Google’s Matt Cutts answers the question that every SEO has heard at least once: Can you get my site to #1 on Google?

It’s a tricky question to answer directly, because no SEO expert can guarantee a ranking on Google, particularly in competitive niches. But what they can do is apply their knowledge of what worked in the past and see if they can generate similar results for a different website.

This is why creativity and building relationships online will continue to be more valuable than the diminishing SEO techniques like submitting to directories, article syndication and purchasing links.

Good response by Matt Cutts, which basically summarizes the very useful Google Webmaster Guide. Why doesn’t Microsoft Bing do stuff like this?