Ben Settle

We got ourselves a drama queen on our hands.

Specifically, Lake Superior State University in Michigan which has published it’s annual list of “Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.”

The “offending” words?

• Bae
• Polar vortex
• Hack
• Skill set
• Swag
• Foodie
• Curate
• Friend-raising
• Cra-cra
• Enhanced interrogation
• Takeaway
• -nation

Anyway, what’s the takeaway from this?

A couple things..

First, I find this list pretentiously cra-cra.

Communication is about clarity not snobbery. And, several of these words are perfect for using in emails (and copywriting, content, etc) when you want to inject a bit of curated entertainment value into your writing (being entertaining — with a whiff of swag — is a good skill set to possess), or simply make something clear.

And secondly, here’s the way I see it:

Settle Nation will strive to use ALL these words in copy in 2015.

And, maybe even misspell ’em, to boot.

It’ll be fun for me.

And, be like enhanced interrogation to the word snobs who put lists like the one above together.

All right, Bae.

Enough friend-raising.

To see my latest email marketing hacks, go here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

Here’s a recent “Vampire Apocalypse” review (by email):

Just read half your book bro.. It is 7+ kinds of awesome.. 

Insane, hilarious, incredible deranged sex appeal, causes you to say WTF every page or two, sensational open loops and the perfect amount of madness to be an extreme page turner. 

Ben, I never read fiction, I am always watching training videos on copy, SEO, funnels, email, etc, etc, etc.. And bro it was such a nice trip down fantasy lane reading this, I love movies but never read this kind of book, the amount of enjoyment I got does make me question my sanity a little 🙂 well at least I didn’t write it 😉

Just wanted to say thank you for creating an amazingly strange, exceptionally funny and enjoyable read…

Thaaaaat’s what I’m talkin’ about.

I won’t try to hide it:

The book is definitely deranged.

(Not as deranged as “Zombie Cop” though.)

And while I’m biased… I do think it’s humorous (I laughed while writing many of the scenes, and my editor/publisher said he had a hard time doing the audio book because he couldn’t stop laughing during certain parts… but, admittedly, we ARE biased)… and it won’t do anything for your sanity.

But, my hope is you’ll find it entertaining.

And, maybe, even a bit thought provoking.

Only one way to find out, eh?

Y0u can read the first chapter free, here:

www.EnochWars.com

Ben Settle

Came a question about my New Year’s email last week:

“Ben why the decision to do paid traffic? Are you finding free traffic not converting anymore or not converting well. Thanks.”

Answer:

Free converts extremely well for me.

Especially using my email tactics.

But, it comes down to something I heard last October when I was a guest trainer at Ray Higdon’s elite mastermind event in Florida. Ray was asked about traffic and he said in his infinite wisdom:

“You can’t scale free.”

Very true.

Very, very, very true.

And I realized how many sales I’m leaving on the table by not doing paid traffic. Thus, I’m hard at work putting some paid traffic into play.

You should, too.

That is, if you want to scale your business.

Then it’s just a matter of converting them to buyers.

Enter the “Email Players” newsletter.

When you know how to wield the email sword the way I teach you in my “dojo”, you can convert traffic — paid and free — all day long, while your competition is still lobbing tweets and spending all day haunting facebook groups or whatever.

Nothing wrong with those things.

But, they ain’t scalable.

So anyway, that’s the story with that.

Check out “Email Players” here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

Mindless trivia:

Last February at the Vegas Oceans 4 mastermind I was mere weeks away from launching my first novel “Zombie Cop” and was thinking a lot about the sequel. In fact, most of the sequel was plotted out on my phone on the plane during some seriously disturbing turbulence (people were freaking out).

Talk about inspiration…

Anyway, here’s the reason I bring this up:

There was one character in particular mentioned in the first book that I knew would be a major player in the second book. Specifically, one of the main vampires (Fezziwig — whose name was inspired by the Samuel Adams “Old Fezziwig” ale ). And so, all during that weekend my thoughts drifted towards that character. And one night while we were all having dinner (around 18 of us) my pal (and rising copywriting star) Jim Clair and I started acting the character out.

The entire table was rolling in laughter.

In fact, Jim and I were laughing so hard people thought us drunk.

But, we weren’t.

We simply were so “in” to the character, it was like we couldn’t stop talking like him, moving like him, and even thinking like him.

The point?

I’m not sure there is one.

