I have an affiliate site that should be useful for people in affiliate industry - directory with advanced features such as related discussions and reviews. I allow members to submit affiliate program descriptions and reviews and include their partner (or referral) link as long as they follow the rules. I don't want to buy ppc advertising at this moment. I think there should be places like DP where affiliate people lurk, where I can shamelessly promote my site. What do you think ?
I will definitely use SEO in Google, but it takes some time for a new site to get listed in search results, and to get in top can take even more time. That means I must wait for results. If promote my site directly to it's potential audience, results may come much faster. In fact, SEO complements direct marketing, so I can do both.
JV's would be a great way to spread the news about your site. Forums are a great place to find JV partners.
DP has an entire area based on affiliate marketing (Affiliate Programs) and posting a LOT in there yourself with a link to your site in your sig, could work wonders! If you do not have the time, then maybe buy a few sigs? You can get them pretty cheap now a days, though its worth it to pay more if you are buying QUALITY rather then QUANTITY. You'll want a member that actually posts useful information in the area of interest... like I would be OK on some level because I post in one of the directory boards, but I'll not pull in HUMAN traffic which is what you are wanting I suspect... you'll want someone to post a lot in the Affiliates sections. That way you'll pull in the people that matter and your ROI will be MUCH MUCH better! For more information check out a few of these threads I started (ages ago). Forum Link Building tips (it's not just your signiture!) Buying sig links? Read this first! Feel free to ask if you have any more questions!
SEO, Media Buys, and networking would be the main ways to get this out. The problem is when you are in a niche as highly competitive as that and over-saturated as that it is tough. Plus add in the fact that most people with that interest will have a lot of knowledge of SEO/PPC will make it tough. Not saying it can't be done but it's not exactly a cherry picking type of niche.