Ahrefs' CMO answering your (tough) questions | Tim Soulo

Apr 14, 2026

A candid Q&A about how an SEO powerhouse is adapting to AI search and tracking zero-click visibility. Usage stats and underrated tools like Content Explorer and Brand Radar get spotlighted. The conversation covers APIs, no-code automation trends, and why competition with Semrush matters. Future plans include restoring deeper ranking data and betting on developer-friendly integrations.

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INSIGHT

Ahrefs Positions As Data Supplier For AI-Powered Demand

Ahrefs remains relevant in modern demand engines by combining competitor research, AI visibility tracking, web crawling, and social tools.
Tim highlights Ahrefs' crawler, web mentions, and API/MCP investments to feed AI agents and custom 'vibe code' tools.

INSIGHT

APIs For Power Users, UI For The 99 Percent

First-party data adoption is rising, but third-party crawled data and polished UIs still matter for most marketers.
Tim expects the top 1% to use APIs while 99% rely on interfaces; Ahrefs is expanding APIs, MCP, and cloud code skills accordingly.

ADVICE

Three Essentials Every SEO Should Prioritize

Focus SEO efforts on three essentials: research demand, create content that genuinely deserves to rank, and build authority via links.
Tim warns against producing copycat pages and emphasizes assessing whether you can offer something original before investing.

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Most SEO tools are playing catch-up with AI search while their users wonder if traditional keyword tracking even matters anymore. Tim Soulo tackles your burning questions about how Ahrefs is navigating this shift, revealing that Content Explorer is their most underrated feature despite being 10x less popular than Site Audit.

Tim Soulo is the CMO at Ahrefs, one of the industry's most comprehensive SEO toolsets with over $100 million in annual revenue. He's been with Ahrefs for over a decade, helping shape its evolution from a backlink analysis tool to a full marketing suite.

In this solo Q&A episode, Tim reveals why Ahrefs has no acquisition plans, which tools generate the most usage (Site Explorer dominates by 3x), and why they're betting big on API expansion for the "wipe coding" revolution. He also shares candid thoughts on competing with Semrush and explains why Brand Radar crossed $10M ARR in just 5 months.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

(00:00) Intro(00:27) Any plans for acquisitions in 2026? (from Bilal Malik)(01:13) Which are the most vs least used Ahrefs features? (from Vimala Ellappan)(08:44) What is the most underrated Ahrefs feature? (from Kristiina Jannus)(10:48) How does Tim use Ahrefs for AI visibility tracking? (from Ayesha Asif)(13:33) How does Ahrefs fit into the modern demand engine? (from Gayle Kalvert)(17:18) How is Ahrefs looking at first vs third-party data? (from Hawrry Bhattarai)(21:27) Which SEO basic skills would Tim embed in LLMs? (from Laiba Naveed)(23:30) Which Semrush feature does Tim envy most? (from Coen Commijs)(25:59) If Ahrefs exists, what problem is Semrush trying to solve? (from Ashish Singh)(27:18) What's the update on ranking data beyond position 10? (from Mia Wolf)(29:21) How does Ahrefs plan to capture future SERP features? (from Alex Nguyen)(31:05) How do you balance evergreen content with fast-moving trends? (from Esther Dien)(34:24) What are your SEO predictions for 2026? (from Nick Malekos)(35:54) Where do you plan for Ahrefs to be in 5 years? (from Ivan Palii)(37:50) What's your POV on the Indian market? (from Aryan Jalan)

We hope you enjoyed this episode of Ahrefs Podcast! Be sure to follow and share with a friend.

Where to find Tim:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timsoulo/X: @timsouloWebsite: https://www.timsoulo.com/

Referenced:ChatGPT vs Google: https://chatgpt-vs-google.com/Ahrefs: https://ahrefs.com