Well, I have been called an “SEO expert” many times over the years, but I don’t think such a really thing exists.
As someone that has indepth knowledge of the SEO biz, there is not one single SEO company that I would recommend to anyone I liked that had a small/medium website. (Sorry Bruce!)
All the ‘good’ SEOs learned a long time ago that it is far easier and way more profitable to only work for yourself and promote your own sites. If you can make someone else a pile of money, you should be able to make yourself a bigger pile…
I have always looked at a very large part of the SEO business much like those guys on the TV infomercials that will tell you how to make millions for $49.95… If these guys can really make millions why are they wasting their time selling the info to you for pennies???
The question always comes to my mind is; Why should I tell you how I make my money? if I tell you, your just one more person I have to compete with…
The only time I see an SEO firm being of any use at all is for very large sites and they usually do SEO inhouse and/or hire SEO consultants. IMO there are only two or three SEO firms that are capable of handling large corporate accounts like that.