Ben Settle

Here’s a tip for affiliate marketers.

Once upon a time, an “Email Players” — www.EmailPlayers.com — subscriber asked what to do when you are selling something as an affiliate that’s a first rate product, but has a sales letter so chock-full of hype, screaming and nonsense you’re literally embarrassed to send your list to it.

Do you just pass on selling it?

Or grit your teeth and send them there anyway?

I thought this was an awesome question.

Here’s what I suggested he write in the email:

“Look, personally, I am not a big fan of the tone of this advertising, it’s actually kind of insulting to my intelligence, and the advertising writer should be fired. But, the product is top notch, one of the best I’ve ever seen and I’m willing to put my reputation on the line you’ll think the same when you try it yada yada yada”

In other words… tell ’em the truth.

Will this hurt sales?

Actually, I bet you’d INCREASE sales.

Probably even by a lot.

Why?

Because nobody is blatantly honest like this, and it makes you stick out and softens the blow of the bad advertising. Plus, it shows respect for their time, too.

(You do respect your list’s time, right?)

It’ll make you more trustworthy in the future, too.

Hey, don’t take my word for it.

Try it yourself and see.

Or, even better:

Wait until after you hear tomorrow’s “Ben Settle Show” podcast.

Why?

Cuz I talk more about this in detail — and even hand you an affiliate marketing “business plan” on a silver platter anyone can use.

Watch for my email tomorrow, Batman.

In the meantime, listen ye to past episodes here:

www.BenSettleShow.com/itunes

Ben Settle

FADE IN:

Last year my pal Ricky Breslin sent me an article about how people still blindly believe social media is the Second Coming of marketing, even as hardcore social media cheerleaders (including Ford’s social media manager) are shying away from using the term at all.

Yes, social media has its uses.

And there will always be a market for it.

(People shoveling horse poo for a living will always need shovels…)

But, it’s always been a prime example of cognitive dissonance — where your brain comes up with rationalizations (and believe it even MORE) when something’s proven false.

It’s actually fun to watch.

Here are more examples:

• Believing the Nobel Peace Prize winning president has “the most transparent administration in history” (even with Fast & Furious, Benghazi, secretly obtaining reporter phone records and an IRS that targets its political enemies…)

• Insisting WMD’s are in Iraq

• Swallowing the Republicans want smaller government lie

• Thinking “low fat” diets make people skinny

• Believing insurance will be cheaper under Obamacare

And so on…

Poor lil’ hamsters.

Must be getting tired.

Anyway, I know some are ITCHING to write me a long, essay-like email response to this.

(Yes! Do it! Release the hamster KRAKEN!)

But, here’s a better idea:

Take that energy and write an email to your list, instead.

It’ll be FAR more profitable.

And, it’ll give ye olde hamster a rest.

Learn how it’s done at:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

Re: my “repulsion marketing” philosophy…

Following is a Flakebook conversation between my cousin and me several weeks ago:

COUSIN: if it makes you feel any better, you are one of the only family members (at least in my small world), that is universally liked

ME: Really…? I try hard to NOT be liked dammit

COUSIN: I know, you should be trying harder and burning bridges everywhere you go

ME: the problem is, the more I try, the more people like it.

COUSIN: I know why they do

ME: Why?

COUSIN: besides you tell them the truth, you’re not adding the bit extra just to be an asshole even if you are an asshole. in a way you begrudgingly hold their best interests at heart and that can be respected

Is he right?

Well, here’s been my experience:

Giving your market the truth straight will not always make you the most “liked” person, and it WILL bring the haters, trolls and creepers out of the woodworks.

But, I believe it also brings you the best customers.

And, more sales.

And, yes, more influence.

Now, before you even ask…

This does NOT mean you gotta be a dick.

It just means being blunt.

And, direct.

And, fearless about not being “liked.”

(Yes, people DO shoot messengers…)

Anyway, that’s all for today.

To implement this way of thinking into your bid’niz check out the “Email Players” newsletter.

My system won’t make you more liked.

But, it can make you more sales.

Check ‘er out here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

“Ben, what about coaching? Can your style of email get me coaching clients?”

Well, I can’t speak from personal experience.

