indyank - 1:35 pm on Feb 7, 2011 (gmt 0)

I don't think they're screwing up, just enacting a process that will eventually lead to the end of the SEO business. Google [IMHO] is fed up of the parasitic behaviour of the SEO world and wants an end to it. There are so many signs that it is happening already, with SEO companies turning to social media and classic ad placement in favour of thousands of hours of SEO development being flushed down the pan by another Google Update. SEO is becoming a waste of time and there is nothing that good business hates more than that ;-)

yes, the focus of high profile SEOs has been gradually shifting to social media and they are even successful in convincing the googlers who matter, that spamming is not easy there ... :)