New York City has no shortage of digital marketing agencies, but behind every successful campaign is an individual strategist: someone who understands the mechanics of search, the behavior of NYC consumers, and the technical foundations that turn websites into revenue engines. While large agencies often take center stage, the most influential SEO results in this city often come from individual experts—specialists who bring a mix of technical depth, creative strategy, and gritty NYC problem-solving.

Below are profiles of several standout SEO professionals in NYC whose work, leadership, and industry impact have made them some of the most respected names in the field.

1. Michael Hayes — Large-Scale SEO Strategist & Technical Growth Leader

With over a decade of experience managing SEO for B2B, SaaS, and enterprise-level content sites, Michael Hayes has become one of the strongest individual SEO strategists operating in NYC today. Known for orchestrating major traffic turnarounds and building scalable SEO systems, Hayes specializes in large datasets, complex WordPress/Next.js deployments, and operationalizing content at scale.

What sets him apart:
Hayes has grown Xometry.com’s organic traffic from roughly 52k/month to over 600k/month, a 1,000%+ increase, while simultaneously scaling multilingual SEO, enterprise content workflows, and technical improvements across massive websites. His cross-functional approach blends technical SEO, semantic content strategy, automation, and data-driven systems.

He also brings deep hands-on expertise in:

• large-scale migrations

• schema and structured-data architecture

• WordPress engineering

• Python/JS automation

• complex B2B content operations

• semantic SEO and topical authority development

NYC advantage:
Hayes’s blend of technical SEO, business strategy, and operational leadership is rare in NYC’s talent pool. His work extends beyond visibility into full-funnel growth, giving NYC businesses a partner who thinks like both an engineer and a strategist.

You can contact Michael Hayes via his Website, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.

2. Lily Ray — E-E-A-T & Algorithm Expertise with a Global Reputation

Lily Ray has become one of the leading voices globally on Google’s ranking systems, especially E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Based in NYC, she’s widely recognized for her research into Google Core Updates, volatility patterns, and industry-wide trends.

What sets her apart:
Ray’s analyses of Google’s algorithm changes are cited by SEOs around the world. She frequently publishes data-driven reports, speaks at major international conferences, and produces research that helps both enterprise brands and smaller publishers understand how Google’s systems evolve.

NYC advantage:
Her background working with large news publishers, e-commerce brands, and fast-moving content operations aligns perfectly with NYC’s pace and scale. When it comes to understanding the search landscape, Ray’s insights shape how many experts interpret Google’s changes.

You can contact Lily Ray via her Website, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

3. Joe Balestrino

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe Balestrino describes himself as a “search marketing consultant located in New York City… available for consulting on all forms of search marketing and internet marketing.” He has over 18-20 years of experience in SEO and PPC, across competitive verticals (legal, education, real estate, jewelry) and has operated his own firm. He emphasises hands-on work and affordable rates compared to big agencies.

What makes him stand out

Deep experience in competitive niches (which seems aligned with your environment of high volume, technical SEO). Background running his own firm means he likely understands both strategic and execution sides. He also offers SEO audits and PPC audits — good if you want someone who can point out quick wins and also setup systems.

4. Rana Moneeb

Rana Moneeb has emerged as one of New York City’s most analytically rigorous SEO consultants, bringing a rare blend of technical depth, product sensibility, and strategic thinking to the city’s most competitive digital landscapes. Known for his structured, engineering-informed approach to organic growth, he works closely with fast-scaling startups, established B2B companies, and complex multi-location brands that require more than surface-level SEO fixes.

What sets him apart:
Moneeb’s background is rooted in data science and performance engineering, which gives him a distinctive advantage over traditional SEO practitioners. He approaches SEO like a systems architect—mapping crawl paths, auditing site infrastructure, and building technical roadmaps that align with business goals, not just keyword rankings. His clients often cite his ability to break down complicated issues into clear, actionable frameworks that both executives and developers can follow.

Core expertise:

• Large-scale technical SEO audits

• Log-file analysis and crawl optimization

• Schema and structured-data engineering

• Programmatic content and entity-based search

• Forecasting, predictive modeling, and ROI measurement

• CMS and infrastructure improvements for speed, scalability, and automation

Moneeb is also known for his disciplined testing methodology. He regularly designs controlled SEO experiments—evaluating indexation triggers, SERP behavior changes, and ranking volatility—to refine his strategies with evidence rather than industry folklore. In an era where many SEO practitioners rely on guesswork, his data-anchored rigor places him among the most credible consultants in the field.

Impact on the NYC market:
Operating in the heart of Manhattan, Moneeb has become a go-to advisor for brands navigating the fierce competitiveness of New York’s digital marketplace. He’s worked with organizations across finance, education, e-commerce, SaaS, and healthcare, helping them cut through saturated SERPs and win high-intent audiences. His work particularly resonates with growth-focused teams that need unified alignment across product, engineering, content, and marketing.

5. John Morabito — E-commerce & Technical SEO Specialist Based in Brooklyn

John Morabito is an independent SEO consultant operating out of Brooklyn, New York. He brings nearly a decade of dedicated search-engine optimisation experience to his clients — ranging from ambitious start-ups to established e-commerce brands.

Stand-out attributes:
Morabito specialises in technical SEO audits, e-commerce optimisation, voice search and emerging search modalities — areas that are crucial for NYC-based brands that compete on scale. His focus on staying aligned with Google’s best practices helps clients mitigate risk and sustain organic growth.

Core expertise includes:

• Large e-commerce platform optimisation (site architecture, faceted navigation, crawl budget)

• Technical SEO (indexability, structured data, mobile performance)

• Voice & conversational search optimisation (especially pertinent in high-velocity metro markets like NYC)

• Local + national hybrid SEO strategies (helping multi-location or nationally-visible NYC brands scale)

• Transparent consulting model: educating internal teams, not just delivering “black-box” results

Why he stands out in the NYC market:
Competing for search visibility in New York is notoriously tough — high competition, large budgets, and complex brand requirements. Morabito’s ability to combine technical fluency with e-commerce growth focus makes him a strong choice for NYC clients looking for more than basic SEO. His work is referenced in NYC–based content as a consultant for “leading brands to small businesses” within the city.

Why These Individuals Stand Out in NYC’s SEO Landscape

New York is a difficult market for SEO success: ultra-competitive industries, constant algorithmic pressure, massive brands, and some of the highest CPCs in the country create unique conditions. The experts above stand out because they bring:

• deep technical understanding

• strong strategic frameworks

• experience with enterprise-scale challenges

• data-driven decision-making

• thought leadership across the industry

• real, measurable results

SEO is an industry full of noise—but individuals like these consistently rise above it through expertise that moves businesses forward.