(I don’t do the coaching thaaang.)

But, I do have coaches as readers & “Email Players” subscribers.

And, it’s certainly working for one of the savviest and most successful Internet marketers I’ve ever met — Russell Brunson.

Last month he sent me this testimonial:

“…your style email in about 2 hours already brought in 4 dream client applications..  We’re selling a $25k coaching package, do if we close 1/2 of those 4 (which we should) – that’s already $50k from 1 email in less than 2 hours…  Can’t wait to send another one tomorrow…”

That’s what I’m talkin’ about.

Anyway, do my methods work for coaches?

Yep.

Will they work for you?

There are no guarantees.

So, if you aren’t willing to work hard (this ain’t fantasy Internet marketing goo-roo land) or invest a whopping $3.23 per day, I’d say no.

Otherwise?

Check it out here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

P.S. About that Russell Brunson testimonial…

In the few minutes it took for me to write him back asking permission to use his testimonial, he replied with:

“yup…  and we just got #5”

I guess it works…

About that “Oceans 4” dealio I’m teaching at in June…

(With Andre Chaperon, Ryan Levesque and Jack Born)

We cashed in a few favors to snag a nice unadvertised “goodie” that can easily add *thousands* of new leads to your list.

But, not just any kind of leads.

These are “gold card” leads.

The kind of leads who’re eager-to-buy, already WANT to spend money on what you’re selling… and are like a pool of starving fish in a small pond, just waiting (hoping!) for someone (anyone) to drop a line in the water, and reel ’em in.

And before you even ask:

It doesn’t matter what market you’re in.

What you sell.

Or, how much your product costs.

Anyway, what is this unadvertised goodie?

A special guest trainer who is arguably the world’s #1 master of generating qualified leads and buyers…

Daegan Smith.

Who is Daegan Smith?

He’s a guy who has figured out some extremely profitable “tricks” for mining your market for the best, most qualified leads using techniques he invented (nobody else taught them before he came on the scene). Frankly, his tricks work so well, he not only uses them for his own business, but he also created a prestigious agency that delivers 10,000 – 15,000 niche specific and targeted unique visitors to their clients daily.

And, yes:

His techniques work for multiple niches.

In fact, on a personal level he’s able to generate 4,000 plus leads
for anything he wants on any given day.

More:

He’s also developed 3 systems that run behind the scenes that ensure every single lead he generates is at $2.50 profit on the — before he even promotes anything to them.

In other words…

He ain’t no fluke.

He’s well known amongst the top Internet marketers.

And, he’s even agreed to show one of his own, private (i.e. nobody else has ever seen this but him) ways to turn your offers into your own traffic network for fun and profit.

This info cannot be found anywhere else.

For any price.

Or, in any product.

In fact, here’s exactly what he told us:

This is something their ain’t no training on nowhere, and once you’ve got a network, traffic is a non issue forever. This shit, I’ve never shared with anyone, and the only reason I’m going to share it at your mastermind is because you guys have a strict no videotaping policy. This stuff better stay in the room.

Also, one more thing:

Time is of the essence.

We filled half of the 8 spots for the next one before even promoting it — including two of the spots to 3x returning Oceans 4 “alumni” Agora Publishing ($200+ million newsletter empire) and Bad Ass Ventures (The #1 Selling Company on Clickbank) who keep coming back because these masterminds make them so much $$. Other past clients have included other 6 & 7 figure earning marketers like Russell Brunson, a New York Times bestselling author, one of the world’s top marketers for PGA Tour Players, one of the top affiliates in the weight loss niche (who is a returning alumni coming for “second helpings” as well)… and the list goes on…

So there’s no time to be wishy-washy.

We don’t make “exceptions” once the spots are gone.

And, we are talking about restricting it to just 6 this time.

(To give even MORE hot seat attention to attendees, as well as to limit exposure to what Daegan is teaching. Hey, let’s face it… the LESS people who know it, the MORE valuable it is to those of us in the room. So we might cap it at the next 2 spots and shut the doors, we shall see…)

Either way, time is short.

So here’s what to do next…

Go to this link:

www.Oceans4Mastermind.com

Opt in.

