Should small creator sites start with display ads or affiliate links?

A monetization path question about matching display ads or affiliate links to visitor intent.

For a small site, display ads feel simple but often need more traffic before the numbers mean anything. Affiliate links can work with fewer visitors, but only if the page has real decision intent and does not damage trust. I would map each page by visitor job first: learn, compare, troubleshoot, decide, or buy. Which path would you test first?