SEO is not as powerful just like it's peak way back 2005. Until Google introduce different algorithms like Panda, Penguin, etc. Search engines are now checking website url mentions from Twitter, Facebook: fanpages, groups and social media brand accounts and not just from web2.0 blogs.
I and some friends have the power to rank for anything and with no backlinks but google properties. Google does no penalize Google. Google properties have hight trust flow. When a certain technique is applied the trust flow flows unhindered and passes through a silo to your site or video. Using this method which is quite intricate and detailed it is possible to rank for anything and stay there. The only sites are Google sites. Can use social but not needed. Other web 2.0 properties are not needed