Ben Settle

People balk when I say my email system works for small lists.

And, for highly technical niches.

Well, balkers, balk at this:

BTW I just wanted to say thank you, Ben. Have been reading email players for a while now and learn a lot about structure.  

You will be pleased to know that I built an email list since a year ago and after 9 months of free content I put up a paywall on my blog.  In 5 months it has grossed $35K!  All the sales comes from the email list (now ~1800 subscribers). Before that I gave it away for free.  

Now working hard on writing mini reports to sell (the cancer research space, you may remember we discussed this briefly before). Email marketing works even for this highly technical niche.

Every now and then I have fun and send a ‘repulsion email’ to get rid of the tyre kickers and sure enough, a bunch of people unsubscribe from the free email list in protest or disgust at being sold something.  

Several people also messed around over payment and I remembered one of your email player editions that said to block them from ever signing up again, so two PR firms found themselves kicked out and unable to resubscribe.  Funny that, as one said the charge was fraudulent yet wanted to resubscribe at will.  Ok kthxbai.

Thank you for your tips and advice, Ben – really appreciate it.

(NOTE: Subscriber’s name withheld by request.)

Anyway, so there you go.

Big list, small list, doesn’t matter.

What matters is you.

Your mindset.

And, your willingness to win.

Subscribe to “Email Players” here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

And “The Ben Settle Show” review contest winner goes to…

Bruce Harpham

Bruce… come on down!

And, claim your prize:

Any product I sell (except “The Email Players Playbook”) including any Kindle or Clickbank product I sell… any single “Email Players” back issue… “The Copywriting Grab Bag”… or my unreleased (may never be released) “Crypto Marketing Secrets” book, which is a compilation of the entire 30 issue run of my old “Crypto Marketing Newsletter” product.

Let me know Bruce…

But, here’s the thing:

Bruce’s review is not showing for some reason.

(Something to do with Canada’s iTunes not always showing).

So you probably can’t see it.

(I can’t.)

Thus, I’m gonna reprint it here.

Want to show some lovin’ to a podcast, Kindle book or any other product where you can leave a review?

This, my fledgling, is how it’s done.

Notice how he…

• Demonstrated he listened to the show

• Explained exactly what he learned

• Is unapologetic about his opinions and rating

• Backs his opinions up with *examples*

• Includes lots of detail

• Tells you what episodes to find the tips he learned

• Makes the review inherently valuable

• The list goes on…

This is what I mean by helpful review — anyone who is on the fence about spending their valuable time listening to my podcast can read this and determine if it’s what they want or not.

Anyway, here it is:

27 Lessons From The Ben Settle Show

Ben is a master of email marketing and putting personality into copywriting. It’s great to see that he’s now sharing his insights through this podcast. In my review, I’ll share 27 lessons I’ve learned from the first 8 episodes of the podcast – you bet this is a FIVE star review. Read on!

1- When you mail a package to clients, pack in some surprise items like an extra book or DVD. (Episode 5)

2-Have more than one bank account for your business – some banks suspend bank accounts without notice or explanation (Episode 5)

3-Don’t use your home address for business purposes unless you have no problem with unannounced guests showing up (Episode 5)

4-Want to REALLY get off the grid and protect your privacy? Then look into How to Be Invisible by J.J. Luna (Episode 5)

5-When you sell a subscription service like a newsletter, be prepared to spend a lot on that first issue to the reader: you’ll more than make up for it over time with greater loyalty (Episode 5)

6-Learning to write emails with the Ben Settle system at first may take an hour or more per email but the sales make up for it (Episode 8)

7-Still using a monthly or quarterly newsletter to your customers? Ben sends email to his list 5-7 days a week and experiences great results (Episode 8)

8-Did your email service go offline for a few days (this happened to Aweber in early 2014): rejoice because you can have a special sale when they come back – a “Sorry that our emails were down for a few days sale” (Episode 8)

9-Look for gold whenever you buy business books – Ben bought Gary Halbert’s “Boron Letters” over 10 years ago; there was no cover and parts of it were illegible yet insights from the book made Ben lots of money (Episode 8)

10-Ben argues that if you know your market then focus on them and ignore what people outside the market say about your offers and messages: if you target women with your ads, does it matter what men think? (Episode 8)

11-Send emails that have some kind of emotional angle: a basic and important lesson to keep in mind (Episode 8)

