Where do you drive the traffic to? To your website or blog of course. You may opt to drive this traffic directly to merchants' websites. It is up to you. You can monetize the traffic for long term if you choose the former but it can be simpler to just opt for the latter. Some of the top affiliates in fact, choose the latter over the former and enjoy great results. It is up to your preferences and how you are running your online business as a whole. No guru can ever really know you better than yourself. Most of all, have fun marketing as an affiliate.