Ben Settle

Here’s a zinger of a subscriber comment…

“Ben I’ve tried to befriend you on Facebook and noticed you take a very long time to befriend me back and don’t follow very many people on Twitter. No offense but you’re kind of a narcissist on social media, that’s my friendly opinion 🙂 “

Agreed.

But don’t take it personally.

It’s not you, it really IS me.

You see, a little while back one of my friends urged me to take one of those personality tests just for S&G’s and turns out I’m a dyed-in-the-wool “INTJ.”

Some people had been telling me this for years.

(Guess they were right…)

We’re basically what a lot of movie villains are based on.

Detached.

Aloof.

Always living inside our own minds.

In fact, most Hollywood stories do evolve around an evil villain (INTJ) threatening the old order, so a nice guy hero comes around to save it, then everyone is happy again to preserve the precious “status quo” which my brood tends to despise.

We can’t be bothered by social pleasantries, either.

Mindless chit-chat irritates us.

Conversations without a purpose are a waste of time.

And, we’re easily bored by people.

It’s not personal — we’re simply FAR more interested in the endless string of random problems/solutions/experiments/questions circulating around in our brains at any given time than making “small talk” on Facebook or Twitter or whatever. (It’s like Ralphie in “A Christmas Story” when he’s waiting to see Santa, his mind intensely focused on asking for the Red Ryder BB gun and his response to the girl hitting on him in line is… “leave me a lone, I’m… thinking…” heh)

I suppose this carries over to social media, too.

Frankly, I find a lot of it amusing.

Especially the social media goo-roos with 900 photos of themselves, with 350 videos, etc, constantly prattling on about their feelings and being “social”, blah blah blah

Hey, we ALL have annoying faults.

So let me make mine abundantly clear:

I’m not social.

I’m quite antisocial.

Which is probably why I prefer Twitter — since it’s only 140 characters and it forces people to get to the point, with less noise, drama queening, and grandstanding.

So that’s the deal.

Never take my social media aloofness personal.

If anything, it’s all in my head…

Ben Settle

P.S. In my humble (but 100% biased) opinion… INTJ’s make the best email marketers, too.

I’ll explain why some day.

But first, head on over to…

www.EmailPlayers.com

Today’s the deadline for the December “Email Players” issue.

Here’s what’s inside:

• 37 email subject line templates served up on a silver platter. (Some can be used “as is” as subject lines, the rest are easily adapted to virtually any product, market, or service.)

• How to use email to persuade people to happily buy expensive products they didn’t even know existed 5 minutes earlier.

• The “fake cocaine” secret to multiplying the sales of your emails.

• A secret way the late (great) copywriter Eugene Schwartz used to make his ads almost irresistible to buy from. (Works just as well — if not better — in emails.)

• How to “embed” another dimension of persuasion to your emails. (Giving you a solid edge over any competition sending emails to the same people selling similar types of products or services.)

• An almost laughably simple way to turn stray brain farts into high selling emails.

• And lots more…

(Including a new book about list building for newbies.)

Today’s the deadline to get in on this issue.

Subscribe here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

Someone recently asked me why the big craze in podcasts.

Seems everyone is podcasting.

(Or, wanting to.)

And, he wanted to know why.

Well, I can’t speak for any other podcasters. But for me it’s because I have so much I want to say about email, copywriting, marketing, the parallels between the dating and business world, and just life in general (i.e. life lessons that can be applied to business) it’s flat out therapeutic. Believe it or not, I often can’t even rap about this stuff with my business friends because I’m such an awful, terrible, obnoxious ball hog and never STFU. Whenever I’m given the “talking pillow” in a conversation I never give it back. I just yap yap yap yap yap on…

Thus, the podcast.

It’s like therapy.

And, I can’t *not* do it at this point.

(Just like I can’t *not* write emails each day.)

In the recently pre-recorded 50th podcast episode I even thank the listeners not just for listening, but for being my shrink.

Isn’t there a financial motive to podcasting?

Of course there is.

But it takes a back seat to my free therapy.

In fact, I daresay the listeners get FAR more financial value (assuming the info is being applied) from the show than I ever will. A lot of the information I share in these podcasts could (and should) be charged for.

