Are there any essential qualities that you think a seoer should possess, such as HTML, PHP or other IT skills? Do you think it is possible that one can do excellent seo job but has no knowledge of the aboved skills?
SEO is more on marketing things. Though an SEO needs basic knowledge of technical or programming languages, the better SEO specialist must be complex and flexible in handling SEO campaign. He must have excellent goal and primary campaign plan. In addition, he has back up plan once his campaign is failed.
I agree with you, Tankstar55. A seoer must be very good at marketing. In my way, there is no need for a seoer to master the technical or programming language.
you just need to be active in social media like face book twitter and other sharing sites.... you do not need to be expert in any language like php and programming .
Lots of patience and creativity. Patience to keep you calm even if it takes you months to rank a website in 1st page, and creativity to be able to find new link building opportunities.