mslina2002 - 7:57 pm on Oct 4, 2012 (gmt 0)

Is G trying to filter out affiliates, regardless of them being thick or thin? Anyone seeing affiliate sites that are ranking high?

I think as an affiliate you have to have something to stand out above the merchant you are promoting otherwise you are just an "extra step" in the funnel that just needs to be eliminated (in Google eyes). Their goal is ultimately to get the visitor to what they want/need in the shortest amount of time with the least number of steps. If you have nothing to add other then they want you out of the way.

Sometimes you can't but help to think that Google "hates" affiliates. Just by reading the raters handbook you just have that impression that that is their attitude towards affiliates. But can you blame them? Some of that is probably justified due to the number of people that have been spamming the index all these years.

I myself, am an affiliate with a EMD or PMD. So far I have not seen any changes in my rankings due to the recent algorithm changes and updates. Keeping fingers crossed. One particular site has been around for about 5 years and content is all unique and the affiliate portion makes up perhaps 10% of the site. Just recently also I have tightened up each page and got rid of lots of ads and distractions. As result, conversions are up and traffic has increased.