AI could also be killing search clicks, however we’re nonetheless studying content material—particularly the nice stuff.
At Ahrefs, we learn and share articles on a regular basis for advertising and search engine optimisation inspiration.
In truth, SQ places a call-out for the most effective search engine optimisation blogs each week, to curate the Ahrefs’ Digest.
Beneath you’ll discover our favorites–the blogs which have made it into our Chrome bookmarks, LinkedIn Saved folders, and Slack conversations–some so good we’ve slid into the authors’ DMs simply to inform them so.
The checklist received’t include your standard suspects. Consider it as a listing of the most effective new search engine optimisation blogs; the underdogs and the consultants that deserve far more recognition!
Right here they’re, in no explicit order…
The weblog: Metehan.ai
Run by: Metehan Yeşilyurt, Co-Founding father of AEO Imaginative and prescient
Finest for: Reducing-edge, hands-on AI assistant analysis
Our favourite article this 12 months: I Discovered It within the Code, Science Proved It within the Lab: The Recency Bias That’s Reshaping AI Search
Metehan has turn into a family title in search engine optimisation virtually in a single day because of his ChatGPT detective work.
He’s most well-known for mining ChatGPT’s supply code to decipher precise configuration parameters, and assist SEOs reverse-engineer AI visibility.
I really like how clear Metehan is about his analysis course of—it might virtually be a “Decode ChatGPT with me” follow-along.
Even higher, he spells issues out clearly in order that they’re fast to learn, and simple to grasp.
To date, he has already found that AI assistants:
- Run content material by means of three layers of re-ranking—submit search engine retrieval
- Lean closely on a shortlist of already-trusted domains
- Constantly floor new or just lately up to date posts over older ones
The weblog: Analytics Playbook
Run by: Dana DiTomaso, founding father of Analytics Playbook and President of Kick Level Inc.
Finest for: Professional analytics recommendation backed by first-hand expertise, and creating analytics information
Our favourite article this 12 months: When a New Browser Launches: What I’m Seeing in Google Analytics for ChatGPT’s Atlas
Dana is at all times fast to roll up her sleeves and take a look at the use instances her purchasers care about—from analyzing AI visitors habits, to figuring out referral visitors from ChatGPT’s new Atlas browser in GA4.
Each article incorporates tons of actual consumer anecdotes and examples—good proof that Dana and the Analytics Playbook staff have skin-in-the-game.
I really like which you could additionally watch the weblog should you’re a visible learner…
Learn it for detailed recommendation, easter egg suggestions, and really particular analytics intel.
The weblog: Detailed
Run by: Glen Allsopp, founding father of Detailed, the Detailed search engine optimisation Extension, the search engine optimisation Blueprint, and now Head of Advertising Technique & Analysis at Ahrefs
Finest for: search engine optimisation insights from monitoring the rankings & income of three,078 Digital Goliaths
Our favourite article this 12 months: Detailed This autumn: Analysing The search engine optimisation Playbook of Digital Goliaths In-Depth, Each Quarter
Glen is finest identified for his forensic evaluation of “Digital Goliaths”—how they function, what they’re doing in search engine optimisation, and what smaller gamers can study from them.
It’s possible you’ll know him from his superior examine on how simply 16 firms are behind 500+ web sites that dominate Google’s search outcomes. That one went critically viral!
What’s nice about Glen is his consideration to element (no pun supposed)—he publishes possibly 10-25 posts per 12 months max, spending weeks on each fairly than churning out weekly content material.
And the content material is meaty. Count on 10,000+ phrase reviews with information evaluation, screenshots, and particular tactical insights you received’t discover elsewhere.
Glen can be an awesome reporter, dedicated to looking for new data.
For example, he attends dwell earnings calls of main firms and transcribes them, giving readers intel on what the highest movers and shakers are prioritizing in relation to search engine optimisation.
To date this 12 months, Detailed has taught us that:
- Impartial website homeowners land simply ~14% of first-place search rankings
- Digital Goliaths nonetheless personal ~80% of prime search outcomes throughout large-industries
- But, solely 18% of major-brand websites grew YoY in April 2025
Backside line: If you wish to perceive how the large gamers dominate search and what ways you possibly can steal to your personal website, it’s important studying.
In truth, we had been so satisfied that Detailed was the most effective search engine optimisation weblog on the market, we acquired it!
Now Glen is a fully-fledged member of the Ahrefs staff and we couldn’t be happier about it!
Development Memo is Kevin Indig’s weekly search engine optimisation e-newsletter that he additionally publishes as a weblog.
For those who’re after rigorous, unique analysis into question fan-outs, AI Mode usability, and LLM visitors, that is the one for you.
As you possibly can see, we love Development Memo at Ahrefs HQ…
In truth, Kevin’s findings typically encourage us to create new analysis of our personal.
For example, his superior examine “What content material works properly in LLMs?” made me wish to look into the correlations between well-liked search elements and model visibility in AI Overviews.
