Ben Settle

Harsh subject line, ain’t it?

Maybe it even makes me sound like a total “a-hole”?

I suppose it does.

But don’t worry — the truth is, I rarely ever ignore emails. Even when there’s 200+ piled up in my inbox (a typical morning), I read ALL subscriber comments.

Except… when meeting the criteria below.

Yes, dear one, it’s true.

There are some emails I delete on sight.

And, in some cases, manually unsubscribe the sender!

(To put them out of my misery…)

Why would I do this?

Well, here are a few reasons:

• Questions/comments that are not clear or make no sense

• Sending me a form email with a JV pitch (Ugh)

• Mindless negativity

• Not getting to the point

• Writing in one giant paragraph (too hard to read)

• Whining about getting too many emails (I’m always amused by people who sign up for DAILY email tips and then complain about getting daily emails. Duh…)

Anyway, these are just a few reasons.

And you know what?

Now that I think about it, some of the above are not only my criteria for deleting or ignoring emails — they’re your prospects‘ reasons for doing it, too.

Just something to think about.

But fear ye not, Batman.

Your boy Settle has a solution to this:

In the April “Email Players” issue (which goes to print very soon), I’m showing you 5 ways to create irresistible curiosity in your emails.

The kind of emails people can’t ignore.

Cheerfully want to open.

And, even have a hard time resisting buying from…

But time is short, amigo.

Subscribe in time here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

So I read an interesting article last month.

It was in Dan Kennedy’s newsletter.

And, it was by a guy named Dr. Charley Martin — about what he calls “plop theory.” Basically it was about the effects of creating “ripples” when you throw a rock across water. And when you apply that idea to marketing… the more you keep “plopping” messages at your market, the more those plops build up into waves that penetrate your industry and position you in the cat bird’s seat.

He didn’t explain it precisely that way.

But I totally agree with the good doctor!

And this is EXACTLY what daily emails do.

Each is another “plop” on your marketing.

Reminding them of you.

Your business.

And your offer.

They put so much RAW power and energy behind your business that (even if you don’t see the effects right away…) it makes it almost impossible for you to fail long term.

But wait!

Lest I be accused of hype…

I said “almost”, babycakes.

As my favorite golf instructor says…

“You can’t turn chicken crap into chicken salad.”

And if you don’t know what you’re doing, lobbing emails every day at your list could actually work AGAINST you.

You have to know what you’re doing.

Otherwise, you’ll be ignored.

Deleted.

Maybe even reported as a spammer…

The solution?

That’s why I created “Email Players”.

And in the next issue, I’m showing you some very cool ways (based on what I’ve learned from one of the world’s top sales trainers) to use the power of curiosity to create lots of “waves” in your market.

Big, POUNDING waves.

The kind that get you noticed.

Paid attention to.

And, yes… bought from.

Here’s where to subscribe:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

P.S. Speaking of making waves…

“Email Players” subscriber Bob Conroy recently told me about a 40 day email campaign he’s doing using my methods.

A 40-day campaign!

Dang!

That’s impressive by anyone’s standards.

But, you know what’s even MORE impressive?

Just TESTING my methods has so far generated over $152k in sales… which he said is $137k more than their usual once or twice a month email campaigns (his goal is $200k now).

Wild, eh?

Don’t get me wrong.

I LOVE testimonials like that.

But, at the same time, they make me feel so underpaid…

Anyway, here’s where to subscribe:

www.EmailPlayers.com

A big topic right now is video vs text.

It’s almost like a monster movie how people debate who wins in a fight between the two: Which one works better… who’s the best video goo-roo… should I test a video and then when they click away have text show up… and on and on it goes.

Yada yada yada…

My opinion?

If video turns you on then use it.

Have a party.

Spend all the time and money you want on it.

On the other hand, if you’re more of a Dan Kennedy “money is attracted to speed” kinda person (like I am) who’s more interested in getting the message-to-market match right BEFORE obsessing over what media you use… then here’s my advice:

Don’t worry about it.

Just get something up (video or text) and start emailing your list.

Frankly, I’m less and less concerned about sales pages.

Email almost makes them obsolete, anyway.

This might not be the case for everyone.

But here’s an example:

I used to spend a lot of time testing my various sales pages (big sweeping changes, not “whispers”) but as I started developing my email system, it all became a big fat exercise in futitily.

No winner ever emerged.

The emails did all the selling.

Even on special sales I noticed this.

