Well, while you have a point, that perspective assumes 3 things. First, it assumes that everyone drives traffic to niche sites the same way. List building isn’t the only way, and even if you haven’t built enough trust to get people to give you their email address, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily *difficult*, it means that the way YOU are doing it is difficult, For You.

There’s a big difference between it being universally hard and perhaps not picking the right way to market to that audience.

Second, I agree that it’s hard to get a Stranger to give you their email address for no reason. But if the reason is great enough or you trust the person enough, you’ll give them your email address. When we market in the old way, anonymously, to a first-time audience who has never heard of us, of course, they don’t want to give you their email address.

But if you market in the new way, where you create a name for yourself with expertise marketing, or you use social media and forums to discuss issues with people, to give before you get, then it’s easy.

Few people want to sign up to my newsletter who have never heard of me and don’t need my tips. But when they really need 366 traffic tips, or they used a tip I wrote on another site, or commented on a site, or met me in person, or I responded to their Tweet, then there’s a relationship there.

No one gives a crap about my company, most people don’t know what it’s called. But they do know that chick Tinu who has those tips they like. THAT they’ll subscribe to.

So it’s not about making promises, that’s where you definitely have a point. It’s about trust.