Just wanted to share another comment from a self-proclaimed experienced SEO from a LinkedIn Group “Search Marketing Salon”:
Common make it hard for us!!! affiliates are cross platform duplicated content. Google deciphers out the original content sites and gives them weight. Google’s Job is to provide the best and most information to the person who types in the keyword. If you are using an affiliate site-pick a product category with the least competition but you can still make conversions. Change the innerlinking text (make sure its keyword relevant) from products to product pages and change the text just enough. If its a lead gen site with brand compliance rules your outta luck.Google will take its own sweet time with duplicated sites-Long Time!!!