Affiliate Marketing Secrets

Well in the last few days i have read and read and read, forums, blogs and articles all on SEO. Have i learnt something, well yes, so much that my brain feels its reached overload and now seams incapable of making any decisions about my SEO campaign
The more i read the more i realise that everyone has there own take on the best way to go about it. I have come to the conclusion i need to get quality links, more relevant link words, deeper inbound links but its left me bewildered as how to get them.
Masquerade masks are such a niche market that you cant easily find relevant sites and forums to join and link to. Most of the sites and blogs that would be suitable are my competition so hardly likely to help.
Maybe the fog will clear, everyone here is very helpful but my is the learning curve steep. Oh and is this just me or do other newbies get totally befuddled by it all