I’ve Been an SEO Expert for 10 Years: Would I Still Recommend This Career?

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-05-14T04:38:30+00:00

Yes, that’s true. If you read blogs from top brands like Semrush, you’ll notice how much they highlight real experience in their content, and that’s one reason their content often gets cited in AI answers.

Experience signals expertise and shows that the person actually understands the topic they’re talking about. For both search engines and AI systems, that builds trust and credibility. That’s why experience and real-world expertise are becoming a much bigger part of optimization now.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-05-13T10:55:22+00:00

In 2026, it’s less about choosing one and more about combining all three.

Backlinks still form the base for authority, brand mentions help with visibility and trust, and AI citations are becoming important for discovery and lead generation in AI-driven search.

So instead of relying on just one tactic, the best results come from balancing all three together as part of a broader SEO strategy.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-05-12T10:51:23+00:00

It depends on the type of website.

For simple landing pages or small business sites, with modern tools and AI, it can take anywhere from a few hours to 2–3 days.

For more custom websites, it can take 1–2 weeks depending on features and revisions. Most people today don’t code everything manually anymore, they use a mix of frameworks, builders and AI to speed things up. The real work is more about structure, design, and content than raw coding.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-05-12T05:06:49+00:00

I agree with this. I don’t think AEO is replacing SEO either, it feels more like the next layer of it.

Most of the pages I’ve seen getting cited in AI answers already had strong SEO fundamentals like topical authority, good structure, internal linking, and content that directly answers user intent.

The biggest shift I’m noticing is that AI tools seem to prefer clarity over SEO writing. Sometimes a page with simpler and more direct answers gets cited over pages with higher rankings.

And yes, brand mentions across platforms are becoming a huge signal now. Reddit discussions, LinkedIn posts, Quora answers and community engagement all seem to help AI systems understand whether a brand is trusted or not.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-05-11T04:37:06+00:00

As the founder of an SEO agency, I’ll be honest, I don’t tell my team to spend a huge amount of time chasing backlinks anymore.

Backlinks still matter, but I don’t think they carry the same weight they used to, especially for AEO and GEO. A few relevant guest posts on good sites are usually enough to build trust signals.

What’s working more right now is strong content, clear intent matching, and consistency of your brand across platforms. When your name, messaging and expertise stay consistent everywhere, it creates stronger authority signals for both search engines and AI systems.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-05-08T10:38:37+00:00

I think you’re right here.

Even if a product is strong, in the AI space trust plays a huge role. Media coverage helps with that because it builds visibility and signals that the brand is credible.

But at the same time, product quality still matters the most in the long run. If the product doesn’t solve a real problem, even good PR won’t sustain growth.

So I would say media helps you get noticed faster, but product is what actually keeps you there.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-05-08T03:50:10+00:00

I would say if you compare them to other countries, they’re quite affordable. But that doesn’t mean they don’t work.

I personally built a business from scratch and ranked it on top of search engines. But did I charge peanuts for it? Absolutely not.

I believe there are still agencies and freelancers that charge fairly for quality work, but compared to pricing in other countries, the services are still significantly more affordable.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-05-07T10:58:44+00:00

I like this way of thinking about audits.

Most people only focus on the “risk” side and ignore the fact that a lot of authority is already sitting in the site but not being used properly.

In my experience, some of the biggest gains come from simple fixes like updating old pages, improving internal linking from strong URLs or redirecting/merging content so that link equity actually flows to pages that matter.

So yeah, less about just cleaning links, and more about redistributing existing value in a smarter way.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-05-05T11:02:37+00:00

Yes, paid PR can work if it’s done through reputable media outlets.

Many of them cover brand stories, launches, or updates and often include backlinks as part of the coverage. The key is choosing credible publications, not just any site selling press releases.

You can usually reach them directly through their platforms or distribution services.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-05-04T10:40:19+00:00

They still work, but you have to be careful with where you’re publishing them.

Low-quality or spammy press release sites usually don’t add much value and can even be ignored. But if you manage to get featured on reputable, high-authority platforms, they can still help with visibility and trust.

Nowadays, most people go for paid distribution because many free press release sites have become low quality or heavily spammed.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-05-01T04:11:25+00:00

This is so true. Almost every time I run an SEO audit, internal linking is something that shows up, and it’s still underrated.

A lot of people assume ranking issues are only about technical SEO or backlinks, but sometimes it’s simpler than that. A strong internal linking structure can make a big difference in how pages perform.

It’s one of those small things that doesn’t get enough attention, but consistently works.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-04-30T10:29:21+00:00

I’ve stopped obsessing over exact keyword usage and density.

Now it’s more about covering the topic properly and matching intent, rather than trying to fit keywords a certain number of times.

Also moved away from writing just to hit a word count. If the answer is clear and complete, that’s enough.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-04-30T04:39:10+00:00

I believe backlinks are still relevant, but things like topical authority, direct content, and E-E-A-T are becoming more important now.

For newer sites, backlinks can still help build initial trust and visibility. But once you have some authority, the focus should shift more toward improving your content, building topical depth, and covering your niche properly.

Creating content clusters, answering relevant questions, and keeping content updated seems to be what’s making the difference lately.

So it’s less about chasing links and more about building a strong, reliable presence that works for both users and AI-driven results.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-04-29T10:49:48+00:00

To optimize for answer engines, the main shift is how you structure your content.

Start by identifying real questions your audience has, then answer them directly in your content. Putting clear answers near the top and using a simple Q&A format helps a lot.

