When I started at Fratmen, there was no affiliate program, and it was doing fine.. not great.. but fine.

At the Fratpad, we still don't have an affiliate program and although people are begging us to promote it, we haven't opened up anything just yet.

And membership is off the hook.

I think if your site is good enough, people will find it, but you have to be REALLY special and offer something that nobody else does but everyone wants.