Ben Settle

Since I’m a tad behind, I’m pushing the April “Email Players” issue deadline to tonight.

(Instead of last night).

Here’s what’s inside:

• How to “jimmie” your emails to make even your most outrageous claims believable

• A secret kind of email I do all that time that nobody has ever been able to “reverse engineer” (only me and one other person I am aware of does this regularly, and it has made me tons of sales in all kinds of markets selling all kinds of different products)

• Email secrets of an obese, “misogynist” comedian who women loved, adored and lusted after

• How to “arrange it” so your woman never even thinks to leave your relationship (applies to keeping clients, too)

• How a “celebrity” copywriter writes subject lines almost guaranteed to get opened (if I HAD to get an email opened or I’d be beheaded, I’d do this fo’ sho’)

• What clients (for any service) REALLY want (and no, it ain’t doing a “good job” on their project — knowing this can help even a noob get ahead in the freelance game faster)

• An email “template” that lets you outsell your competitors with better marketing and name recognition than you (use this “template” and watch what happens!)

• How to write emails that ooooooze credibility

• How to write blatant sales pitch emails people love reading and buying from (doing this gets you instantly past the “gate keeper” in even the most hardcore skeptic’s brain)

• How to turn ordinary surveys into an endless stream of profitable emails (when I did client work, I used this trick to bang out dozens of profitable emails doing hardly any “writing” at all)

• And lots mo’

Alright my droogie, this is it.

I’m sending the list in tonight, get your lovin’ here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

The magic #10th “Ben Settle Show” episode is aaawwn.

Here’s what’s inside:

• Why my deranged “Zombie Cop” novel will sell more copies of my “Christian Business Secrets” book

• A writing trick I use to boost my creativity, have more physical energy, be in better shape and write for longer periods of time without fatigue

• How to “root out” all the weird stuff in your subconscious (which often translates to making more sales from your emails and ads)

• A reliable “acid test” that tells you whether you should cut something out when editing any kind of writing you do

• The Dean Koontz secret to fast pressure-free writing

• The most important part of your novel for making the maximum amount of sales

• How to pre-launch fiction (using a secret the world’s greatest living copywriter discovered when he was young, about to lose his job, and HAD to write an ad that worked or he’d be canned. And, yes, this works for non-fiction, too…)

• A secret “power editing” secret for having the tightest, easiest-to-read writing (works with fiction and non-fiction)

• The one time entertaining emails won’t work

• A small tweak that can turn even boring “plain vanilla” emails into fascinating and persuasive emails that nab lots of sales

• And, finally…

How to write a 1-star review.

Yes, my little droogie, I am going to show you how to write a 1-star review (for amazon, itunes, etc) — whether it’s to pan something I create or someone else. Most 1-star reviews sound either like trolls or just blatantly dishonest. If you want your little 1-star reviews to be taken seriously then check this episode out ASAP.

(Your review reputation depends on it…)

Anyway, enough.

Listen to the mayhem here:

www.BenSettleShow.com/itunes

Ben Settle

Today’s the “Zombie Cop” most-helpful-review contest deadline.

This was a toughie.

They are all helpful and well written. So I have been reading them all over and over trying to figure out which one was the most helpful to a would-be reader. (Even got one from one of my copywriting “heroes” Bob Bly, which completely made my day.)

But, there can only be one winner.

And, that winner is…

My boy Yoav Ezer.

So Yoav, come on down and claim your prize:

Any product I sell.

(Except the Email Players Playbook).

Here is his “Zombie Cop” review:

“Most satisfying book I’ve read in months…”

Zombie cop is like a Steven King novel meets ‘The Walking Dead’ meets Grimm (only without the whining and endless tortured dialogs.)

Bought it on Thursday and was done by Friday night and… I would have finished earlier if it wasn’t for work and having to eat every once in a while.

Here’s what’s freaking awesome about this book:

1. The fight scenes – every chapter has at least one (very graphic) fight scene. And there are a couple of epic battles which left me very satisfied.

