I think that a few basic on-page optimizations would make a world of difference for a lot of sites and aren't even that hard to implement. That being said, there is absolutely no reason why basic SEO shouldn't be used for every site project. Even simple things like clean URL's and good titles would be a step in the right direction.

Of course, since most people on the forums focus mainly on either PageRank or "Content is King", and not much else, there are some informational hurdles that need to be jumped before any kind of real SEO becomes a standard task in web development.

I personally see basic SEO at least as a standard element in any web design project with a view to implimentation of a structured and targeted SEO campaign.

I also feel that it is the responsibility of the web developer to attempt to educate their clients in SEO so that it is always in the front of their minds when writing their website content.

Ultimatly it benefits the web developer to assist their clients in their SEO as if the cleint does well then more dev work will arise, not to mention the fact that most dev companies stamp their work with a logo and link. As your clients sites grow so to does your incoming link count and potential flow on traffic, not to mention public exposure!

Thanks Luke and BB for your much appreciated comments. :)

My experience is that it is a good thing to always explain SEO to a potential client and show them that over the long run you will save them time and money by incorporating it into any site design or redesign. Having said that, because of the costs and other factors, may Web site owners may not be interested enough to justify the additional investment in their minds. My 2 cents: tell them about it, point out pros & cons, let them decide.

SEO has become a necessity for commercial websites in terms of getting high rankings and driving traffic to the site. SEO is a way for webmasters to make their site known to people and target the right market.

Another important aspect of SEO is patience. One may follow the webmaster guidelines, but should expect instant results. It's a gradual process which yeilds results which are highly beneficial in the long run.