What does an SEO professional do?

[longroad]

People getting paid thousands to get websites up in the rankings, what exactly do they do thats different from us here who optimise our sites according the the basic laws of SEO?

Im just wondering when you cross the line and become 'professional' in this business, and when you can really start charging people for your services.

Thanks :)

[longroad]

I guess they do nothing then... :/

[moltar]

You can claim to be a professional when you do it for money and achieve great results. When you eat and sleep SEO. When you fly 1000 kilometers to sit in a pub with other likeminded people. When you wake in the middle of the night with an idea and run to the computer :)