In his blog he revealed that Google uses teams of humans all over world to evaluate accuracy of Google's search results.

These "international agents", who are paid $10 to $20 an hour, were recruited mainly through universities. They're paid to check search results at Google every day.

Don't be distracted by debate over whether Google should be doing this.

Of course it should. It's just a form of quality control.

Google can use evaluators' findings to tweak its algorithms and reduce search engine spam.

What affiliates need to pay careful attention to is Google's "Spam Recognition Guide for Raters", which Henk revealed.

If you're a "thin affiliate," beware.

Although report is a year old, about 80% of its contents are still being used by Google's evaluators, Henk says.

The confidential document gives us an unvarnished look at Google's attitude to affiliates.

If you're using any of "manipulative techniques" Google describes, this report will probably encourage you to take a hard look at your website.

I hope you're not silly enough to be using hidden links or hidden text. Not surprisingly, Google teaches its "raters" how to detect them.

Are you creating pages without much content with aim of collecting pay-per-click (PPC) revenue? Google's raters are taught to mark such pages as "Offensive", and gives examples.

Google secret guidelines spend some time discussing different ways in which some affiliates display results from pay-per-click search engines, so if you're doing that, you'll definitely want to study this report carefully.

Are you displaying ads disguised as search engine results? Google finds them offensive.

Are you adding a dmoz.org feed to your site with aim of earning PPC revenue? That's "offensive", too.

Google says:

With literally thousands of affiliate programs on Internet to choose from it is no surprise that people have problems deciding on best ones to join and promote.

Today I am going to focus on things you need to take into consideration when trying to tell difference between an outstanding affiliate program and ones you should avoid like plague.

Target Markets That You Have Some Knowledge In

When you know something about market you are entering into it will save you time and money because you will reduce amount of research that will need to be done in finding products that target customers in that market need.

If you already know market you won't be spending a lot of time researching what market needs because you will recognize these products when you find them.

Focus Your Efforts on Programs in “HOT” Markets

The best programs to promote are not only in hot markets but they also offer products that are needed by target customers in that particular market but also are unique products as well so your competition is at a minimum.

Look For Affiliate Programs with High Pay Outs

The best ways to promote affiliate programs will be same no matter what price of product. When you sell “High Ticket” items you will be using same marketing strategies that you would use for products with small price tags.

So question you need to ask yourself is “Why am I wasting my time and advertising dollars promoting products that will take me double or triple effort to make good money?”