And we're not talking about low quality site, rather well contructed site with a frequently updated blogs, quality content and good navigation above the fold, xml site maps, high click through rate, hyper-relevant keyword mapping and long average time. Every thing else that Google craves for.

We scrutinized the web pages that survived. It seems pretty clear they've added code that detect and screen out all affiliate links on landing pages.

At the moment it seems cloaking and PHP redirects have not been tampered with. Maybe sooner, I guess they're just avoiding this in order to reduce their server load… it takes some CPU cycles to verify every link on a web page and check for affiliate code.

I'd say it's safe to finalize that Google is in battle against affiliate review site, and we should begin advicing customers towards an entirely different business model. At minimun it seems necessary to keep away from placing links on landing pages but rather marketers should start concentrating on list building and strong e-commerce model.

A lot of affiliates make their money from creating product review sites. And most of this product review sites are rubbish. Most cases the affiliates don't even own the product.

Savvy web surfers quickly identify this site and don't rely on their advice. Even worse, it damages the reputation of a good product.

Google is on a mission to eradicate the “me-too rug-merchants” of the affiliate world and only give credence to trust worthy promoters who build their own credibility as well as content.

If your identity on the internet is merely imitation of others, you're heading for extinction.

I have been saying this for quite some time now.

Squeezing yourself into the middle of transactions is getting tougher and toughter by the day, you better start adding value to the equation and quick too.

There is an important point I want to make here.

The Internet used to be some fringe phenomenon where only geeks, social rejects and vagabonds harbor, probably about a decade ago.

It's now the heart of the world.

Which means the World Wide Web is no longer an easy place for digital vermin to make easy cash. Online you need to show substance. This is what Google now anticipate of you and every body.

Sorry… this is no 'get rich quick' scheme. "If you're searching for get rich quick scheme, go somewhere else. Google doesn't need your money."

However - this is GREAT news for everyone. If you have your own original voice, it just got that much easier to be heard in the waves of noise.

If you are an affiliate marketer, take a leap.

You need to be in charge of the sale. NOW!

At the very least you need to be in control of the whole conversation.

Fact: Google have disdain for affiliate links. They don't like anyone who's imitating.

Luckily it's possible to be a "Value Added Affiliate" who adds a unique and quality contribution to the product of whatever person or company you are promoting.

It's also possible to take total control of the conversation. Get you own website, start blogging and building an email list.

Nice method for success, methinks. Come to think of it, what I do isn't all that much different.

People appreciate original quality content and so does Google. Give them what they need and you'll get what you want.