How DANGEROUS is this strategy?

Hi everyone,
I would like to hear your opinions on the following strategy. Recently I joined an internet affiliate program. So when brainstorming methods to market this I came up with the following: researching the net for particular words that are relevant to the affiliate program (and there are quite a few). Then one could contact the top websites for that word, and tell them about this affiliate program. Write them a courteous email, telling them how this program complements their already published content. Now basically this could be considered SPAM, right? This is where I don't like this strategy. But what do you all think? Is it a too risky strategy? Another way of doing could be this: When having identified suitable partner websites, then do a whois lookup, finding their phone number and actually CALLING them. This I believe would eliminate the spamming issue. Maybe people like to hear that you actually know THEIR website, and then they would probably allow you to send them an email afterwards??? Anyways, hope to hear your comments!
Fred