Articles and Clickbank Question

I have been a content provider and niche writer for 4+ years and recently decided to move into affiliate marketing. I am wanting to promote some products that are in my niche but I'm really not sure where to start. I know the basics (write a review or about the topic, insert product name as an SEO keyword, link to the product) but I want to make sure I'm not missing something in the process. Do I link directly to the affiliate link that I'm given for the product or is it best to make my own landing page for it? I want to make a strong go of this I'm just not really sure where to start and how to solidly put it all together.

Thanks

I've always done a landing page, you can't convert much on CB with direct linking and don't sell products for which the customers might be CB affiliates because they'll buy thru their link not thru yours so forget the IM niche.