Thanks everyone for the great tips and helpful sharing.
I'm going to say something outright that some may not like, but I believe it to be true. Scoop it sounds like you may have been exposed to lots of the ebook types and Internet marketing types that try to capitalize on all those that want to learn to make money online. IMHO there are lots of info product type gurus that sell the same fluff and regurgitate it. Sounds like you may have run into some network marketing folks too that promise the world to get you in their downline and then leave you high and dry to figure it out, after they have your money. They are all trying to make money off of Internet marketing wannabes, but as you said many times the info they offer falls short and doesn't deliver real step-by-step info, just lots of hype.
Note: I'm not saying all ebooks or full of it or ebook marketers are bad per se, it's just that I see lots of hype and what appears to me to be people trying to take advantage of newbies in that space.
The majority of affiliates I deal with are more retail type affiliates that want to promote real products and provide a real value to customers. So with us, at least the regulars here, you won't get the hypey get rich quick pitch, but you will get real info. (Note: some people do drop by and post hype but they don't usually stay too long.)
One good source of affiliate training that you can try out for free or almost - I think the 2 week trial is $1.
www.affiliateclassroom.com I would join and grab all the info you can. If you like it, the training is more step-by-step and is only around 29 a month - well worth it I think. But the key is you can try it 1st to see if it suits you. Hope this info was helpful.