And you’ll be sent to a page to apply.

If we accept you in, we’ll get the ball rolling.

(If not, don’t take it personally, most peeps aren’t a good fit.)

And that’s all there is to it.

Word.

Ben Settle

Today’s “Ben Settle Show” doles out the Facebook lovin’.

Including:

• A secret way to use Facebook groups to boost your sales in the next 20 minutes.

• How to use a short text message to get people buying in droves from Facebook.

• A “dignified” way to blatantly pitch on Facebook so people not only notice, but BUY what you’re selling.
  

• How to raise your prices by (ethically) using the same methods of the world’s scummiest drug dealers.

• A little-known secret to using insomnia to build your businesses faster, stronger and more profitably.

• How to “program” your advertising so it makes sales even if your offer is confusing.

• How to sell in Facebook groups in a way where people don’t get angry and even cheerfully share your pitch with their friends.

• The “secret sauce” that makes selling on Facebook as easy as falling off a log.

• A sneaky way to do your own “groupon” without actually signing up for it.

• Advice to people who want to quit their jobs and work for themselves… and do it extremely fast.

• How to “sell” loved ones on becoming entrepreneurs.

• And more…

BTW, the show is now less than 30 minutes.

It’s shorter.

Tighter.

And, I believe, more profitable.

(Especially if you have a low attention span.)

Get your Facebook lovin’ here:

www.BenSettleShow.com/itunes

Ben Settle

So I’ve made no secret of my opinion of Facebook.

I use it almost exclusivey for:

1. Entertainment (amusing myself)

2. Posting links to new blog posts and links to information about my “Zombie Cop” novel (especially whenever I get a new amazon review for it, I post a link to it)

But, I hardly ever use it for direct sales of anything else.

The list of reasons why is long but distinguished.

And, I don’t suggest you do, either.

However…

There is a time when I not only think blatantly pitching on Flakebook is good… but can make you a boatload of new sales. In fact, if you have the kind of business that lends itself to this sort of thing (I don’t), you could have so many new customers… you will have to raise your prices, hire new people and put a stronger infrastructure in place to handle the demand.

Just as my friend has.

A friend who’s my guest on “The Ben Settle Show” tomorrow.

She reveals what she’s doing.

How it’s making her fat stacks.

And, how others can do the same.

Watch for my email, Spidey.

Until then, catch up on previous shows here:

www.BenSettleShow.com/itunes

Ben Settle

Hello my little droogie…

Over the last couple years subscribers have asked about my boy Andre Chaperon’s email methodology vs my methodology.

What’s the difference?

And, which is better?

Well, let me use an (admittedly) gruesome analogy.

But, it fits.

So if you’re easily offended, either don’t read, or sac up.

Anyway:

Imagine two stone cold-blooded killers.

One is a highly trained sniper, patiently waiting and plotting and strategizing the kill… he may take weeks or months to get everything in position — the perfect spot to shoot from with the breeze at just the right speed… the best gun, and lots of patience. And when it’s time to do the deed, he fires with “Robin Hood” like accuracy to shoot his victim’s eyeball out.

That’s Andre’s way:

Methodical.

Precise.

Nothing left to chance — everything planned.

Then, you got the other guy:

He walks into a McDonalds or some restaurant in a trench coat and sun glasses with a sawed off shot gun, hands shaking, body twitching… and just randomly starts plugging diners!

No rhyme!

No reason!

He just starts shooting the joint up!

Everything is random, with no thought beforehand.

That’s my system.

Andre is the guy with the rifle… his emails are mainly auto-respondered, planned out and methodical — with storyboarding, linked “episodic” stories, and long running story lines, etc. I’m the dude with the shotgun… my emails are written fresh and completely random (and my auto-responders are just random emails strung together), centered around whatever brain fart I have for the day and based on speed.

Gruesome analogy?

Yeah, maybe.

But, it fits.

Anyway, here’s the point:

Sometimes people bandy around the question about which of our styles and email methodologies is “better”.

The answer is choose your email weapon, gangsta.

Do you prefer precision and methodical (i.e. a rifle)?

Or random, fast and off-the-cuff (i.e. a shot gun)?