But for now, it’s free.

And yours for the taking.

Plus, today we’re also practically giving the transcripts away (they cost just $20 for all the past transcripts and all future transcripts henceforth).

But, this $20 transcript offer ends tonight.

And I’m unsure if/when Producer Jonathan will offer it again.

If you want ’em, go ye here:

www.BenSettleShow.com/special

Ben Settle

This week’s life-changing super duper, double top secret probation “Ben Settle Show” podcast episode reveals:

• 4 “magic” words that can take all the awkwardness out of negotiating price. (Works for everything from buying cars to negotiating deals with clients.)

• The “ninja” question to ask someone before trying to sell them something that increases your chances of making the sale 10 fold.

• When never to get into a negotiation. (I don’t care how good everything looks, if you can’t meet this condition, GTF out and come back when you can.)

• What the world’s most feared negotiator says to do if you are broke and trying to negotiate a deal with a client.

• The dumb mistake almost everyone who gets into a negotiation does, that almost guarantees you lose the deal. (It also makes sure nobody can stand being around you.)

• How to “judo flip” high pressure negotiation tactics back onto the person throwing them at you.

• The #1 mistake people make when negotiating that builds huge barriers, destroys trust, and kills deals on the spot.

• The question mark secret to being almost superhumanly persuasive when negotiating. (This was used by the the world’s greatest salesman years ago, and is still used by the world’s greatest living copywriter today.)

• An “almost magic” way to get people to sell themselves on your product or service.

• How to instantly eliminate price objection… before you even mention the price!

• What to say to guarantee you never bore someone when selling, negotiating, or persuading someone to do something. (Boredom is the death of persuasion, just do this, and you almost can’t lose.)

• What to say to get someone to lower their price that works nearly 100% of the time you try it. (This is straight from one of history’s top producing salesmen.)

• And a ho’ bunch mo’.

Download it here:

www.BenSettleShow.com/itunes

Ben Settle

Got this from the TV show “Hardcore Pawn’s” former AdWords guy:

(re: my “Hardcore Pawn” negotiation email this morning)

“So cool that you mentioned hardcore pawn. I used to run their Adwords account. I just want to say that I can’t get enough of your emails and especially your podcast. Copywriting is my secret passion and your podcast is basically a crash course in only the best copywriting principles. I agree when you guys say it shouldn’t be free– not that I’m complaining. You could charge a ton but I will say this, I feel so indebted and guilt ridden for greedily taking all the free stuff you offer that I am itching to subscribe to email players. But I’m taking your advice and building a decent list first. Thanks for everything.

Paul keep

Believe you me, Jonathan wants to charge for it.

And, eventually, he’ll probably get his way.

But for now, the podcast is free to listen to — yours for the plundering. And, the transcripts are only $20 (for all the past transcripts and all future ones henceforth).

That is, until tomorrow night.

After that, this offer vanishes like a virgin on prom night.

Get yo transcript lovin here:

www.BenSettleShow.com/special

Ben Settle

I’m a big fan of negotiation strategy.

In fact, while most copywriters study copywriting, I spend FAR more time studying negotiation.

I can’t get enough of this stuff.

And am always using negotiating strategy in my ads.

Anyway, there’s a TV show with all kinds of interesting negotiation strategies embedded in it I wanted to tell you about.

It’s a documentary show called:

“Hardcore Pawn”

(How’s that for a show title?)

I love this show!

It’s basically about a family-owned Detroit, MI pawn shop.

And it’s packed with negotiation insights, too.

Including the kind you can’t find in a book.

Like, for example, the power of always using posture… the benefits of SERVING people (and not just selling to them)… How to deal with “fire breathing” angry customers… How to build customers for life… and lots of other cool nuggets from people who negotiate every day as part of their survival.

These aren’t just selling strategies, either.

They are also tips for buying, too.

Well worth watching if you’re into this stuff.

And you want to know what else?

Tomorrow’s “Ben Settle Show” podcast is all about negotiation.

Specifically, negotiation tactics that have been used by history’s most persuasive men.