I’d send them to a sales letter vs just an order form.

No difference whatsoever.

Anyway, just something to think about.

Do whatever you want with this info.

But, do something…

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

I hear it all the time:

“Ben, I’d subscribe to your ‘Email Players’ newsletter, but it’s too expensive…”

Hey, it IS pricey.

No doubt about it.

But, price is relative.

One man’s expensive is another’s bargain basement deal.

For example…

Here’s a testimonial I got Friday:

I’m seriously enjoying your stuff and think it is worth a lot more than you charge! I have used your tips in one of the recent series to create partnership opportunities with two people with over 100k subscribers and they will both be blasting my stuff to their list at least two times. Anyone not subscribing to Email Players is missing a lot, and I guess we’re the ones that will end up eating their lunch…lol!

– Bamidele Onibalusi

See?

Price is relative.

In my humble (but ALWAYS accurate) opinion… email is the easiest vehicle for making sales online you can use (assuming you have a responsive list to mail to…)

It’s only “expensive” if you don’t implement.

So anyway, that’s that.

Subscription info at:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

You may find this a tad… disturbing.

(Or maybe not…)

But for the longest time, I’ve thought about how, when I die and join the “choir invisible”, I want to be buried in a secret, booby trapped crypt — with its location found only via a secret map that promises gold, diamonds and jewels. But, when someone actually finds and opens my coffin, instead of finding any loot, all that happens is my maggoty, grinning skeleton sits up & cackles at them (kinda like the “Crypto Keeper”…)

Oh yeah!

That’s what I’m talking about!

I know… that’s just weird.

(Even by MY standards…)

But there’s a reason I’m telling you this.

You see, that kind of “Crypt Keeper marketing” — where the sales process is fun and exciting and effective, but the product is a stinky, rotten corpse of a let down — is very common online.

I see it ALL the time.

My customers often tell me stories about it.

And then newbies come along, see it making sales, and exhume (oops, I mean EXHORT):

“That’s what works? Then that’s what I’m doing!”

No, it doesn’t work, babycakes.

Not. even. close.

Superb marketing nabs lots of front end sales.

But the REAL loot is made on the back end.

And all it takes is one grinning, cackling skeleton popping up on them when they open that pdf to completely turn them off — putrified and disgusted by the stench, never to return for sale #2 (much less sales #3, #4, etc).

Just something to think about.

I know I’m preaching to the choir.

But as the Crypt Keeper would probably say…

I’d hate to see any of MY readers murder their sales.

That’s it for today.

Here’s where to go next:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

My but that sounds crude, doesn’t it?

No doubt someone will look at this email’s subject line and accuse me of vulgarity unbecoming a true professional.

Well, not so fast there, babycakes.

I didn’t say it.

Copywriter Scott Murdaugh did.

It was the headline of the review he gave the email marketing book I gave away on Kindle last week — where I said the person who gives the “most interesting” review would get a free issue of the Email Players newsletter.

Well, it was tough choosing.

There were LOTS of great reviews.

But Scott won!

The deciding factor?

Scott’s review was not only interesting, but a great “template” for when promoting something via email.

Wanna see it?

OK!

Here it is:

“Giving goo-roos the middle finger”

In the current generation of online marketers and copywriters, Ben Settle has firmly planted himself at the top of his class.

I’ve been following Ben’s stuff since about 2008.

And I can tell you from first-hand experience, Ben walks the walk regarding what he teaches, more importantly closely studying the “Settle” style of selling can put a lot of cash in your pocket, it has for me.

If you sign up to his email list you get a front-row seat to Ben’s emails in action. A daily dose of “can’t ignore” subject lines like…

“Why I Think About You In The Shower”.

“Stop Playing With Yourself”.

“You Can Lead A Goo-roo Fanboy To Knowledge, But You Can’t Make Him Think…”

It goes much deeper than snappy subject lines though.

I personally open and read is emails daily (VERY rare for me). I buy from them.

But more importantly, adapting many of Ben’s ideas to my own business has made a lot of money for myself and my clients. If you can only study one guy when it comes to email marketing, Ben is that guy, hands down.

This book is the perfect introduction to Ben’s unique and dangerously effective approach to selling.

Now seriously.

Wouldn’t that make a great email?

Imagine he sold the book as an affiliate.

He gave a personal testimonial.

Used examples.

And, made his review interesting in and of itself.

Good job Scott.

You da man.