12-With the right mindset, anything that happens to you – even getting a speeding ticket – can be fodder for an email or marketing message (Episode 8)

13-You want to look at your market’s insecurities. & run salt in them (Episode 6)

14-Ben is in 2 MasterMind groups – he’s successful and continues to seek growth (Episode 6)

15-Be careful in how you apply Robert B. Cialdini “Influence” book for copywriting: it wasn’t written for copywriters (Episode 6)

16-The real money is in the back end – reorders and repeat sales to customers is a key to a successful business (Episode 6)

17-Consistent delivery of email messages – even the same time of day – increases sales (Episode 6)

18-Ben sends emails out around 10am Eastern time because that mean his messages no longer get buried in the pile of overnight emails that people read at the start of their work day (episode 6)

19-You don’t have competitors online – you have joint venture partners (Episode 6)

20-Sending charitable donation promotions to your list can grow your list of customers (Episode 4)

21-Don’t call potential clients every day because there is no perception of scarcity (Episode 4)

22-Good offers include DEADLINES for response (Episode 4)

23-Need a cheap and basic auto-responder? You can create a dedicated Gmail account and set-up an vacation auto-reply message (Episode 4)

24-Make more sales from your existing digital products by including links to your other products in each product (Episode 4)

25-Don’t know how to produce a digital product? Ask a friend to interview you for 30 minutes and record a MP3 file with Audacity. (Episode 4)

26-Don’t seek to convert every lead to a customer – some of them can be abusive (Episode 2)

27-One way to get the attention of a potential joint venture partner: buy and use their products first and then make the proposal (Episode 4)

Alrighty then.

So that’s how it’s done.

Not because it was a 5-star review.

Not because it’s a flattering review.

And, not because it’s from a fan.

No, what makes this review the winner is how fraggin’ helpful it is to a would-be reader. There were some other really good reviews too, btw, but I think even those reviewers will agree Bruce’s is tops.

OK, so that’s that.

Next “Email Players” issue goes to printer next week.

Grab it here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

P.S. I am having a similar contest on kindle right now. Whoever writes the most helpful review for my “Zombie Cop” review gets a copy of any product I sell, too.

Deadline is Saturday.

Giddy-up…

Today’s Ben Settle Show is (mostly) about…

Sociopaths, baby!

Join us as we step up to the mic and rap about:

• The exact personality type that is ripe for being fleeced by sociopaths and other “unsavory” characters & scams. (Hint: A LOT of people have this personality — chances are you do, too…)

• 15 ways to identify a sociopath.

• Approximately how many people are sociopaths.

• What fields and professions sociopaths are “drawn” to (and yep, Internet marketing is like a nest of sociopaths).

• 3 words (used by newbies and goo-roos) that are a big red flag you’re about to be pitched bullshit.

• Why so many girls tend to fall hard for sociopaths.

• Why good people running for office get butchered by the media while the sociopaths skate free and make it to the top.

• Why I am starting to think all web designers are sociopaths (okay, I’m joking… sort of…)

• Why Americans are so gullible.

• Why I believe our financial system will collapse in the near future, and a badass “model citizen” (you can find him on Facebook) to study if you want to be prepared.

• Why I don’t trust social proof.

• Why guys should never let a girl “friend zone” them.

• Why NLP is nonsense.

• Why I don’t believe in business and marketing coaching.

• And lots mo’…

Sit back, grab a frosty beverage and waddle over to:

www.BenSettleShow.com/itunes

Ben Settle

Got this comment from website reader Paul Mawdsley.

He was responding to my “sexist testimonials” email (about why there are no chick testimonials on the left hand side bar on my blog).

His email (and my reply) below:

Hey Ben,

I’m a bit of a why’s guy. I like to uncover the underlying causes in life and figure out why things and people behave as they do. I play at reverse engineering things and testing what I come to see. I’m curious what you think of my brief reverse engineering of your dual personality: Ben and el Benbo.

Here’s a note I sent to my girlfriend in response to one of your emails:

Hey babe,

Not one of his earth shaking emails but it’s fun enough to share anyway…and a great way to show anyone who can read with any insight that he’s got some powerful testimonials from some real power hitters in the biz and, despite the reputation of his ironically sociopathic facade, he’s actually a thoughtful, decent, non-sexist human being.

Interesting thought: having a sociopathic sub-personality as a protector-self creates a powerful filter and set of programs to keep a core-self safe enough to be open, flowing, creative and vulnerable in a world that can fuck you up.

