Alex Melen has taught SEO from conference stages since 2017 and does it without the mystery: what Google ranks in Maps and in organic results, why content and links still decide most of it, how many hours a real program takes, and what changes now that AI Overviews answer many searches directly. He co-founded SmartSites, which Forbes Advisor ranked No. 1 on its Best SEO Services of 2026 list, and his sessions use Search Console and analytics data from its client base.
The local ranking factors for Google Maps and organic results, where to spend the hours (technical fixes, content, links), the content formats still earning clicks and AI citations, how to judge an SEO provider, and how SEO and generative engine optimization fit together.
What Google ranks, the SEO plan in hours, and the content that works now.
Article · Oct 26, 2026Within three months, 89% of the new pages were showing up in Google.
Case study · Oct 26, 2026Yes. He has given SEO keynotes at Small Business Expo in New York and Boston, a 90-minute workshop and a session at WordCamp Canada 2025, and SEO sessions at TES Affiliate Conference, AWSummit, Ecommerce Festival, Digital Dealer and NIADA.
Alex’s position is that generative engine optimization is a layer on top of SEO, not a replacement. The AI engines learn about a business from the same pages, reviews and links that SEO works on. What has changed is which content earns clicks, and his sessions show that with client data.
Small businesses, e-commerce brands, WordPress site owners, affiliates, agencies and car dealerships. The ranking factors are the same; the examples and the content plan change with the audience.
Alex builds every session for the room. Send the event, audience and dates and he will come back with a proposed talk.