Join the Research: What You Get for Participating in the AgenticSEO Study

The SEO industry is at an inflection point. AI tools are automating tasks that defined careers for decades. Some professionals are thriving. Others are struggling. Most are uncertain about what comes next.

That’s why we’re conducting the largest academic study on SEO professionals and AI adaptation.

This post explains exactly what participation involves, what you get in return, and why your voice genuinely matters for the future of our industry.

Why This Research Exists

I’m Robert Eduard Antal, a Bachelor student at Babeș-Bolyai University (FSPAC) in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, with over 20 years of hands-on SEO experience since 2005. I’ve watched this industry evolve through every major algorithm update, every platform shift, every “SEO is dead” proclamation.

But this time feels different.

The rise of agentic AI—systems that can plan, execute, and iterate on SEO tasks autonomously—represents the most significant transformation our industry has faced. Some predict 45-50% of SEO tasks will be automated by 2026. Others say it’s already happening.

The question isn’t whether AI will change SEO. It’s how we adapt.

This research, supervised by Prof. Dr. Dorin Spoaller, aims to answer critical questions:

• How are SEO professionals actually responding to AI automation?
• Which skills remain valuable versus becoming automated?
• What separates those who thrive from those who struggle?
• What practical strategies help professionals transform their careers?

The Research-Resource Exchange

Academic research typically extracts data without giving much back. We’re doing it differently.

Your contribution: 60-90 minutes completing our comprehensive survey Our contribution: $500+ in premium career resources, progressively unlocked

This isn’t charity—it’s a fair exchange. We need quality data from experienced professionals. You need practical guidance for navigating this transformation. Both sides benefit.

Survey Structure: What to Expect

The survey consists of 5 chapters, designed to be completed at your own pace. Progress saves automatically after every question—start on Monday, continue on Thursday, finish whenever works for you.

Chapter-by-Chapter Breakdown

Total: 93 questions across 60-90 minutes

Most participants complete all chapters within a week, doing one or two chapters per sitting. There’s no deadline—take as long as you need.

What You Unlock: Progressive Rewards

Here’s what makes this different: you don’t wait until the end to receive value. Resources unlock progressively as you complete each chapter.

After Chapter 2: The 2026 Automation Timeline ($150 value)

A comprehensive, month-by-month breakdown of which SEO tasks are being automated and when—spanning 2025 through 2027.

What’s inside:

• Task obsolescence matrix by skill level and specialization
• Quarterly automation projections with confidence intervals
• Warning signs that your specific role is at risk
• Economic impact analysis (what companies save by automating)
• Survival checkpoints with specific deadlines

This isn’t speculation. It’s based on current AI capabilities, adoption curves, and industry trajectory analysis. When we say “keyword research hits 95% automation by Q4 2025,” we show the reasoning.

After Chapter 3: The Vibe Coding Blueprint ($199 value)

A 30-day bootcamp for SEO professionals who need to learn automation—without spending 6 months on traditional programming courses.

What’s inside:

• Modern Python environment setup (tools that are 100x faster than traditional approaches)
• AI-assisted coding methodology using Cursor AI, GitHub Copilot, or Replit
• Week-by-week curriculum from zero to automation
• 10 must-build SEO projects with complete starter prompts
• Troubleshooting guide for common issues

Traditional Python learning takes 6-12 months. Our vibe coding approach gets you building real SEO automations in 30 days. The difference? AI assistance throughout the learning process.

After Chapter 4: The 90-Day Career Playbook ($199 value)

A complete transformation roadmap for going from “at-risk operator” to “essential orchestrator.”

Three phases:

• Days 1-30 (Foundation): Python basics, web scraping, API integration, first automations
• Days 31-60 (Acceleration): Production tools, content intelligence, machine learning basics
• Days 61-90 (Transformation): Portfolio development, market positioning, job hunt strategy

Includes daily routines, weekly milestones, emergency protocols for different scenarios, and three distinct career paths: employment, freelancing ($150-200/hr), or entrepreneurship.

After Chapter 5: One Year Premium Access ($199 value)

Complete the full survey and unlock:

• Full access to our Learning Management System (all courses)
• Quarterly updates to all resources as the landscape evolves
• Early access to research findings before public release
• Priority support and direct researcher access
• Exclusive community features as we build them

Total survey value: $500+

Interview Opportunity: 30 Spots Available

Beyond the survey, we need 30 SEO professionals for in-depth qualitative interviews. This is where we capture the nuances, stories, and insights that surveys can’t reach.