Remind you of anyone?

Mawds 🙂

Do I think his assessment is accurate?

I think most of it is.

Except for the sociopath part.

I don’t think people really understand what a sociopath is.

And that makes for some people getting called “sociopath!” or “psychopath!” by overachieving finger-pointers (not talking about Paul here but, for example, the dude who once called me a psychopath to his list and I had to give him a verbal beat down on my blog as a result, revealing what a fool he sounded like).

Anyway, even elbenbo isn’t a sociopath.

He’s just a grouchy grinch-like figure.

Nothing more, nothing less.

The side of me that wants to be left the hellz alone.

Is easily irritated with people.

Demands perfection from himself (and, thus, others).

And, would rather jump naked on a huge pile of thumbtacks than do things like talk in front of 500 people (like he’s gonna be doing in June at the “No Excuses Summit” in Las Vegas…)

As for what a “for real” sociopath is?

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s “Ben Settle Show”.

I explain what they are.

How they think.

And, some examples I’ve dealt with.

I also walk you through some of the red flags to look for in people you suspect of being a sociopath. (I’ve had “dealings” with several over the years and it is not hard to pick them out anymore.)

This is important stuff.

Especially since they ABOUND in direct marketing.

(Particularly online.)

Probably the most important show to date.

So look for my signal tomorrow.

In the meantime, check out past shows here:

www.BenSettleShow.com/itunes

Also:

Today is the last day to get your review in.

Whoever writes the best show review (judged not by how many stars — but by how genuinely helpful it is) gets a free copy of any product I sell.

(Except for “The Email Players Playbook).

So get in there.

Write a review.

And then, let me know which is yours.

See ya tomorrow Kitty-Kat…

Ben Settle

Well, at least according to the head copywriter of one of the biggest and most successful direct response companies on the Internet.

Carl Harvey writes:

You kept me up til 3 am… last night reading Zombie Cop!

Haha – dude, it’s genuinely epic.

Well done man.

Best opener to a book in ages. I read tons of Jack Reachers, John Grishman, David Baldacci etc etc… and your hook is WAY more addictive.

It’s real funny too.

I love the wigga kid. That motherfucka is a G.

Will write a review when I’m done… 48 hours tops!

Reads like a movie so far. Powerful.

Again — sincere congrats and excited to read more.

Peace

There ya go.

If you want in on some “Zombie Cop” action go ye to:

www.BenSettle.com/zombie

Giddy-up…

Ben Settle

Okay, not really.

I wish it was just a trick.

But fact is, I dropped the ball on something. And, if you bought the “Zombie Cop” Kindle version (this does not apply to the print version, the print version is kosher) yesterday, please check to see if yours has chapter 13. We made an update yesterday and at least one person said theirs is missing that chapter (which is the climax of the book – doh!) From what we can tell, this should only have affected a few customers, though.

(Most should have the chapter).

That’s the bad news.

The good news:

1. He must have REALLY liked it to read 200+ pages in one day (A good sign… as he said he couldn’t put it down)

2. If yours is missing chapter 13 reply back and let me know

I’ll send you a new Kindle file ASAP.

And, you’re good to go.

Again, my bad about that.

Like Marvin (a character in the book) says:

“Pimpin’ ain’t easy.”

And, well, neither is selling on Kindle sometimes.

Let me know if you’re missing the chapter.

And if you haven’t got the book at all yet, check out:

www.BenSettle.com/zombie

Ben Settle

Alrighty, my new “Zombie Cop” novel is now live on Amazon in both Kindle and hard copy. Preliminary feedback (from all of 2 people, but, hey, it’s a start…) has been good:

“Reading your book and designing the cover were a lot more fun than most of my work!”

– Kirk DouPonce
(The book’s cover artist — who works for all the big publishers like Simon and Schuster, McGraw Hill, Harper Collins/Zondervan, Thomas Nelson, etc, and has designed almost 1,000 book covers)

And, my editor’s (admittedly biased) review:

“It succeeded the way a good book succeeds – I wasn’t ready for it to end. I find myself wondering, ‘How fast can he write the next one, I need more of this!’ It is so far over the top from what we we’re expecting… Hundreds, maybe thousands of zombie books have been published in the past decade alone and while even run-of-the-mill zombie books can still be good, this one moves the genre light years forward. To keep up with Zombie Cop, book writers and Hollywood are going to have to step-up their game. The bar’s just been raised.”