Or maybe you want to go all “terminator” and wield both — which is what I’m starting to suggest to my “Email Players” subscribers. Take the best of both worlds and start firing off them rounds…

Whatever you do, remember this:

The only wrong thing you can do is not send any emails.

And if you want to experiment with Andre’s methods (and he talks about list segmenting which is wicked good stuff) then check this out…

I’m making you an offer until Sunday at midnight.

(Eastern time).

And, that offer is this…

1. Go to my affiliate link:

www.EmailPlayers.com/madness

2. Buy Andre’s “Autoresponder Madness” course

3. Send me thy receipt, and I’ll then send you:

1. Any one back issue from the current “Email Players” catalog

I will send a pdf of the current catalog, and you can pick whichever you like.

That’s a real (hard) $97 value right there.

Plus, you also get:

2. “How Even Raw Newbies Can Quickly Build A List Of Subscribers Who Are Serious, Qualified And Eager To Buy”

This is an interview I did with Jack Born.

Jack’s a programmer and Perry Marshall’s affiliate manager. He’s also like the “Walter White” of marketing — cooking up software and tools in his motor home that let the rest of us luddites multiply our sales online.

Anyway, he’s seen a lot of tests.

Knows a lot about building lists.

And, shows you some skills in this bonus you’ll get when you buy Andre Chaperon’s “Autoresponder Madness” from my affiliate link below, and email me your dirty little receipt…

3. “Secrets Of A Text Marketing Player”

This is an interview with my droog Trevor Mauch.

Trevor is a fascinating guy.

And, he has a real passion for helping entrepreneurs.

I know this first hand.

He’s helped get me thinking about ways to build my business that never would have occurred to me before. And one of the things he’s a master at is using text messaging to make sales with (relax… not spam texting, but permission based texting). And this interview transcript explains exactly how to integrate email marketing with text messaging.

I think you’ll find this interview extremely fascinating.

That is, if you nab “Autoresponder Madness” from my affiliate link.

4. “How To Explode Your Opt-Ins With A Simple 5-Minute Change To Your Website”

This is the transcript of an interview I did with Jim Yaghi.

Jim is a “Google-trained” computer scientist and world class marketer who has been responsible for the lead generation for some of the richest and most successful people in the home business niche.

(Amongst others).

He’s also figured out some cool ways to build a list.

Ways you probably have never heard before.

Ways I’ve used to as much as DOUBLE my opt ins quickly.

(With my existing website traffic.)

Anyway, only paying “Email Players” subscribers were sent it.

But, you can have it today if you grab Andre Chaperon’s “Autoresponder Magic” course from my affiliate link below…

5. Obvious Adams

This is the pdf of a short book Gary Bencivenga (universally considered the world’s greatest living copywriter) said his mentor David Ogilvy (the great ad man) gave his employees, and suggested they read once per year.

It teaches a cool “mindset” you won’t find in other business books.

I’ve read this puppy well over 30 times.

And, each time I get something new from it…

Anyway, to get all these goodies, go here:

www.EmailPlayers.com/madness

(That’s my affiliate link)

Then, send me your receipt.

Again, this offer ends Sunday at midnight.

(Eastern time zone).

So time is short.

See ya on the other side…

Ben Settle

Let me tell you a story…

Couple month ago I gat into an intersting conversation with my friend Andre Chaperon, during our “Oceans 4” mastmind workshop we both teach at.

It was about spelling.

And, how we both suck at it.

Yet, depite that, we both do “okay” with email mrketing.

(At lest, so we been told…)

Anyway, we’re in pretty good compny.

Some of the very best copywriter, writers and even novelists have sucked (and still do) at spelling, grammar and (in my case especially) proonuncciation.

For example…

None other than Mark Twain said:

I don’t give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way

World class copywriter John Carlton once said:

In all my years of mauling the English language, I have never lost a known sale to someone because of either ‘bad grammar’ or typos.

Mr. Multiple Controls (simultaneously) copywriter with the biggest direct mailers David Deutsch taught:

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, olny taht the frist and lsat ltteres are at the rghit pcleas. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by ilstef,but the wrod as a wlohe.

More:

I once wrote a series of ‘spelling nazi’ emails.

