Hobo-Web’s Shaun Anderson Voted among the “Top 50 SEOs of 2026” & Announced as Keynote Speaker for SMX Paris 2026.
GREENOCK, SCOTLAND – January 19, 2026 – Shaun Anderson, founder of the Scottish digital marketing consultancy Hobo-Web, has been voted #18 in the world’s elite search marketers in the newly released “The Top 50 SEOs in 2026” list by Primary Position. The double-honour comes as Shaun Anderson is also confirmed as a keynote speaker for SMX Paris 2026, where he will present his groundbreaking findings on Google search engine architecture.
The 2026 ranking places Anderson in distinguished company, featuring him alongside Barry Schwartz, widely regarded as the SEO industry’s number one journalist, and David Quaid, recognized as one of the SEO industries best myth-busters. Also featured is YouTube influencer Edward Sturm, who hosted Anderson on his popular podcast, The Edward Show, in both 2025 and 2026 to discuss these evolving search technologies.
This global recognition follows Anderson’s exhaustive, six-month investigation into the Google Content Warehouse API Leak and DOJ Antitrust trial. While much of the industry offered initial reactions, Anderson spent half a year deconstructing trial testimony, thousands of lines of code and attribute definitions. His work is now considered some of the most definitive technical documentation on Google’s Content Warehouse leak.
Six Months of Deep Research: The “Ground Truth” of SEO Anderson’s analysis provided the SEO community with a rare, evidence-based look at Google’s ranking pipeline. His research debunked long-held myths and confirmed the precise mechanics of systems like NavBoost (user interaction signals) and Goldmine (Google’s internal quality judge).
His findings were published in a series of deep-dive articles on the Hobo-Web blog, which have become essential reading for technical SEOs:
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“The Google Content Warehouse API Leak” – The core framework analysis.
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“The Definitive Guide to Linkbuilding after the Google Leak” – A forensic look at
siteAuthorityandsiteFocusScore. -
“What Is ‘Goldmine’? Google’s Quality Judge For SERPS Leaked” – Uncovering how page titles and snippets are scored.
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“Mapping of Google Updates to Leaked Ranking Signals” – Connecting historical algorithm updates to specific lines of leaked code.
Keynote at SMX Paris 2026 Anderson will take these insights to the stage as a keynote speaker at SMX Paris 2026. His session will translate the complex data from the leak into actionable strategies for enterprise SEOs and marketers.
“It is a privilege to be named in the Top 20 alongside friends and colleagues who have shaped this industry,” said Shaun Anderson. “This year was about getting to the ‘ground truth.’ I spent six months submerged in the API documentation because I wanted to move away from correlation studies and towards engineering reality. I am thrilled to be sharing this deep research live at SMX Paris on March 9 2026.”
The Top SEOs in 2026 The Primary Position list highlights the most influential voices driving the search industry forward. Anderson joins a stellar roster of experts, including:
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Barry Schwartz (Search Engine Roundtable) (Position 1)
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Rand Fishkin (SparkToro) (Position 2)
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Aleyda Solis (Orainti) (Position 4)
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Brian Dean (Exploding Topics) (Position 5)
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David Quaid (Primary Position) (Position 6)
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Edward Sturm (Must Read Media) (Position 10)
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Dr. Pete Meyers (Moz) (Position 12)
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Patrick Stox (Ahrefs) (Position 15)
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AJ Ghergich (Ghergich & Co.) (Position 17)
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Shaun Anderson (Hobo-Web) (Position 18)
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Brodie Clark (Brodie Clark Consulting) (Position 20)
About Hobo-Web Founded in 2006, Hobo-Web is a leading UK SEO consultancy based in Greenock, Scotland. Under Shaun Anderson’s technical direction, the website specializes in forensic SEO audits and evidence-based content strategy, helping brands navigate the complexities of AI search and algorithmic ranking.
About Primary Position Primary Position is a leading digital marketing agency and industry authority, renowned for its data-centric approach to Search Engine Optimization. The firm publishes the annual “Top 50 SEOs” list, widely considered a benchmark for excellence and influence within the global search marketing community.
Media Contact: Shaun Anderson Hobo-Web Website: https://www.hobo-web.co.uk