What Interview Participation Involves

• Duration: 45 minutes via video call (Zoom)
• Format: Semi-structured conversation about your AI adaptation experience
• Recording: Audio recorded for research, anonymized in thesis
• Your control: Review any quotes before publication

What Interview Participants Receive

This is our premium tier—significantly more than survey-only participation:

1. Lifetime LMS Subscription Not one year. Forever. Full access to all current courses and everything we add in the future. No renewal, no expiration, no limits.

2. 1-Hour Personalized Consultation ($200 value) After the interview, you get a full hour of personalized strategy time:

• Custom AI transformation roadmap for your specific situation
• Technical skills assessment with prioritized learning path
• 3-5 quick wins you can implement immediately
• Career positioning strategy (LinkedIn, resume, personal brand)
• Q&A on any SEO topic

3. Named Acknowledgment in Thesis Your contribution recognized in the official academic publication. Optional—you can participate anonymously if preferred.

4. Early Access to Findings See the research results before anyone else. Know what the data says about industry trends, skill gaps, and transformation strategies before it’s published publicly.

How to Qualify for Interview

1. Complete all 5 survey chapters
2. Apply for an interview slot (link provided after Chapter 5)
3. We’ll contact you to schedule

30 spots, first-come first-served. If demand exceeds spots, we prioritize diversity—different geographies, experience levels, company sizes—to ensure representative findings.

Why Your Voice Matters

This isn’t just about getting free resources. Your participation shapes outcomes for the entire industry.

For the Research

Every response adds to our understanding. With 120+ professionals sharing their experiences, we can identify patterns that individual observation misses:

• Which adaptation strategies actually work?
• What separates successful transformations from unsuccessful ones?
• How do regional differences affect AI adoption?
• What do professionals wish they’d known earlier?

For the Industry

Research findings will be shared publicly. The frameworks, recommendations, and insights we develop become available to everyone—including the 90%+ of SEO professionals who won’t participate in this study.

Your data, anonymized and aggregated, helps colleagues you’ll never meet navigate the same challenges you’re facing.

For Your Career

Beyond the resources, participation itself has value:

• Structured reflection on your own AI adaptation journey
• Benchmarking against 120+ peers (you’ll see how you compare)
• Early insight into industry trends affecting your career
• Connection to a community navigating the same transition

How Your Data Is Protected

We take data security seriously:

• GDPR compliant: Full compliance with European data protection standards
• Anonymous by default: Your identity is never connected to your responses in publications
• University ethics approved: Research protocol reviewed and approved by faculty
• Data deletion available: Request complete deletion of your data at any time
• Secure storage: All data stored on encrypted, access-controlled systems

Your survey responses inform aggregate patterns. No individual identifying information is ever published.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the survey actually take? Most participants complete it in 60-90 minutes total, spread across multiple sittings. Progress saves automatically—pause and resume whenever convenient.

What if I don’t finish all chapters? You keep access to whatever you’ve unlocked. No deadline, no expiration. But interview eligibility requires completing all 5 chapters.

Can I just buy the resources instead? No. These resources are exclusively available through research participation. We need quality data, not purchases.

Who should participate? SEO professionals at any level—from specialists to directors. Whether you’re just starting to explore AI tools or already using them daily, your experience matters.

What if I’m not very technical? Perfect. We need perspectives from both technical and non-technical SEO professionals. Your experience is valuable regardless of coding ability.

Will my employer know I participated? No. Your participation is completely confidential. We never contact employers or share participation status with anyone.

When will research findings be available? Interview participants get early access (Q1 2026). Public findings released with thesis publication (May-June 2026).

The Bigger Picture

AI transformation isn’t something happening to the SEO industry. It’s happening through us—through the choices we make, the skills we develop, the ways we adapt.

This research captures that transformation in real-time. Not predictions from analysts who’ve never run a campaign. Not speculation from AI companies selling tools. Real experiences from real professionals navigating real challenges.

The goal isn’t just academic publication. It’s building a body of evidence-based knowledge that helps our entire industry adapt successfully.

You’ve spent years developing SEO expertise. Now that expertise is being challenged by AI capabilities that seem to advance monthly. The question is: what comes next?

Your answer, combined with 120+ others, shapes the guidance our industry needs.

Ready to Participate?

Survey participants: Start the research survey and begin unlocking resources immediately.

Interview candidates: Complete all 5 chapters first, then apply for one of 30 interview spots.

The transformation is happening whether we’re ready or not. The question is whether we navigate it with evidence-based guidance—or we wing it alone.

This research is part of a Bachelor thesis at Babeș-Bolyai University, Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences (FSPAC), supervised by Prof. Dr. Dorin Spoaller. Questions? Contact robert.eduard.antal@stud.ubbcluj.ro