In 2025, Development Memo has taught us that:
The weblog: Not a Robotic
Run by: Jamie Indigo, Head of search engine optimisation at Cox Automotive, Senior Technical search engine optimisation at Lumar, Creator of Visitors Assume Tank search engine optimisation e-newsletter: Wealthy Snippets, Technical search engine optimisation Advisor and Founding father of Not a Robotic
Finest for: Satirical, bite-sized blogs on AI and net transparency
Our favourite article this 12 months: Atlas Shrugged, the net flinched
Impressed by Tim Berners-Lee’s precept that “the net solely works if it really works for everybody,” Jamie Indigo makes use of her weblog to champion net transparency in the course of the “AI gold rush”.
It’s a enjoyable, snarky, bite-sized learn, the place Indigo demystifies search algorithms, immediate leaks, and AI software program releases—breaking down what they really imply for customers and SEOs.
For those who care about AI transparency and net ethics, give the “Not a Robotic” weblog a bookmark.
The archive is modest proper now, nevertheless it seems to be like Jamie’s again to posting frequently!
The weblog: Lars Lofgren’s weblog
Run by: Lars Lofgren, Fractional VP of Content material
Finest for: Investigations and exposés into tech trade misfires—instructed by means of Lars’ signature dry, no-BS fashion.
Our favourite article this 12 months: The Story of Codesmith: How a Competitor Crippled a $23.5M Bootcamp By Changing into a Reddit Moderator
Lars Lofgren is up there with a few of the finest investigative SEOs we have.
He doesn’t submit excessively, however when he does, the tales are likely to make an enormous splash within the trade (Forbes’ parasite search engine optimisation market anybody?)
It’s clear to see the hours of sleuthing that goes into each article—each feels prefer it could possibly be its personal Netflix documentary.
The newest–the story of Codesmith–warns of the very actual downside of competitor smear campaigns; made all of the stronger by AI.
It’s insatiably readable. Bookmark Lars’ weblog, and seize your popcorn!
The weblog: I Love search engine optimisation
Run by: Gianluca Fiorelli, Strategic and Worldwide search engine optimisation Advisor at I Love search engine optimisation
Finest for: Clear, strategic breakdowns of search engine optimisation and AI search.
Our favourite article this 12 months: A information to Semantics or how you can be seen each in Search and LLMs
I Love search engine optimisation is the weblog of seasoned worldwide search engine optimisation guide, Gianluca Fiorelli.
It’s among the finest search engine optimisation blogs for considerate commentary on how search is evolving—particularly round AI, LLMs, entities, semantic search, and worldwide technique.
From studying, you’ll study that:
- Manufacturers must construct out their entity graphs–together with who they’re, what they do, merchandise, individuals, and matters–since AI assistants rely closely on entity relationships vs. key phrase matching
- The “traditional funnel” (question → click on → website → convert) has been changed by one thing like: Question → AI Overview → Synthesised Reply → (Perhaps) Model Point out → (Perhaps) Branded Search
- It is advisable to make your content material fragmentable and remixable if you would like it to indicate up in AI methods
We’re massive followers right here!
The weblog: Seer Interactive weblog
Run by: The Seer Interactive staff, together with Wil Reynolds and Christina Blake
Finest for: AI search exams, research, and receipts for truly “doing the factor”
Our favourite article this 12 months: AI Optimization Take a look at: Footers are again like 2003
Wil Reynolds, Christina Blake, Alisa Scharf, and the remainder of the Seer Interactive staff have constructed a critically enviable library of search how-tos, scrappy test-and-learn research, and whip-smart AI analysis.
Wil? He’s casually constructed an AI agent that telephones up and interviews subject material consultants, to hurry up the creation of E-E-A-T wealthy, AI-assisted content material. Christina has examined a bunch of fascinating issues, together with the overlap between Bing search outcomes and ChatGPT citations. Alisa has created the “SWIM” framework—one thing you possibly can truly do whereas everybody else is screaming into the void about AI.
And that is solely the tip of the iceberg. Evidently, we’re followers right here at Ahrefs…
The weblog: Marketer Milk weblog
Run by: Omid G, Founder at Marketer Milk
Finest for: Sincere device evaluations, inspiring advertising examples, and sharp search engine optimisation takes.
Our favourite article this 12 months: 8 prime search engine optimisation tendencies I’m seeing in 2026
Marketer Milk is the weekly advertising weblog and e-newsletter of Omid Ghiam—a marketer, author and no-code fanatic who beforehand led search engine optimisation and content material at Webflow.
I had the pleasure of assembly Omid at Ahrefs Evolve, and he let me in on a strong tip (which I’ve since spied on Marketer Milk): if you wish to enhance your probabilities of rating, and subsequently being cited in LLMs, create and embed a video model of your weblog (similar to Dana DiTomaso does within the Analytics Playbook).
It’s nice for UX, constructing E-E-A-T, and helps you lay declare to extra SERP actual property.
Which may be the rationale why Marketer Milk is rating #1–#3 in each different advertising and search engine optimisation SERP I come throughout proper now!
