In this transcript from Episode 039, Mark explains the three types of Web 2.0 backlinks, highlights Cliff Ravenscraft's Fitbit promotion as the gold standard of affiliate marketing, and provides a corn sheller niche site update.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Three types of Web 2.0 backlinks and how they affect SEO
• What ethical affiliate marketing looks like in practice
• How to add value to the affiliate marketing process beyond just linking
• Why mixing up your link building sources matters

Episode Summary

The Best Kind of Affiliate Marketing

Mark highlights Cliff Ravenscraft's promotion of the Fitbit as a textbook example of affiliate marketing done right. Cliff was genuinely using the product, competing with Mark and Pat Flynn in a step-count challenge, and talking about it naturally across his podcasts and blog. He wrote a detailed article about why he loved the Fitbit, included affiliate links, and let his authentic enthusiasm drive conversions.

This is what affiliate marketing should be: road-testing a product so your audience does not have to risk their money, sharing honest opinions about what works and what does not, and earning commissions by genuinely helping people make better purchasing decisions.

Mark suggests taking it further. An affiliate could create a bonus report like “7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Fitbit” and offer it to anyone who buys through their link. This fills the gap between the product and what customers actually need, increases conversions, and provides legitimate additional value.

Three Kinds of Web 2.0 Backlinks

Listener Jeffrey asks about Web 2.0 backlinks. Mark breaks them into three categories:

1. Content-based Web 2.0 links. Creating quality pages on platforms like Blogger or similar sites, then driving backlinks to those pages rather than directly to your site. This creates a funnel effect: many lower-quality links point to the intermediary page, and the accumulated authority flows through one or two links back to your actual site. This insulates your site from appearing to have spammy links.

2. Profile links. Setting up accounts on Web 2.0 platforms and including your website URL in the profile. Mark notes these have questionable value and he has largely stopped pursuing them intentionally. There may be some small effect, but whether it is worth the effort is unclear.

3. Social signals. People sharing and discussing your content on social media. Even though many social links are no-follow, Google has acknowledged that social signals influence search rankings. A page that gets shared thousands of times clearly has value, and search engines recognize that.

Mark's overall advice: mix everything together. Diversify your link sources, vary your anchor text, get quality links where you can, and supplement with broader link building strategies to stay competitive.

Corn Sheller Site Update

Jeffrey also noticed that the corn sheller site had dipped in rankings. Mark reports that the keywords he actively tracks are still performing well and traffic is flat to slightly up. The site continues earning approximately $40 per month through eBay commissions, with buyers purchasing items well beyond corn shellers thanks to eBay's cookie tracking.

Key Takeaways

• The best affiliate marketing involves genuinely using and recommending products you believe in
• Adding bonus value (guides, reports) to affiliate promotions increases conversions ethically
• Web 2.0 backlinks come in three varieties: content-based, profile-based, and social signals
• Diversifying your link building strategy across multiple sources is more important than any single technique
• Social signals increasingly influence search rankings even through no-follow links

What's Changed Since This Episode

Mark recorded this in October 2012. The SEO and affiliate marketing landscapes have transformed.

Web 2.0 link building strategies are largely obsolete. Google's algorithm updates since 2012, particularly the Penguin updates and the shift toward E-E-A-T, have dramatically reduced the effectiveness of manufactured backlinks. Profile links and content on third-party platforms carry minimal SEO value in 2026. The emphasis has shifted entirely to earning natural editorial links through genuinely useful content.

Social signals matter more than ever. Mark's third category, social buzz, has become the most important of the three. While the direct SEO impact of social shares is still debated, the indirect benefits of visibility, brand searches, and referral traffic from social platforms are significant ranking factors.

Affiliate marketing has professionalized. The FTC now requires clear disclosure of affiliate relationships. Cliff's natural, honest approach to promoting the Fitbit is now not just best practice but legally required. The bonus content strategy Mark describes has become standard for successful affiliate marketers.

Resources Mentioned

• Cliff Ravenscraft — Podcast Answer Man
• Pat Flynn — Smart Passive Income
• LNIM Podcast

Related Episodes

• MW039 Show Notes — Web 2.0 Backlinks and More

Listen and Subscribe

Listen to Late Night Internet Marketing on Apple Podcasts or subscribe at latenightim.com/internet-marketing-podcast/. Have a question for Mark? Call the digital recorder at 214-444-8655 or drop a comment below.