And at least 2 people showed me examples how removing blatant typos (one in a headline!) *hurt* their response.

Finally…

An “inconvenient truth”:

Proof readers earn peanuts compared to even mediocre copywriters
who can’t spell to save their lives.

Am I saying to be sloppy?

To riddle your emails with mitakes?

Not at all, babycakes.

I’m saying don’t obsess over every jot and tittle.

Learn how to write emails people want to buy from.

The rest’ll take care of itself.

Which brings me back to my boy Andre Chaperon.

After looking through his “Autoresponder Madness” course I think it’s one of those courses anyone who does email should possess.

I believe this so strongly, I will make you this deal:

• Buy his course (via my affiliate link) by this Sunday at midnight

• Email your receipt to [email protected] (by the deadline)

• I’ll send you these big ol’ fatty 5 bonuses:

1. Any one back issue from the current “Email Players” catalog

I will send a pdf of the current catalog, and you can pick whichever you like.

That’s a real (hard) $97 value right there.

Plus, you also get:

2. “How Even Raw Newbies Can Quickly Build A List Of Subscribers Who Are Serious, Qualified And Eager To Buy”

This is an interview I did with Jack Born.

Jack’s a programmer and Perry Marshall’s affiliate manager. He’s also like the “Walter White” of marketing — cooking up software and tools in his motor home that let the rest of us luddites multiply our sales online.

Anyway, he’s seen a lot of tests.

Knows a lot about building lists.

And, shows you some skills in this bonus you’ll get when you buy Andre Chaperon’s “Autoresponder Madness” from my affiliate link below, and email me your dirty little receipt…

3. “Secrets Of A Text Marketing Player”

This is an interview with my droog Trevor Mauch.

Trevor is a fascinating guy.

And, he has a real passion for helping entrepreneurs.

I know this first hand.

He’s helped get me thinking about ways to build my business that never would have occurred to me before. And one of the things he’s a master at is using text messaging to make sales with (relax… not spam texting, but permission based texting). And this interview transcript explains exactly how to integrate email marketing with text messaging.

I think you’ll find this interview extremely fascinating.

That is, if you nab “Autoresponder Madness” from my affiliate link.

4. “How To Explode Your Opt-Ins With A Simple 5-Minute Change To Your Website”

This is the transcript of an interview I did with Jim Yaghi.

Jim is a “Google-trained” computer scientist and world class marketer who has been responsible for the lead generation for some of the richest and most successful people in the home business niche.

(Amongst others).

He’s also figured out some cool ways to build a list.

Ways you probably have never heard before.

Ways I’ve used to as much as DOUBLE my opt ins quickly.

(With my existing website traffic.)

Anyway, only paying “Email Players” subscribers were sent it.

But, you can have it today if you grab Andre Chaperon’s “Autoresponder Magic” course from my affiliate link below…

5. Obvious Adams

This is the pdf of a short book Gary Bencivenga (universally considered the world’s greatest living copywriter) said his mentor David Ogilvy (the great ad man) gave his employees, and suggested they read once per year.

It teaches a cool “mindset” you won’t find in other business books.

I’ve read this puppy well over 30 times.

And, each time I get something new from it…

Anyway, that’s a lot of bribes.

More than I usually offer, that’s fo’ sho’.

But I’m doing it because I want you to get your filthy paws on his course. Thus, my eager-to-succeed little droogie, I will send you all these bonuses when you buy “Autoresponder Madness” using my naked affiliate link below and sending me your receipt:

www.EmailPlayers.com/madness

But, this offer ends Sunday at midnight.

(Eastern time zone).

That means the clock is ticking.

Chop, chop!

Ben Settle

P.S. Yes, Andre and I alos thought it’d be fun to do an email puposely full of typos.

Must’ve been brutal on the speling POlice.

(police brutality?)

Anyway, if you are still foolish enough to think spelling is more sacred than knowing how to sell, I advice NOT getting Andre’s course.

Or anything I sell, neither.

In fact, forget being in bid’nizz at all.

I hear there are some hot $5/hour proof reader jobs on eLance…

For smart marketers, grab Andre’s course here:

www.EmailPlayers.com/madness