s LinkedIn and X presence, combined with her global consulting and education work, have built her a highly engaged international following.

7. Cyrus Shepard — 157K+ Followers

Cyrus’ combination of practical SEO frameworks, educational content, and long-standing industry presence continues to earn him a substantial and loyal audience.

8. Stephan Spencer — 125K+ Followers

With decades in the industry and foundational contributions like The Art of SEO, Stephan maintains a strong, engaged audience across platforms.

9. Marie Haynes — 112K+ Followers

Marie’s clarity around Google updates and penalty recovery has earned her a fast-growing audience across X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

10. Joy Hawkins — 39K+ Followers

Joy may have a smaller follower count compared to others on this list, but her influence in the Local SEO world is undeniable. Her updates and insights impact thousands of practitioners daily.

Conclusion

After spending years working in SEO — especially within the local search space — I can say this with confidence: the right Local SEO expert can completely change the trajectory of a business. Local search isn’t just about higher rankings; it’s about helping real people find real businesses at the exact moment they need them. And the experts on this list are the ones who consistently make that happen.

Each of the professionals here brings something unique to the table. Some are phenomenal at Google Business Profile optimization. Some specialize in deep technical audits or local link strategies. Others shine through their research, testing, and ability to translate complex updates into clear, actionable insights.

But what they all share is a commitment to the craft — a willingness to keep learning, keep testing, and keep contributing to the SEO community. That’s what makes them worth paying attention to in 2026.

If you’re a business owner, marketer, or agency trying to level up your local visibility, I hope this list gives you a clearer sense of who to follow, who to learn from, and who might be the right partner for your growth.

Local SEO is constantly changing, but with the right guidance, it becomes a lot more manageable — and a lot more rewarding.

Here’s to ranking higher, earning trust, and helping more customers find you in 2026.

Methodology

How I ranked the top local SEO experts in 2026: 

My mission with this ranking was clear: identify the top local SEO experts in 2026 using a transparent, objective, and data-driven approach. Instead of relying on subjective popularity or promotional placements, we developed a measurable scoring model that reflects authority, digital presence, and audience influence — the key factors that define today’s most impactful local SEO professionals.

Note on Objectivity: 

No expert paid to be included or ranked in this list. Every placement is based entirely on independently gathered data and our scoring framework. This ensures a bias-free evaluation designed to highlight the best local SEO professionals and top local SEO consultants whose contributions are recognized by both peers and audiences.

Data Sources 

All insights were collected by our research team in 2026. No placements were sponsored or influenced. Data was sourced from:

• Google Citations – Mentions of the “expert’s name” and “local SEO” across trusted digital properties
• LinkedIn – Professional following and associated team/connection size
• X (Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, Facebook – Audience reach and engagement
• Official Websites & Profiles – Role, services, and contributions
• Industry References – Speaking engagements, authored books, and event visibility

Scoring Categories & Weighting 

Each local SEO expert was evaluated across three categories, broken down into 11 measurable indicators. The scores were normalized and weighted to form a Final Score out of 100.

1. Authority & Expertise (20%): 

Represents professional credibility and recognition in the local SEO industry.

2. Online Presence Metrics (20%): 

Measures thought leadership and the spread of an expert’s insights online.

3. Followers & Reach (60%): 

The most heavily weighted category, reflecting influence, reach, and engagement across platforms.

⚖️ Note on weighting: A combined 40% weight was given to LinkedIn and X as they represent professional authority and peer-to-peer influence. YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook were weighted lower (20% total) since they extend reach but don’t directly reflect industry recognition.

Final Scoring System: 

All metrics were normalized and combined to calculate a Final Score (out of 100) for each expert. This ensures a fair comparison across professionals with different strengths — from technical local SEO gurus to content-driven thought leaders.

The outcome is a balanced, data-driven ranking that reflects who is most visible, trusted, and influential in local SEO as of 2026.