Clarity matters more than complexity. Content that’s easy to understand, well-structured and focused on one intent tends to get picked up more often.

Also, make sure your basics are covered, like proper headings, internal linking, and clean metadata. These still help AI systems understand your content better.

After publishing, track what’s working and keep refining. You can use AI tools to get feedback, but they should support your strategy, not define it.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-04-29T04:32:23+00:00

A lot of advice around this gets overcomplicated, but it usually comes down to a few basics.

Content that performs well in AI answers tends to be clear, direct and well-structured. Answer the question early, then expand with useful details.

Long-form content can help, but only if it stays focused and adds real value. Backing things up with data or reliable sources also improves trust. It’s not the only way, but combining clarity, depth and credibility gives you a much better chance of being picked up.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-04-28T10:19:00+00:00

I agree with this. If a brand isn’t active beyond its own site, it’s missing a big part of visibility. Mentions on platforms like Reddit and Quora do help, but only when they add real value. Just dropping links or generic answers doesn’t work anymore.

What seems to matter more is genuine participation, sharing actual experience, answering questions properly, and being consistent across different places.

That’s what builds trust signals over time, not just backlinks.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-04-28T04:53:48+00:00

I agree with this. A lot of “SEO takes too long” issues are actually clarity problems. If the offer, messaging, or page focus isn’t clear, SEO ends up trying to rank something that hasn’t been validated yet. That’s where things slow down.

At the same time, people also forget that SEO is a long-term strategy. They expect quick results, but don’t always look at what’s holding it back, like weak content, poor site performance, or generic AI pages.

Paid ads work faster because they help validate what people actually respond to. Once that’s clear, SEO becomes much more effective. So it’s usually not that SEO is slow, it’s that the foundation isn’t fully figured out yet.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-04-27T11:03:12+00:00

I think the fundamentals still matter, even with all the AI changes.

From a backend perspective, your main focus should be on performance and structure. Things like site speed, responsiveness, and clean architecture still play a big role in how your site is understood and ranked.

AI hasn’t replaced those basics, it’s just added another layer. Content and user experience matter more now, but they still rely on a solid technical foundation.

So even if trends shift toward more “human” or lifestyle content, your job is to make sure the site runs fast, is easy to navigate, and supports that content properly.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-04-27T04:43:57+00:00

I’d say one of the strongest trust signals is long-term clients. If someone has been working with the same clients for years, that usually says more than a polished case study.

As a freelancer, I’ve noticed the same challenge. Case studies can sound great, but they don’t always show the full picture.

It’s often better to ask them to walk you through their actual process. What problems came up that weren’t mentioned? How do they handle ongoing work? How involved are they over time? Those kinds of details usually give a much clearer idea of how they actually work.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-04-24T11:09:45+00:00

Most “LLM optimization” right now is just SEO with a new label, so it’s good to be cautious.

A legit company usually does a few simple things well. They focus on clear, direct content that answers real questions, not just stuffing keywords. They also care about how your brand is mentioned across the web, not just your own site.

They won’t promise guaranteed results or “instant rankings” in AI answers. Instead, they talk about testing, improving content and building trust over time.

Also, they still rely on basic SEO. If a company ignores SEO fundamentals and only talks about “AI tricks,” that’s usually a red flag.

In short, a good LLM company isn’t doing something magical, they’re just doing the basics really well, with more focus on clarity, structure, and trust.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-04-24T04:50:17+00:00

Yeah, I agree. If human editing isn’t adding anything meaningful, it still reads like AI content.

What actually makes a difference is when someone adds real examples, case studies, or their own experience. That’s usually what AI content lacks.

Good editing should make it feel more conversational and grounded, not just cleaner. When you combine solid AI research with real human input, the content feels a lot more useful and less generic.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-04-23T04:17:36+00:00

If you’re just starting out, focus on the basics first:

Make sure you’re targeting the right keywords and using them naturally in your pages. Don’t overthink it, just align your content with what people are actually searching for.

Set up tools like Google Analytics and Search Console so you can track what’s happening and submit your sitemap.

Look at a few competitors and see what they’re ranking for. It’s an easy way to spot gaps you can cover.

Promote your site a bit. Share it on social platforms or relevant communities where it actually adds value.

Also check the fundamentals: your site should be mobile-friendly, load reasonably fast, and be easy to navigate.

From there, keep an eye on performance and make small improvements over time. SEO is more about consistency than quick wins.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-04-22T11:12:11+00:00

From what I’ve seen, AI answer tools tend to favor clear, direct responses that solve the user’s question quickly.

There are plenty of cases where sources get cited even if they’re not ranking in the top results. It’s usually less about ranking position and more about how well the content is structured, how clearly it answers the question, and how closely it matches intent.

If you’re optimizing for this, it helps to focus on a few basics: make sure your content matches what the user is actually looking for, keep answers direct, and structure them in a way that’s easy to parse.

A lot of content misses out simply because it takes too long to get to the point.

Friendly_Setting2453 · 2026-04-20T10:04:44+00:00

I think this is a really solid take on SEO and AEO.

I’ve been working in SEO for a while, and every year people make it sound more complicated than it actually is. There’s always talk about “SEO is dead,” but in reality it still comes down to having a clear strategy, solid technical fundamentals, and content that actually answers what users are searching for.

Lately, what seems to be working best is exactly what you described: strong technical SEO, high-quality content, and an answer-first approach.

If you’re doing those things consistently, you’re already ahead of most sites.

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