Chris ... so glad to see your feedback ... you've been missed.

And please don't apologize for being 'negative' ... your response was an honest, detailed perspective. If we're going to try to put our heads together to arrive at something positive for all, we're going to have to address the negatives.

I don't know that relationship building is necessarily the key. I would bet that it plays an important role, but I've also seen where things like social proof and even just money play major roles as well. Even so, the hardest thing that I've encountered is in just getting a foot in the door. If I can't even get a foot in the door, how am I supposed to build any kind of relationship?
I believe relationship building is key in that it is a way for us to make up for lack of celebrity ... we are, in effect, raising our own level of celebrity by increasing our connections ... IMHO.

We obviously have to answer to the 'what's in it for me and my subscribers?' in a way a cut above our peers if we're going to get ahead of the pack ... in my experience, satisfying that need with a personal touch prior to being in need of their reciprocation ... one on one, has been working much better than simply sending out email blasts.

The less well known we are in regards to celebrity, the more we have to do to stand out ... for me, it's been going the extra yard to over satisfy the WIIFM ... and putting everything at hands reach, all of the time ... in addition to getting everything set up and tested well before I intend on launching ... give partners with big lists plenty of advance notice to schedule mailings, offer feedback, and set up any personalized promo tools they may desire.

However ... I feel that if I approached 50 potential partners that I had taken the time to personally email, IM, or telephone prior to launch ... established at least some kind of rapport with them ... gone a step further to satisfy their individual needs, I would have qualified myself a notch above the rest.

I'm rambling ... Chris, you're a super talent ... and I appreciate your help.

If I can reciprocate ... please ask.

Best,

Mike