– Greg Perry

Anyway, here’s where to get your copy:

www.BenSettle.com/zombie

Also, please leave a review.

It helps me get the word out.

And, I want the feedback.

(The good, the bad and the fugly).

’tis the only way to do it better next time…

Ben Settle

One of my best “Email Players” students Jim Clair writes:

So I entered into a contest recently.

Chris Haddad’s.

A lot of the other top guys entered the email ring.

Only one man can win.

Email Player Jim Clair won.

Even with our email server going wacky… sending to barely a quarter of the mega list. I drove qualified clicks… and won.

Some guys sent for 7 days.

I just sent for 3 days.

No gimmicks.

No “oh my god it’s done at midnight and puppies will die if you don’t buy!!! Sent from my iPhone” crap.

Three short emails.

Time to celebrate by watching Season 4 of Miami Vice.

Jim

I got a kick out of the iPhone part especially.

Why?

Because while it’s a victimless trick to play on your list (sending an email out using your autoresponder software, that says “sent from my iphone” at the bottom, to make it look like you sent your email personally, from your phone), it’s the mark of not knowing how to sell.

Or how to persuade.

Or, even, how to write a decent email.

When you know my system you don’t have to use tricks and manipulative “chokeholds” in your emails.

In fact, that stuff just works against you.

Yes, the gullible will fall for it.

But, the majority shake their head. Dial down their trust for you a few (or several) notches. And, buy from guys like me and Jim, instead (thanks, btw).

Sigh.

Is any of this getting through?

Or do I have to go all elbenbo on yo’ azz?

No?

Okay, good.

So do away with the tricks.

Forget the phony scarcity.

And sac up.

Learn to sell (not manipulate) and make more sales you will.

Oh, and one more thing about credibility:

The April “Email Players” issue shows you a “counter intuitive” way to write emails that will make them ooooooze believability.

And, yes, even if your claims are outrageous.

Subscribe in time here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

So sayseth one of my favorite podcasters (Dante Nero).

Real life story:

One of my past chicks and I recently got to chatting and she admitted to something I had long suspected due to some of the bizarre choices she has made:

She’s a bit emotionally damaged.

That doesn’t make her a “bad” person.

But, emotionally damaged she is.

Now, that is no crime.

Bad things happen.

(Hey, “everyone gets got”…)

No, her crime (IMH-but accurate-O) is staying damaged.

And, giving up.

She has no desire to make herself whole again (which she could do, she’s not that damaged — she said, for example, she quotes me to her friends a lot, so she’s got that going for her at least… heh)

Of course, I told her it was dumb to give up.

And cowardly.

And, yes, disappointing.

Thus, when she asked if we could be “friends” I said not a chance. Damaged people who don’t even try to better themselves can’t be trusted, and I am not friends with people I don’t trust. To me, a true friend will have your back no matter what — not just when it’s convenient or opportunistic (to paraphrase my boy Optimus Prime: “a friend will rarely call on you at a time of your choosing…”) And if my back is to the wall, and I really need someone to have my back, am I gonna call someone who admits they’re damaged goods, and has no desire to change?

Hellz naw…

Anyway, here’s the point:

A lot of people cling to their pain.

Many a damsel looooooves their distress.

(As I once wrote in “Email Players” — the song “I’m only happy when it rains” from the 90’s band “Garbage” is one of the best songs you can study to understand human nature.)

And yes, this carries over to your business, too.

There are people in your market that are “damaged.”

By that I mean, they’re in pain.

They behave as if they’re seeking a solution.

But, they never implement anything.

And, in some cases, won’t even open your product.

They LIKE their pain too much.

It’s weird.

And I don’t fully understand it.

(When I have a problem, I wanna solve it STAT.)

But, it is what it is.

And it can be annoying and irritating and extremely frustrating if you care about your market. (And if you don’t then you’re selling to the wrong market.)

Just don’t take it personally.

Or get mad.

Or, let it affect you at all.

Why?

Because it ain’t you.

It really is them…

Alright.

Enough of this negative banter.

Let’s talk about something positive:

The email you just read is a powerful format (and no, you won’t be able to reverse engineer it, don’t even bother) I teach in the April “Email Players” issue next month.

It’s a format that’s made me lots of sales.

And, can make you lots of sales, too.

Get the low down here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle