I think creativity also plays a part in it. A lot of affiliate marketers do some very clever things behind the scenes that their visitors don't even see (viral marketing, etc.)
It's not just about putting up good content but you have to differentiate your site from the pack in your niche. People also underestimate copyrighting. How you talk to your visitors and present your content makes a HUGE difference in how engaged people become on your site. It really isn't a bad idea to hire a copywriter if writing is not your cup of tea.
I read somewhere that your writing should not be above a 7th grade level. Use short sentences, always use active voice, and never be afraid to add some personality to your site. (I have to work on that myself)
People like to know there's a human behind your site (show a picture) and they want to know that you are here to help them, no matter the topic of your site. So many sites come off as cold and distant and people don't get that "this person really wants to help me feeling". That's the strategy I've used on all my sites and I get emails from people all the time thanking me for that vibe. Some of them are shocked that I actually answer my email. That goes to show you how people value that one on one feel.
Affiliate marketing is a business. Your product is your site's content and your unique voice. You are building a brand of one... YOU. And just like anything else it takes time and a lot of hard work to build a business and market it. People treat affiliate marketing like it's a get rich quick scheme but it takes a while. I've been doing this since 1998 and it wasn't until 2004 where I made what I would consider a full-time salary online....and I got started when it was supposedly "easier". And it's getting even more challenging because the search engines are smarter than ever.
I'm not sure we have to worry much about oversaturation, mainly because of the infinite niches available (Chris Anderson's book "The Long Tail" is a great read!) and the fact that 98% of people that try to create a business fail. So for every successful entrepreneur there are thousands upon thousands who are trying and failing. Sounds harsh but true. So while the numbers of affiliates continue to increase in countries worldwide, I believe there are still a larger porportion of consumers going online to search for information. But it is definitely getting harder for newbies to get in the affiliate game, which is why I don't think saturation will become a problem.
Plus, it's not nearly as easy to get ranked in the search engines as it was years ago so if you want to succeed out here you REALLY have to put in a lot more work to get that traffic. People are lazy by nature. I've helped at least 8 of my friends start websites and they all say the same thing, "This really is a lot of work. I never realized it." (I guess they thought I've been playing around all these years. LOL) And when people realize this, they get discouraged because they either don't want to invest or don't have the time.
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