It is not in their interest to have a product that does not deliver what the user expects.
Remember the search engines you log into such as Yahoo or Google are indeed web sites themselves. They are not a separate entity. They are purely and simple web sites, that have to compete for traffic just like any other.
So when people say "SEO is dead" what they should say is "A business approach to SEO no longer works without the site itself offering a good end user experience".
Back in the 90's, businesses were set up expressly to get your site ranked higher in the engines. They would take a site, and without really touching the code and layout as such, apply methods to improve internet traffic flow and ranking.
So the site could be absolute rubbish, yet still attract traffic if certain techniques were used.
Search engine optimization marketing often involved keyword cramming and the use of dubious software techniques to enhance the value of certain web holdings to increase internet traffic.
This is no longer the case, and we should think of this as a "good thing"
The algorithms that search engines use are now far more astute as finding the short cuts and cheats that are used to promote a site.
They look, primarily for a good layout, relevance of keywords, graphics and structure. Links to and from established sites in the same niche, and an overall good end user experience.

It is rumoured that they can even interpret certain images and videos posted on sites to see if they are actually what they claim to be.
So a third party "methodical" approach to optimizing your site no longer works on its own.
Having a message and site structure that is wholly in tune with what a user would expect when visiting your URL is now far more important.
Search engine optimization services now need to work hand in hand with web developers. Their main role now is to ensure that the underlying structure of a site is sound, rather than apply odious fixes and short-cuts to an established site.
As an internet marketer for eleven years, I have found many of the pitfalls and errors the hard way. I now use simple, cost effective and ethical methods to increase traffic and revenue to my sites.

