As for me Affiliated Program will also work if your website also work in a daily basis. Like you increasing Page Impressions from time to time and this is a good way to let them direct to that affiliation of yours and gain extra money. I must say it depends upon the content of your site.
Do not be wrong! Amazon, Ebay, Clickbank, etc really need the services of afiiliate. The term is a symbiotic mutualism. I was 4 years into the Amazon Affiliate. although they can get and buy goods directly from Amazon, anyway eventually I get a commission those who buy goods from my affiliate link. some of the buyers said, before buying the goods they seek as much info about these products through the Internet. Until finally they found my website that provides information about the products they need. Accidentally order them to click a link that leads to the Amazon page. From there source, they were convinced that in the Amazon there are goods in question. Sometimes even though they've been looking for the goods directly in the Amazon, they were less satisfied without first reading the reviews about the goods from someone else, a kind of testimonial is only to convince themselves that they bought the right stuff. The second case is, the merchant is helped by the presence of the affiliate. Because unconsciously, the afiiliate FREE promote their goods, without pay. Although they have to pay commission to the affiliate, but they still have a considerable advantage. Merchant happy, affiliate was having fun. Here is some my amazon earning screen shot.. not fake!
I think they want to make sure this production is good so they will buy it form the website which review this production they need.
Affiliate Marketing is one of the best source of Income for blog/website. You can earn great deal of affiliate income and its been the consistent income flow for all Top blogs with certain deal of communities. You need to have certain status for entering into Affiliate Marketing.
I don't tend to bother in affiliate marketing, I perfer to be in total control over my internet business so I'm the merchant, advertiser in everything I do. I did make a few thousand with EPN but when they banned pretty much anyone making good money I decided I want more control in my business. As an affiliate your just building someone elses business in my opinion.