Affiliate Marketing: Why are there Limited Options?

I think a very big factor in the appearance of it is that affiliate marketers tend (albeit sometimes extremely unwisely) to think in terms of "websites selling affiliate products" rather than in concepts more accurately related to how affiliate sales are actually, successfully made (e.g. by building trust-based relationships with subscribers).

Once the frame of reference for the thought-processes is instinctively limited to "websites", as it often is, it then becomes tempting - for some affiliate marketers - to subdivide it into their two broad categories of "micro-niche sites" and whatever they imagine "authority sites" are (itself usually very ill-defined and regularly debated with the participants frequently, though sometimes even unknowingly, at cross-purposes to each other).

In other words, it's all terribly simplistic and not always based on the underlying realities.

Far more affiliate marketers are unsuccessful than successful, and it's therefore not a huge surprise that many of the general background conversations and information on such topics are themselves a little misguided and limited by categorization, some of which is far too simplistic and by no means always an accurate representation of the underlying circumstances.

In short, there aren't really "such limited options", but those are the options most widely discussed by people whose perspectives are largely limited to being in terms of "websites selling things".

Just the skepchick perspective.

Interesting question, though!

I would say just the opposite is true.

Just because it's written somewhere doesn't make it true. For a couple years I made most of my affiliate sales from YT videos direct linking to CB products. Which of the above is that? (;

Simply because the most successful internet marketers wants to keep it simple.

They don't want to complicate the system. You have to remember when you are in Internet Marketing Niche. You have to teach people how to make money! If you make it complicated newbies will not be able to follow and in the long run people will think your product does not work.

Most of the system that is designed by top marketers does not need people to know how to code and how to create graphics.

Another thing is, people are lazy! If you ask tell them to do complicated stuffs, they will go move to another method that will not help them and by doing that you're not helping the person.

Who (besides the OP) ever said that IM (Internet Marketing) is limited to authority sites and/or Micro Niche sites?

Internet marketing as a "category" is extremely broad and vast...

Perhaps I'm missing the point of the question?

Another reason why you always hear the same few strategies is probably because they are the most accessible. Low start up cost, easier learning curve and plenty of resources around to guide you on your way.

On the question on marketers not being creative, it's actually the opposite. There are those who make some money just building up a generic micro niche site, there are also those who make really good money, but most don't see a dime. Then there are those who take something generic and start getting creative with it, these are the people who are more likely to make more than most.

Being creative doesn't necessarily mean coming up with new solutions. It can even be taking an existing approach and improve upon it, or putting a twist into an idea. Just because it can't be seen, doesn't mean it's not there. Also, it doesn't have to be exciting, which causes it to just slip by unnoticed by the masses.