That, and the truth that the weblog is obvious, sharp and stuffed with tangible takeaways. I particularly loved Omid’s prime 2026 search engine optimisation tendencies, which was, partly, impressed by Ahrefs Evolve!
Omid might be finest identified for his candid evaluations of SaaS merchandise. What I actually respect is that he doesn’t settle for sponsorships, and writes evaluations solely to serve the reader—a uncommon breed these days.
Bookmark this weblog for genuine device suggestions and insider search engine optimisation information from somebody with on-the-ground expertise.
The weblog: Content material Caffeine
Run by: Nicole DeLeon, Founder at North Star Inbound
Finest for: SERP adjustments, PR insights, and curated information
Our favourite article this 12 months: Do-it-yourself search engine optimisation, not all clicks are equal, and can title hyperlinks return?
For those who’ve received up to now within the weblog, you’ve most likely observed a theme creating.
Lots of the SEOs on this checklist don’t simply discuss the discuss—they really do the factor.
That’s why I really like Content material Caffeine. Nicole DeLeon typically shares snippets of SERP exams she’s tried out and backs up all of her unique opinions with precise receipts—see the *Observed within the wild* part under.
In her newest weblog, Nicole put ahead the concept long-tail, nuanced matters are much less prone to expertise CTR decline.
She illustrated this with an instance of her personal tremendous long-tail question within the SERP, that was met with a 7K+ article—not an AI Overview.
I believe this makes complete sense, and aligns with a concept I had after I first got down to examine AI proof key phrases.
Have a learn of Content material Caffeine for these sorts of twice-monthly search engine optimisation and PR insights—plus prime curated information.
The weblog: Nectiv weblog
Run by: Chris Lengthy, co-founder at Nectiv
Finest for: Replicable search engine optimisation tutorials and the most recent AI exams and research
Our favourite article this 12 months: New Knowledge Examine: What Queries Is ChatGPT Utilizing Behind The Scenes?
Chris Lengthy has turn into one of many SEOs I at all times look out for on LinkedIn.
His no-fluff summaries of cool AI search research means he crops up frequently in my “Saved” folder.
In addition to curating superior content material, he additionally places the reps in in relation to doing the analysis.
Most just lately, he’s printed some nice findings on fan-out queries.
For example, after finding out 8,500+ prompts, he discovered that ChatGPT performs a search 1 in 3 instances to floor its coaching information.
And that 77% of all fan-out queries are 5 phrases or longer…
That is all essential to know should you’re seeking to reverse-engineer a approach to present up in AI solutions.
Chris additionally shares vlogs of himself testing out new instruments and strolling by means of sensible use instances.
For example, he just lately used Ahrefs information and Claude to construct out a topical map of semantically associated key phrase clusters.
It’s properly value maintaining a tally of his weblog for updates.
The weblog: Nikki Pilkington’s weblog
Run by: Nikki Pilkington, search engine optimisation Advisor and search engine optimisation Content material Specialist
Finest for: Blunt but good search recommendation
Our favourite article this 12 months: AI search engine optimisation “hacks” that can f**ok up your conventional search engine optimisation
Nikki Pilkington wins the award for the most effective designed search engine optimisation weblog—it’s punk meets search engine optimisation and I’m right here for it!
Self-described as “non-w**ky search engine optimisation”, and backed by an equally brilliantly named podcast sequence “search engine optimisation F**KING WHAT?”, Nikki’s weblog is a humorous account of an search engine optimisation who’s seen it all.
If you need dry, withering takes on the BS of the search engine optimisation neighborhood, backed up with strong recommendation and unfolding search information, that is the weblog for you.
The weblog: Jono Alderson’s weblog
Run by: Jono Alderson Co-Founding father of Days of the 12 months and search engine optimisation Advisor
Finest for: Thought-provoking opinion items on the state of promoting and search engine optimisation
Our favourite article this 12 months: If you need your weblog to promote, cease promoting
There’s one thing about Jono’s writing that simply hits. He expertly places a sense or frustration you didn’t even realise you had into phrases.
A recurring theme in his weblog is his refusal to simply accept the traditional enterprise excuse: “we’ve at all times executed it that method.”
His posts will make you step again and rethink your strategy to writing, advertising, and search engine optimisation.
And so they’re so readable.
Each line lands cleanly, the language is partaking, and the pacing makes you wish to learn on and on.
In truth, I felt so impressed by Jono’s blogs, I needed to attain out and let him know.
Jono’s content material is way cry from the formulaic search engine optimisation blogs you typically see clogging up the SERPs. Positively one to bookmark!
Wrapping up
If this checklist proves something, it’s that the most effective search engine optimisation blogs are those backed by actual curiosity and expertise.
These are the underdogs, the experimenters, the individuals pushing search ahead whereas everybody else debates the distinction between search engine optimisation and GEO.
Learn their blogs, observe them on LinkedIn, and arrange RSS feeds to get notified each time their new content material drops.
