A while back a friend of mine was having a problem selling a high quality juicer in the housewares store she works at.

Since my friend uses the juicer herself, she had no problem explaining its advantages, performances and benefits.

But one customer demanded to hear the juicer before buying it. And the second she turned it on the customer was immediately put off by its obnoxious, super loud noise.

He didn’t care that it squeezes out every last drop of juice. That the motor has a lifetime warranty. Or that it’s light weight, easy to clean and small enough to fit unnoticed in the corner of almost any kitchen.

As soon as he heard its ear-splitting sound he moved on.

“Any ideas on what I can do about that?” my friend asked. “It’s a great juicer, but it really is loud.”

I suggested two things.

1.) Admit the noise up front.

I mean, how long can she keep it a secret?

If nothing else, her customers will discover the juicer’s loud noise when they get home and end up returning it.

2.) Try to “spin” that noise into a reason to buy.

“Why is the juicer so loud?” I asked.

“Because the motor has to spin at super fast speeds to extract the maximum amount of juice and separate it from the pulp. So it makes a loud noise.” She replied.

“There you go,” I said. “Just say that for now on.”

Since then, she hasn’t had a problem with that objection.

Now, why am I telling you this story?

Because this concept of spinning flaws into benefits is just as relevant to copywriting as it is in face-to-face selling.

In fact, there’s a great story about this on page 154 of Eugene Schwartz’s classic copywriting book “Breakthrough Advertising”

Back in the 1930’s Lifebuoy sold a soap that was perfect in every way… except for its nasty medicine-like smell.

Their solution?

Their ads said body odor could not be eliminated with “ordinary” soap, and what made Lifebuoy’s soap so effective at eradicating “B.O.” was the strong medicinal-smelling ingredient built into every cake.

In other words, they spun that horrible smell into a compelling reason to buy.

And nabbed millions of sales as a result.

You can do the same thing.

If there really is an annoying flaw in your product — or even a small drawback — don’t hide it.

Instead, spend some serious time thinking about how you can spin it into a real and believable reason to buy.

Not only will you add a thick layer of credibility to your sales pitch (since you’re being honest), but if you do it right, you’ll make your product even more irresistible.

BEN SETTLE

Publishes ridiculously high-priced books & newsletters about online marketing, writes twisted horror novels & screenplays, and trades options & invests in companies he thinks are cool – like BerserkerMail, Low Stress Trading, and The Oregon Eagle newspaper.

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I confess that I have only begun watching Ben closely and corresponding with him fairly recently, my mistake. At this point, it is, bluntly, very rare to discover somebody I find intelligent, informed, interesting and inspiring, and that is how I would describe Ben Settle.

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I think Ben is the light heavyweight champion of email copywriting. I ass-lo think we’d make Mayweather money in a unification title bout!

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Zen Master Of The Internet®

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Just want you to know I get great advice and at least one chuckle… or a slap on the forehead “duh”… every time I read your emails!

Carline Anglade-Cole

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www.CarlineCole.com

I’ve been reading your stuff for about a month. I love it. You are saying, in very arresting ways, things I’ve been trying to teach marketers and copywriters for 30 years. Keep up the good work!

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aka Michael Masterson

Cofounder of AWAI

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The business is so big now. Prob 4x the revenue since when we first met… and had you in! Claim credit, as it did correlate!

Joseph Schriefer

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I wake up to READ YOUR WORDS. I learn from you and study exactly how you combine words + feelings together. Like no other. YOU go DEEP and HARD.”

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www.ShadowOakStudio.com

I love your emails. Your e-mail style is stunningly effective.

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The man McGrawHill calls

America’s top copywriter

and bestselling author of over 75 books

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Ben might be a freaking genius. Just one insight he shared at the last Oceans 4 mastermind I can guarantee you will end up netting me at least an extra $100k in the next year.

Daegan Smith

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Ben Settle is a great contemporary source of copywriting wisdom. I’ve been a big admirer of Ben’s writing for a long time, and he’s the only copywriter I’ve ever hired and been satisfied with

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of Internet marketing

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I start my day with reading from the Holy Bible and Ben Settle’s email, not necessarily in that order.

Richard Armstrong

A List direct mail copywriter

whose clients have included

Rodale, Boardroom, Reader’s Digest,

Men’s Health, Newsweek,

Prevention Health Magazine, the ASCPA

and, even, The Limbaugh Letter.

www.FreeSampleBook.com

Of all the people I follow there’s so much stuff that comes into my inbox from various copywriters and direct marketers and creatives, your stuff is about as good as it gets.

Brian Kurtz

Former Executive VP of Boardroom Inc. Named Marketer of the Year by Target Marketing magazine

www.BrianKurtz.me

The f’in’ hottest email copywriter on the web now.

David Garfinkel

The World’s Greatest Copywriting Coach

www.FastEffectiveCopy.com

Ben Settle is my email marketing mentor.

Tom Woods

Senior fellow of the Mises Institute, New York Times Bestselling Author, Prominent libertarian historian & author, and host of one of the longest running and most popular libertarian podcasts on the planet

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I’ve read your stuff and you have some of the best hooks. You really know how to work the hook and the angles.

Brian Clark

www.CopyBlogger.com

Ben writes some of the most compelling subject lines I’ve ever seen, and implements a very unique style in his blog. Honestly, I can’t help but look when I get an email, or see a new post from him in my Google Reader.

Dr. Glenn Livingston

www.GlennLivingston.com

There are very, very few copywriters whose copy I not only read but save so I can study it… and Ben is on that short list. In fact, he’s so good… he kinda pisses me off. But don’t tell him I said that. 😉

Ray Edwards

Direct Response Copywriter

www.RayEdwards.com

You’re damn brilliant, dude…I really DO admire your work, my friend!

Brian Keith Voiles

A-list copywriter who has written winning ads for prestigious clients such as Jay Abraham, Ted Nicholas, Dr. Stephen R. Covey, Robert Allen, and Gary Halbert.

www.AdvertisingMagicCopywriting.com

We finally got to meet in person and you delivered a killer talk. Your emails are one of the very few I read and study. And your laid back style.. is just perfect!

Ryan Lee

Best-selling Author

“Entrepreneur” Magazine columnist

www.RyanLee.com

There’s been a recent flood of copy writing “gurus” lately and I only trust ONE! And that’s @BenSettle

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AKA Hotep Jesus

www.BooksByBryan.com

www.HotepNation.com

I’m so busy but there’s some guys like Ben Settle w/incredible daily emails that I always read.

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