You state that your mailing list is far more beneficial for yourself and your readers than your blog, because it allows a more personal relationship. This bears the question: How would you start such a mailing list from scratch without a blog? Or do you think a blog is still the first step? I mean, somehow, you have to be known for your skills and there must be some sort of desire to sign up for it.
Your mailing list is not necessarily "advice on conversion optimization" but more "patio11's take on stuff". I, at least, am in your mailing list, because I'm interested in what this patio11 guy in particular (with your skills and your background) has to say about things.
How would you start such a mailing list from scratch without a blog?
Say one (or more) interesting thing publicly, promise more interesting things in return for signing up for the mailing list.
It's certainly easier to bolt things onto a platform than to build a platform from scratch, but everybody starts with +/- nothing, so having nothing should not deter you from starting that.
You state that your mailing list is far more beneficial for yourself and your readers than your blog, because it allows a more personal relationship. This bears the question: How would you start such a mailing list from scratch without a blog? Or do you think a blog is still the first step? I mean, somehow, you have to be known for your skills and there must be some sort of desire to sign up for it.
Your mailing list is not necessarily "advice on conversion optimization" but more "patio11's take on stuff". I, at least, am in your mailing list, because I'm interested in what this patio11 guy in particular (with your skills and your background) has to say about things.