SEO in 2026
Majestic.com
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
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
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 28, 2021 • 15min
If you aren’t SEO testing, you need to start now - with Emily Potter from SearchPilot
Check out the rest of the content from "SEO in 2022" here:http://seoin2022.com/Questions that David asks in this episode include:Why aren’t most SEOs testing?How do you get started with testing? What software do you recommend?How do you combine SEO and CRO tests?
Nov 27, 2021 • 15min
Add Google Search Console to your essential everyday SEO toolkit - with Olga Zarr from SEOSLY
Check out the rest of the content from "SEO in 2022" here:http://seoin2022.com/Questions that David asks in this episode include:What specifically should SEOs be looking for in Google Search Console?What metrics are key?Is it possible to simplify things by automatically exporting key data and sending you daily alerts or is it necessary to actually be in Google Search Console?You also recommend starting any SEO analysis from the data in Google Search Console - why’s that?What’s missing in Google Search Console and what other tools do you need to use to compliment the data found in Google Search Console?
Nov 26, 2021 • 18min
Learn to love Google Analytics - with Andrew Cock-Starkey from Optimisey
Check out the rest of the content from "SEO in 2022" here:http://seoin2022.com/Questions that David asks Andrew in this episode include:How has Google Analytics changed over the past few years?What does getting Google Analytics set up correctly mean?What are the key reports that an SEO should be zeroing in on, in Google Analytics?How can this be automated?How should an SEO use the data from Google Analytics?
Nov 25, 2021 • 16min
Image Search for ecommerce websites is becoming increasingly important - with Roxana Stingu
Check out the rest of the content from "SEO in 2022" here:http://seoin2022.com/Questions that David asks in this episode include:Why is Image Search for ecommerce websites becoming increasingly important?Where does the traffic come from? Google Image Search? Pinterest? Elsewhere?How much traffic as a percentage of total traffic are we talking about and is this figure increasing?How do you optimize for image search?Any particular type of images?Is it important to have unique images?Does traffic from image search tend to convert just as well as traffic from elsewhere?Should you blend this organic approach with paid ads on image search?
Nov 24, 2021 • 19min
Align your Google Business Profile with SERP features to serve user intent - Maria White, FloristPro
Check out the rest of the content from "SEO in 2022" here:http://seoin2022.com/Questions that David asks in this episode include:How do you align your Google Business Profile with SERP features?How do you build a content strategy for a SERP feature?How does this align with a user’s preferred ways to consume content?How does this help to better serve user search intent?Is this strategy important for any type of business or is it more relevant for retailers with a physical location?
Nov 23, 2021 • 18min
Optimize your business for Google My Business - with Greg Gifford from SearchLab Digital
Check out the rest of the content from "SEO in 2022" here:http://seoin2022.com/Questions in this episode include:What do SEOs need to know about Google My Business in 2022?What are the absolutely essential elements of Google My Business that many businesses are still missing out on?You can be a service-area business which means you don’t need a physical address anymore - is that right?What are the newer aspects of Google My Business that many SEOs aren’t aware of?What about Google My Business posts - how effective are they and how often should businesses use them?How do you optimize for the Questions and Answers section?What insights are available and how can you optimize further by using the data in your insights?
Nov 22, 2021 • 19min
Do not ignore Passage Indexing - with Dixon Jones, CEO of InLinks and Majestic Brand Ambassador
Check out the rest of the content from "SEO in 2022" here:http://seoin2022.com/Questions that David asks Dixon in this episode include:What type of business can take advantage of this?What’s the difference between passage indexing and featured snippets?Might this keep users on the SERP instead of visiting a web page?What are a few specific steps that an SEO needs to do, to start putting this into action?How often should an SEO be doing this?
Nov 21, 2021 • 17min
Create semantic content using the Google SERPs - with Paul Andre de Vera from Workday
Check out the rest of the content from "SEO in 2022" here:http://seoin2022.com/Questions in this episode include:How do you create semantic content using the Google SERPs?What type of business can take advantage of this?What are a few specific steps that an SEO needs to do, to start putting this into action?How often should an SEO be doing this?What does success look like? How do you measure the value of doing this?How does this dovetail in with the rest of your SEO activities? And how does an SEO articulate the value of doing this to a general marketer?
Nov 20, 2021 • 19min
Educate Google about your brand - with Jason Barnard from Kalicube
Check out the rest of the content from "SEO in 2022" here:http://seoin2022.com/Questions in this episode include:How do you ensure that Google knows who you are, what it is that you do and who your audience is?What’s the difference between Google's Knowledge Graph and a knowledge panel?How do you get a place in Google's Knowledge Graph?How do you trigger a knowledge panel?How do you measure the commercial value of getting a knowledge panel?How do you build your authority once you have your knowledge panel?
Nov 19, 2021 • 21min
Brand will become a more important part of the user journey - with Gus Pelogia from Teamwork
Check out the rest of the content from "SEO in 2022" here:http://seoin2022.com/Questions in this episode include:Why is brand a more important part of the user journey in 2022?How is Google’s understanding of a brand improving?How do you manage Google’s understanding of your brand?How does this drive measurable SEO success?