I’ll be sending you that free issue today.

Until next time…

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

So last week I gave away a free kindle book.

It was about email marketing.

And I believe it can help almost anyone with their emails. (Assuming it’s applied… I can guarantee it won’t do anyone any good if it’s never used and just collects digital dust…)

But, as usual, someone found a reason to complain.

Check out this zinger:

“Ben just a week ago you wrote an email talking about why it’s immoral to give your best information away free. Sounds hypocritical!”

Indeed it does sound that way.

But, as usual, the naysayer is wrong.

Giving that Kindle book away was not hypocritical.

It was smart.

And, it will likely bring me MORE sales later.

How?

Couple reasons:

1. That book is FAR from my “best info”

It’s just a small (very small) “taste” of the real food I have sizzling in my Email Players newsletter frying pan.

2. Kindle rankings

It gave a nice boost to my Kindle rankings.

And, it got a lot of great reviews, too.

Both of which will (over time) bring more website visitors… result in more “Email Players” subscribers… and further help brand me as “the man” when it comes to email marketing (not that there was ANY doubt about that already… HA)

Look, nothing I do is on accident.

I often plan things out 4-5 moves in advance.

In fact, one of my friends was joking how I have the mind of a super villain — and am just one bad childhood away from being a ruthless dictator bent on world domination!

Muhahahaha!!

(I’ll get to that eventually, I’m pacing myself…)

The point?

Ain’t nothing ’round here is done willy-nilly.

It’s all about strategy, my friend.

Have a plan.

Execute it.

And you’re already WAY ahead of the pack.

Here’s where to go next:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

Holy shnikes I love the tabloid “SUN”.

It’s just a BUFFET of bizarre and whacky stories, ideas and email “fodder” — especially for subject lines and themes.

Here are some of the latest issues’ headlines:

PIG-ZILLA!
Redneck Kills 1200 lb Mutant Porker

“Forbidden” Foods You SHOULD Eat!

Psychic Spies Are Watching You!
… warn gov’t insiders

RFK Feared Acid Attack By Angry Mobsters

Cops say murder plot was designed to make them think…THE CAT DID IT!

Airless Tires Never Go Flat!

“Zombie Doctor” Became Master Of Mind Control

Nightmare Demon Came Alive In Our Bedroom
scientists believe strange being used wormhole to travel millions of miles

Iran Bans Barbie Dolls!
“more dangerous than an American missile”

Nearsighted Fisherman Finds Lost Glasses — Inside His Catch!

Tiny Prosecutor Stands Tall Against Crooks!

Doctor Explains How To Have A Face-Life Without Plastic Surgery!

And the list goes on…

Gotta love Sun — it’s ALWAYS good for email ideas.

And speaking of which:

Don’t forget, I’m giving away a free email book.

It’s on Kindle.

And it’s free for the next few days.

Here’s the link:

http://amzn.to/AyHkzQ

Whoever leaves the most interesting review gets a free issue of “Email Players”. ($97 retail, babycakes)

See you tomorrow…

Ben Settle

P.S. Hey!

Didn’t I just poo-poo on PS’s yesterday?

Well, this… fits.

One thing I want to add is there are some countries who apparently can’t download Kindle books. However, if the above link doesn’t work, try this amazon UK link instead and see what happens:

http://amzn.to/Ak9rqp

I used to think the “PS” was super important.

And I still think it is in direct mail.

But in email?

Not so much.

In fact, (depending on what market you’re selling in) I suspect people mostly ignore PS’s in emails because they know a sales pitch is coming. (Not saying to never use them, of course, just understand the reality of the situation.) Which is why I kinda did you a disservice in yesterday’s email. Because, in the second PS (ugh – TWO PS’s!), I made an announcement a lot of my readers will probably want to know about.

Specifically, about a free email marketing book I’m giving away.

Anyway, here’s what it said:

Before last July (2011) I used to give away (as an opt in gift) a report with 10 uber-profitable email secrets I use all the time.

That report has helped a LOT of people, too.

But, I no longer give it away.

Instead I now sell it on Kindle.

Except this week.

This week you can download it free on Kindle.

Plus, I’m giving away a free month of my “Email Players” newsletter to whoever gives the most interesting review (should you decide to leave a review for it).

If you’re interested, here’s the linkage:

http://amzn.to/AyHkzQ

This is good for a few days longer.

After that, it ain’t free.

Laters.

Ben Settle