PPC/PFInclusion Companies - Legit?

[ToLearn]

I was on a 3-way conference call with a client and the client was talking to a nationally known SEO company. The SEO company kept on touting proprietary relationships with over 2400 search engines, Overture, Google and more. They also tout their XML feeds to these search engine databases.

Am I missing something here but don't the search engines keep their algorithms secret and wouldn't they try and dissuade any form or relationships with 3rd party SEO firms. So in reality, a 1-person SEO shop has just as much clout with the SEO folks as a 100-person SEO company. I'd hate to think that AOL or MSN have partnered with a select few SEO firms to skew the result listing.

Comments?

[edited by: agerhart at 7:46 pm (utc) on Oct. 22, 2003]
[edit reason] removed company name [/edit]

[agerhart]

2400 search engines

I can count the major search engines that matter on one hand.

They also tout their XML feeds to these search engine databases.

XML feeds to SEs like Inktomi, Fast, and AltaVista are not limited to large companies.....but, they are intended for large sites. These feeds are CPC.