I need your (serious) help - experts advice wanted

This warrior is frustrated, and looking to man up and get the job done right.

It's been a while since I've posted here, so I hope the lay of the land hasn't changed much.

My dilemma is about local SEO. I know guys like iamnameless, Kung Fu Backlinks and others, are just a couple of names that come to mind, that might have the kind of experience I'm looking for. Otherwise, anyone that has been here for a while (and not someone that just joined yesterday with 3 posts trying to sell me their services) would help by giving me any advice.

My problem: I have this SEO client. He has a great site and a lot going for him. It has been four months and the page I built for him has not started climbing like I feel it should.

I found a good outsourcer recommended by a name I trust. Very professional and communicates timely - lots of success stories to their credit. My problem is that I was also told (by someone else) that my go-to guy isn't getting the job done.

I built a page, added Google Authorship, and have seen the page appear at page 9-10 two months in starting the SEO, but now they're floating between pages 10-12.

My main concern: I obviously care about this client. It's their business and livelihood. They are your typical commodity service provider in a decent sized city (Think half the size of Minneapolis) and I don't feel it's too hard to rank for.

I want him on the first page to get him more business and really help him out. He's been good to me, and I know what it would mean for their business. I know it can be done, but...

I'm hoping that will help me navigate the huge array of SEO providers and promises you see everywhere. In the meantime, I've started reading Alex Becker's blog more intensely as he seems to know the deal, and teach this stuff really well as well.

This is why I'm confused. I see the services in the other parts of the forum and I wonder about "what works" and how to choose. You hear this, then that, and I don't know what's true, let alone whether my guy is up to speed with all the constant practices and changes. Is it more about "social"? Bigger article lengths? Pyramids versus wheels, versus none at all? Higher PR links?

I mention it because I've been told it "shouldn't be hard to rank for", but I'm not an expert on what I should be looking for. I just want him to move up. (His home page is on page two all by itself...)

What I want help for: Can someone who is successful with this stuff (and is trustworthy on here) have a look at my specific client info (in private) such page, KW and stuff and give some advice to help this "hope-not-to-be-embarrassed-and-also-fail-to-help-a-good-business-that-needs-help" guy?

Maybe advice about whether or not I need to cool it and just wait it out? That my guy is doing everything right? That it's "looking good"?

Or maybe you have resources you trust, that you can point me to because you do this stuff in your sleep and knows what needs to be done? Maybe you know exactly "the guy" I need and the right provider here on the forums that understands local, understands the current state of ranking factors, what needs to be done to get going, and so on?

Money is not unlimited, otherwise I suspect that might play a better role too for making some quick advances. Having said that, his ranking is my concern, and I want to make it happen if I can, and do it sooner rather than later.

Anyhow, thanks for your insight and time guys (and gals).