Except, maybe this:

As copywriters Jim and I know the importance of stepping inside your market’s minds and thinking like they do. And so we “became” a grouchy, politically-incorrect vampire plagued with prostate problems, addicted to Miami Vice season 4 (“the most misunderstood season”) VHS tapes, who is always tormenting his concubine and bitching about all the damn liberals out there…

So props to Jim Clair for the help.

And, props to people who give the book a shot.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

And if not?

Nah boo.

You can read it here:

www.EnochWars.com

Ben Settle

On this golden delicious 50th podcast episode we rap about:

• The single most valuable personality attribute you can develop. (For business, negotiation, selling, marketing, personal relationships, friendships — every aspect of your life. People who have this tend to get anything they want. Here’s how you can start developing it starting today.)

• Why even ultra talented people often have zero influence over others.

• How to make weak converting videos more persuasive.

• The #1 worst thing you can do when trying to sell someone something. (Whether it’s a product, a service, or even to opt in to your free list. Yet almost 100% of online marketers do this. Simply stop doing it and watch your profits soar — fast. Just do this…)

• How to make being persuasive as easy & natural as driving.

• A mindset “tweak” that can make you magnetically attractive to customers, clients, and, yes even the opposite sex. (No other changes are necessary — just the way you think.)

• The Dr. Atkins secret to creating near magical results in your business. (Do this and watch your audience quickly grow, your influence expand, and, yes, your sales explode.)

• A disturbingly common thing a lot of online marketers (especially copywriters and service providers) do that guarantees people look down on you, disrespect you, and pay you as little as possible. (Are you making this mistake? Chances are, yes, you are. But you can stop — and watch your fees, sales, and profits rise as a result, starting today.)

• The world’s most feared negotiator’s secret to never being needy. (Even if you’re desperate and really do need someone’s money, job, or attention.)

• Why even super talented copywriters struggle keeping clients.

• When you MUST ignore a person, client, or customer.

• How ignoring someone affects their brain.

• How to use the power of ignoring people to be more persuasive.

• And a ho’ bunch mo’…

The info in this episode is probably the most valuable information I’ve ever shared anywhere, at any time, for any price.

Now you can learn it — free.

And, it only takes 22-minutes to listen to.

Download your lovin’ here:

www.BenSettleShow.com/itunes

Ben Settle

A while back I wrote about how I structure my monster novels very specifically so there are 14 chapters, with 7 “parts” per chapter.

There are some psychological reasons for this.

But, those aren’t what I want to rap about.

Instead, I want to address this comment I got on it:

“Three and seven are quite significant in the Biblical world and Word–there are many other examples throughout the Bible.   Of course that’s why they’re important numbers to humans, if we just know the Word.    Julie Wolford, minister and founder of Cross Into Victory ministry.    I won’t be reading your books or watching any videos as the Bible commands us to remove ourselves from demonic spirits, and that’s what Satan and his demonic spirits imitate in such beings as you bring to readers and viewers.    Try the Other side and come into the light of God’s love, not Satan’s destruction, stealing, and killing.   Glory to God, not the devil.”

While we’re holy rolling here, 3 things:

1. As my editor/publisher said about the minister chick the reader quoted above:

“You could always reply to HER that God also commands women not to be ministers to men.”

Heh.

2. None of my novels are “Christian” books.

Nor do they pretend to be.

They don’t preach.

They don’t proselytize.

And, they don’t dabble in Christian apologetics.

Yet, I would not be surprised if there were more Bible teachings in these novels (especially the newest one “Vampire Apocalypse”) than a lot of the books in the “Christian” sections of bookstores.

(Certainly more than in a Joel Osteen sermon…)

I can’t say fo’ sho’.

But, it wouldn’t surprise me.

3. If you’re a mush cookie, or uncomfortable with monster stories, or think such books are the devil then don’t read my novels.

They are violent.

And brutal.

And, yes, deranged.

Instead, I suggest reading “safer” books — like an Oprah book-of-the-month pick. Or watch the Mickey Mouse club. And whatever you do, don’t even THINK about reading that Bible gathering dust on your coffee table, either.

There is, after all (Gasp!) violence in it.

More:

I think about 1st century Christians vs Western Christians today. Back then, Christians were fed to lions. Had the skin flayed off their bodies exposing their raw organs from being scourged. And, were hung on stakes like meat while left to die.

Today?

It’s the mush cookie apocalypse.

Ah well.

Strange days indeed…

Check out my newest monster novel go here:

www.EnochWars.com

Ben Settle

Behold…

Time to dispel 4 big myths about what’s “king” when it comes to persuasion and selling online.

Ready?

Set?

Okay then.

Here. We. GO —

1. Myth #1: Value Is King

Bzzzt!