2. The characters – Get ready for a ‘game of thrones’ experience. Ben builds up magnificent characters. They are either lovable, fun characters or giant turds and then he proceeds to kill them without remorse. Also… For some reason, Ben has a solid understanding of the teenage mind although I’m pretty sure that chronologically he is way past this age.

3. The mythology – The book seems like an opening to a saga of books that will culminate in an epic, violent battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil (Yummy.)

4. The atmosphere – Very reminiscent of a Steven King book. You constantly have a feeling that something bad is going to happen.

Now… this book is not for everyone…

If you don’t like scary TV shows like ‘The Walking Dead’ or hard core action movies like 300, then you will absolutely hate this book. Really … do yourself a favor and avoid this book. It will make you vomit. Guaranteed!!!

But if you were smiling continuously during 300 (like I was)… then you owe it to yourself to read this book.

Hoowa!

To check the novel out, lurch on over to…

www.BenSettle.com/zombie

Ben Settle

Ain’t it ironic?

I recently noticed Amazon placed my “Christian Business Secrets” book right next to my new “Zombie Cop” novel.

I can already hear the shrieks of Churchianity:

“Ben how can you sell a violent and deranged zombie book next to a Christian book! That is inappropriate!”

Maybe it is.

I don’t really know.

What I do know is this:

1. Amazon’s book placement will help both books’ sales

(Not that it matters to anyone but me…)

2. Maybe I’m a more complicated guy than I thought

3. As my editor Greg Perry said:

“This is always my big bugaboo about lukewarm christian critiques: Ask why Tolkien gets unlimited praise and kudos for showing good elves and wizards conquering evil orcs and demons and wizards but you aren’t allowed to create characters even though YOU, unlike Tolkien, actually use Bible verses to show possible origins of your characters.”

It’s a good point.

So, here’s my advice:

If you’re a mush cookie, don’t read “Zombie Cop”.

It’s violent.

It’s brutal.

And, yes, it’s deranged.

I suggest reading “safer” books — like an Oprah book-of-the-month pick. In fact, don’t even read that Bible gathering dust on your coffee table, either. There is, after all, sex, violence and profanity in it.

And we wouldn’t want you to be “offended” now, would we?

Which brings me to another point.

Something I think about a lot.

And that is:

I can’t imagine 1st century Christians who were being fed alive to lions, nailed to wooden posts and their organs literally hanging out from being scourged with whips being such mush cookies about these things.

Only today’s milquetoast Christians are.

But hey, what do I know?

I got kinda sorta kicked out of the last church I went to.

Anyway, “Zombie Cop” ain’t a “Christian” book.

Nor does it pretend to be.

It doesn’t preach.

And it doesn’t proselytize.

But, here’s the scary thing about it:

There are probably more hard Bible teachings in it (as part of the plot — as I do have a Biblical explanation for zombies and other monsters that will be in the sequels) than a lot of the books in the “Christian” sections of bookstores.

I can’t say fo’ sho’.

But, it wouldn’t surprise me.

Anyway, here’s the “Zombie Cop” link:

www.BenSettle.com/zombie

Ben Settle

P.S. Also…

Tomorrow’s “Ben Settle Show” episode walks you through all the writing and marketing lessons I learned while writing “Zombie Cop” (and the marketing and copywriting stuff I used to help make writing the novel easier). If you’re interested in writing fiction, this show is going to be the fodder for what will probably be a paid product on the subject some day. If you couldn’t care less about writing fiction, I think you’ll still get a helluva lot of value from it for your emails, copywriting, etc.

Anyway, it posts to iTunes tomorrow.

Watch for my signal, Batman…

“Ben. You just seem to have no governor whatsoever.”

– Doberman Dan

The above is one of the coolest things I ever done heard.

My friend Doberman Dan said it.

And, it’s the ultimate compliment.

Why?

And, what is a “governor”?

Well, Dan put it this way:

“It’s like renting the U-haul truck. They put a governor on it so even if you stand on the accelerator, you can’t go faster than 45 miles an hour. If you know how to pull that governor off, you can get that sucker up to 90 maybe.” And what he means by me not having one is, I simply say whatever is on my mind (either in my emails, on my podcast show, facebook, twitter, whatever) and don’t pull back.