I’ll send you an email when it’s on iTunes tomorrow.

In the meantime, download past episodes here:

www.BenSettleShow.com/itunes

Ben Settle

Lately I’ve been hearing from more and more ankle-biters.

Whether it’s Internet marketing teachers who think I’m the devil for proving the dangers of being a slave to open rates instead of tracking to the sale (it’s hard to imagine anyone being against tracking to the sale, but in their defense, there’s probably a lot of money in making things complicated)… To seething goo-roo fanboys who “hulk out” at the letter by my Intellectual Property attorney linked to at the bottom of each email… To your garden variety butt hurt readers who get heartburn when I won’t be their pen pal or give them all my time, knowledge, and ideas for free.

I’m attracting quite a gaggle of ankle-biters.

And yet, my profitability has never been higher.

Coincidence?

I say thee nay.

‘taint no coincidence at all.

It’s completely planned.

Wholly deliberate.

And, something I’ll be ramping up even MORE in 2015.

Anyway, why am I telling you this?

Because if you don’t have at least a few ankle-biters hiding behind their computers lobbing insults and threats (I sometimes get those, too — which is always amusing) at you, or making lame personal attacks… then it’s time to try harder.

Get them ankle-biters nipping.

Get them yipping.

And then, get them tripping.

(Over their own lack of substance).

Chances are, the louder they yip, the more scratch you’re making.

Just remember the old adage:

“A lion doesn’t lose sleep over the opinion of sheep.”

Because that’s what people who ankle-bite behave like:

Sheep.

(Otherwise, they wouldn’t waste their time ankle-biting.)

Baaaaa.

Anyway, if you want to ramp up sales (and the ankle-biters’ ire) even more, check out the “Email Players” newsletter.

Using my ways can be hair-raising at times.

But, it’s also lots of fun.

And, yes, profitable to boot.

Subscription info here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

Since it’s Thanksgiving here in the U.S. today below is a rather odd list of things I’m thankful for.

Why is it odd?

Because besides the “usual suspects” I’m thankful for (God, family, dog, business, friends, great customers, etc) there’s also another, “secret” list of things I’m thankful for, too.

Things that caused me pain and, yes… suffering.

Like, for example:

• My many (and humiliating) failures — without them you can never truly have any real successes, can you?

• Being homeless — as it taught me MUCHO humility, patience and, in some ways, ingenuity 😉

• The “naysayers” — who have tried (and still try) to hold me back

• Fears — which have kept me alert and out of trouble

• The PILE of crushing debt I used to be in — I’m thankful for being able to climb out of it. And yet, I’m also thankful for the experience, as it taught me more about money than any class, school or book ever could

Does it sound strange to be thankful for things that suck?

Mayhaps it is.

But I believe it’s when everything just kind of goes to hell in a hand basket when we find out who we REALLY are.

When we’re actually tested.

And when we finally GROW.

So that’s why I try to be thankful for it all.

Happy Thanksgiving!

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

This is for “Zombie Cop” fans…

Still hoping for a Christmas time launch date of the sequel “Vampire Apocalypse”. The cover artist (one of the best — if not the best — in the publishing industry, who designs for all the major publishers) is pretty slammed with work, and we’re still a couple weeks off.

But, just the preliminary idea he sent me for what the cover will look like is *perfect* and will be well worth the wait.

The 3 people who have read the sequel have all loved it.

One of them is the most published author of computer books on the planet and someone who has read tons of novels as part of his profession.

(A rare book dealer on eBay).

He said (and I quote):

“It. Was. A. Perfect. Ending.”

He also said:

“It’s a superb novel. The humor is EXQUISITE.”

(He is doing the audio book version and is having trouble because he can’t stop laughing — a good sign… I think… assuming he’s laughing *with* it, and not *at* it… my goal was always to make this one of the funniest vampire books in recent history, we shalt see if it passes muster…)

So hang in there, my deranged little droogie.

It won’t be long…

If you have not read the first book “Zombie Cop” (not your typical zombie book, and the reviews back that up) — you can read the first couple chapters free here:

www.ZombieCopBook.com

Word up.

Ben Settle