True, value is important.

And we should deliver loads of it.

But is it “king”?

If it is, then it must be hiding amongst the peasants.

Because there are millions of people delivering value on the Internet right now who still can’t sell a single blessed copy of their product or minute of their time. I know I spent many years delivering value with very little to show for it. And if value is “king”, all the hyper value providers would be rich beyond their wildest dreams.

But most ain’t.

In fact, many are struggling.

(And, wondering why…)

2. Myth #2: Content Is King

Ditto #1.

There are lots of people working like mules putting out massive amounts of valuable content each day who STILL haven’t made much of the green stuff. If content was the end-all-be-all, then all of these people would be swimming in the dough like Scrooge McDuck in his big money vault.

But they’re not swimming in money.

Many are drowning in debt.

Because again, while content IS important, it’s not king.

3. Myth #3: Copy Is King

No matter what a chest-beating copywriter says… copy is NOT king.

It’s much farther down the totem pole.

(Like under your list, offer, and positioning for starters.)

4. Myth #4: Teaching Is King

Is it?

We pay teachers almost nothing in our society.

If teaching was this magical wealth-building skill, then great teachers would all be fabulously wealthy, no?

Yes, teaching is important.

It can do wonders for your credibility and positioning.

But it ain’t even close to being king of persuasion.

OK, so if the above aren’t “king”, what is?

Do you really want to know?

You do?

You sure?

Okay then, my little droogling, then I got good news.

Tomorrow’s “Ben Settle Show” episode shows you exactly what the kind of persuasion is… whether you’re selling online, offline, or on the sidelines. In fact, this attribute can serve you well not only in your business life, but your personal life, too (friendships, relationships, etc).

So buck up, lad.

And watch for my email tomorrow.

In the meantime, listen to previous podcasts here:

www.BenSettleShow.com/itunes

Ben Settle

The part of my “Zombie Cop” novel I take the most flak for is chapter 10.

To paraphrase the Joker:

You write one little scene about someone getting raped by a zombie and suddenly everyone loses their minds!

Sheesh.

Girls tell me they can barely read it.

Guys think I’m some kinda psycho for writing it.

And, some accuse me of trying to disturb and gross people out just for the sake of disturbing and grossing people out, and not having enough sense to “filter” my writing better.

Are they right?

Nah.

For one, there’s a purpose behind all that violence. (It ain’t just thrown in willy-nilly.) And secondly, it’s a *zombie* book — not the Mickey Mouse Hour. It’s supposed to be deranged.

Anyway, the sequel “Vampire Apocalypse” has its own derangement.

Specifically, in chapter 6.

Chapter 6 is VA’s version of chapter 10.

And, if you read it, I HIGHLY suggest you turn on (and have it loop during the whole time you read the chapter) “The Brides” from the “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” soundtrack.

SPURN me not on this.

It’s what I listened to while writing it.

(And editing it.)

It’ll make the experience a lot more creepy.

Way more fun.

And, a bit more disturbing.

Ain’t that the whole point of a vampire story…?

You can read the first chapter or so free on amazon here:

www.EnochWars.com/vampire

Ben Settle

Last year I publicly made these 2014 goals:

• Write a “Zombie Cop” sequel

• Start a weekly podcast

• Write 6-7 emails per week instead of 5

• Write more “How to” Kindle books

• Do more consulting/speaking gigs

• Do more media appearances (radio and print)

• Write an email marketing book for a traditional publisher

• Have more patience

• Have more self discipline

The verdict?

All were achieved except the kindle books, media appearances, and traditional publisher goals — which I dropped in favor of focusing on the others.

Now let’s sally forth to the 2015 goals.

Here they is:

• Start investing and sharing what I learn about my investments (winners and losers alike) with my list when it makes sense

• Write my 3rd novel called “Demon Crossfire”

• See more of the ocean than I did last year

• Implement at least 3 paid traffic campaigns to build my BenSettle.com list (most likely AdWords, PPV, and direct mail)

• Travel abroad

• Ramp up the sales in the 3 main JV’s I’m involved in

• And, like 2014 — have more patience and self discipline

(Perpetual, never ending goals, those two…)

If you’re wondering what any of this has to do with you, you can bet yo best friend’s kidney I’ll be writing about any tips, ideas, discoveries I have on the above this year as well.

And that’s it.

That’s all I got for now.

To start 2015 off, we’re launching my second novel today.

It’s called “Vampire Apocalypse”.

And, it’s on Amazon here:

www.EnochWars.com/vampire

Ben Settle