Your observation has some really valid points. Although social media and forums can actually help you a lot, these are not everything when you want to promote products and referral links. I would suggest that you use trusted blogs and other sites in promoting those. It would be best to publish high quality articles in top blogs that are related to the product you are promoting. Videos are also very attractive and convincing.
Don't complicate this much. If the product or servicd related to bitcoins we need to promote that in this forum and child forums like Reddit and others. If it is commercial product need to market via tele media. To promote it you need to mention to products as well as the link to buy it or render it.
I don't know where did he got the observation and the valid points on that one liner post however in my opinion it is true that we can use blogs and other things as an additional
on advertising on forums and social media. and just to add most forums forbid the promotion of various referral links and when there is one its not that effective as it tends to be
spammy and fishy getting stacked up everyday. tele-media is a great platform but not everyone can afford it. if you think your product is enough to stand out facebook and
youtube paid advertisement might be the right call of course with forums too