What exactly should an affiliate website look like? Is it a blog or a static content site?

Whenever I see any sort of affiliate site they always feel like pushy marketing pages. This example is OK but still not amazing. Same for this site, OK design but still kinda overtly direct in its purpose for existing.

I know some people run actual blogs that post interesting content and mix affiliate links into the content. I'm familiar with that strategy and it seems to work well.

But I've read other opinions that state true affiliate marketing works with a primary website dedicated to marketing. So these sites have a series of pages only made to sell products(reviews, new releases, comparison posts, etc)

What seems to be the best strategy for designing a site to earn affiliate sales? The two examples I posted above were found online. I have no idea if they earn money or not, but from my perspective they have an odd vibe like a used car salesman luring you onto the lot to make a purchase. Is this how all affiliate marketing sites should feel?

I'm just trying to understand the differences between a blog dedicated to diverse content with mixed revenue streams(like ProBlogger) vs. a site that's literally dedicated to content made for affiliate sales.

. Remember, if you are looking to make passive income on-line? Visit http://bit.ly/thebusinesshub