We changed the algorithm a few weeks back because people were abusing it, as they always try to do.

But that said, SEO is NOT a scam, and IF you follow the guidelines and understand the Google patent/algorithm, you can actually win the battle for leads.

Then, debt to income ratios for Fannie & Freddie requirements for loan approval which are just computerized algorithms.

Maybe AirBnB tweaked their algorithm, maybe they completed their pivot to boutique rentals, maybe all the 20 year TickTockers complaining about taking out the trash finally gave up on the platform and took their parents with them?

There is no more FICO, rather 49 versions of the algorithm, Each institution customizes what they need and the scores vary so much that we have no idea what a FICO is anymore.

Although I love what I do (online marketing) the tides are constantly changing with different technologies and platforms changing their rules/algorithms, so when I look to the future I don't see this being "it". 

They use an algorithm and cross reference lists with other lists where the seller is more motivated. it's a shipwrecked list as they call it.

It is important to note that FICO has many scoring algorithms and the score from say your credit card is a different algoritihim that the lenders use.

We found that with a little tweaking, our algorithm could also find emerging or declining areas of residential real estate.

This is not the only thing that plays into their ranking algorithms they take into account online bookablity, instant quotes, conversion rates, response scores, reviews, ad level, calendar update time etc--you can buy a promo to help you start collecting reviews even price a little lower to get your first few.