If people don’t like it?

There’s the unsubscribe link.

Or delete key.

Or volume knob.

Or mechanism to unfollow/unfriend me.

Hey, don’t let the door hit ya on the ass.

I used to care what people think. And, that held me back in so many ways, I cringe at all the lost sales, opportunity and deals resulted. Anyway, when you use my system you will slowly (or quickly…) start taking your own governor off, too.

Not because you have to.

(You don’t, it’s all good, either way.)

But because you’ll WANT to.

Can’t really describe it.

You just have to experience it.

And the only way to experience it is to subscribe.

Next issue I show you an example of a blogger (my favorite blogger, nothing to do with business) who has zero governor, too. It’s gotten him fired from writing gigs. Kicked out of the Science Fiction Writers of America. And, ruthlessly attacked by the media and his enemies.

But you know what?

It’s gotten him millions of website visitors.

Sold Lord-knows how many thousands of his books.

And, positioned him at the top.

Hey, what sounds better:

1. Keeping the governor on and skating by?
2. Ripping that mo’ fo’ off and making out like a bandit?

If you chose door #2, go here next:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

What?

Impossible, you think?

Then think again, babycakes.

Here’s how “Email Players” subscriber Tim Mitchum did it:

Not that you care…

…because I am certain you don’t need another “testimonial”, but you’re gonna have to deal with it. Just wanted to share my “aha” moment with your style of relentless emailing and pitching. I bought your program last July and immediately did your 30 day email everyday deal. Obviously it works. I have been learning and continuing to get better etc…

But this last week I was rolling out a new program and was confused on how to do that because I already pitch another product to my peeps everyday. I didn’t know how to switch into “launch mode” and become some weird guy who all the sudden wants you to start listening to them now because it’s the last chance you will ever get…blah, blah, blah. So I said screw it. I am just going to continue emailing everyday and basically say. Hey, I got this new product you’re gonna love because it rocks and you should buy it.  

Well… best week ever and easiest “launch” ever.  

And here’s what I realized. 

Because I email daily, they expect emails daily, and are a captive audience.  I am not all the sudden jumping on them without the relationship you get from daily emails. They already expect me to GIVE THEM A REASON in an entertaining and informative way why they should buy this thing. 

It’s really cool.  So thank you for relentlessly telling me why I should try your style.  For me it works, is much easier, and more fun. 

I have had 4 more orders come in since I started this email.

Crazy…

So there you be.

Another way to profit from “Email Players”.

Check it out here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

As the Benverb says:

“There are no dumb answers, only dumb questions”

Case in point:

I’ve gotten my share of pointless questions, inane comments, and troll grunting. Usually I just delete them. But, today I decided to collect some together for shitz & giggles so I could share them with the Ben Settle Brigade.

If nothing else, you may get a chuckle.

And, hopefully, people will think before pushing “send.”

But first, here’s how I define a dumb question:

A question someone already knows the answer to. (Or could get it with a quick google lookup) Or, that are a result of them not reading whatever email they are responding to carefully. Or, a question someone asks to “bait” me into some idiotic debate.

Here are a few examples:

(Of both dumb questions & comments)

“Do you think your Attorney would mind if we swiped his letter and used it to send to copyright infringers?” (I almost thought this was a joke… I mean, really?)

“Why are you still using aweber?” (Why not?)

“Bring it baby. Americans. Are all talk. But money buys the wisky.” (This chap sounds like he’s been hitting the whiskey…)

Now, let me be clear about something:

I am not saying these are “dumb” people.

(Except probably for the whiskey chap.)

But, they simply asked dumb questions. And we ALL do it from time to time. (Yes, even I ask the occasional dumb question…)

So, what’s the point of this?

I’m not sure there is one.

I just thought it’d be funny…

Speaking of questions:

One of the “perks” of being an “Email Players” subscriber is you get access to me to answer your questions via email.

This is the most valuable thing I can offer:

My time.

If you’re a subscriber, take advantage.

If not, go here to join the Email Playerhood:

www.EmailPlayers.com

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…