Ben Settle

I throw the word “goo-roo” around a lot.

And sometimes people wonder if I’m referring to someone specifically or (and I find this especially amusing) if I’m referring to them!

The answer is “no” in both cases.

I speaketh of a “type.”

But, just to be safe…

Here are some clues you might be a goo-roo:

(In my best Jeff Foxworthy voice)

• If you send out a broadcast email and write “sent from my iPhone” at the bottom to trick people into thinking it’s a personal email… YEW might be a goo-roo…

• If you admit behind closed doors you can’t get your “push button riches” program to work for yourself but sell it anyway… YEW might be a goo-roo…

• If you claim to get 100% conversion from a sales letter that sold a total of one person… YEW might be a goo-roo…

• If you sell a “how to get website traffic” course and get all your traffic via joint ventures… YEW might be a goo-roo…

• If you sell an email course but hardly ever write any emails yourself… YEW might be a goo-roo…

• If you insist on everyone testing their ads but have never actually tested anything yourself… YEW might be a goo-roo…

And the list goes on.

Maybe I’ll continue this list again some day.

(There’s lots of goo-roo types out there).

In the meantime…

I you want to join my inner sanctum of email marketers who are tearing it up out there in the market place check out the “Email Players” newsletter at:

www.EmailPlayers.com

And don’t worry.

There’s nary a goo-roo in sight inside.

Ben Settle

Q&A time…

“Since emailing my subscribers ‘the settle way’ I’ve noticed a few things. Unsubscribe rates have increased, and so have spam complaints lol… but guess what? Sales have also increased! Is this normally the case? Also, I’m wondering, once your subscribers have bought the products you’re promoting in your emails, like your newsletter, do you market to that buyer’s list everyday too?”

Veddy good questions.

Let’s hit ’em one at a time…

Yes, unsubscribe rates are gonna go up.

Might as well accept it.

But, as you saw, sales go up, too.

(And which is better – lower unsubscribes or higher sales…)

Spam complaints?

It depends on your list.

But I suspect your spam complaints will go way down with time, especially if you tell people exactly how often you mail at the sign-up/opt-in stage.

Do I market daily to buyers?

For this site, no.

My back end marketing is done via my print newsletter.

For another site I run, I have no back end product, but when I did (I used to backend sell a supplement) I took the same email I sent to prospects, altered it slightly to reflect the back end product and sent to the buyers list.

Took about 2 minutes each day.

For another business, we have multiple buyer lists.

They each have their own auto-responders.

The point?

There’s no magic all powerful way of doing this.

You simply do what works for you.

Each business is unique, after all.

And it’s okay if you don’t get it figured out right away.

Just get started.

That’s step numero uno.

(And the step most never do…)

For guidance on getting started, go to:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

Remember yesterday’s email about ex-spurts?

And how you can identify them?

Well, another way you can pick an email ex-spurt out in a crowd is they’re always more worried about unsubscribe rates than making sales. In fact, I’ve seen entire articles written about the evils of high unsubscribe rates, how to keep your unsubscribe rates down, and how to make it so less people want to unsubscribe… yada yada yada.

It’s nutzo.

Makes no sense whatsoever.

For one thing, unsubscribes are not the devil.

They’re GOOD for you.

(They can save and make you money.)

But that’s not even the real problem.

The real problem is this attitude people have where they’re always playing NOT to lose, instead of playing to win.

Why do people have that attitude?

I have no idea.

But it’s killing people in business and in all of life. After all, you don’t see championship winning pro sports teams playing not to lose. They play to WIN, baby.

Hey, it’s no different selling online.

Don’t worry about unsubscribe rates.

Focus instead on building your list.

Emailing them every day (correctly).

And yes, making sales.

The rest will take care of itself.

And when you’re ready to take the training wheels off and play with the big boys in email, check out The Email Players Newsletter.

Next issue is chock full of goodies.

Especially for list building.

Specifically, it includes a secret way of creating capture pages that’s exponentially increasing my opt-in rates (and of the few other people who know about it).

Anyway, it was discovered by a computer scientist.

And works like gangbusters.

Go here to subscribe:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

Another ex-spurt misses the boat:

“You’ve got to be kidding me. You sent 7 emails to me today. I’m sure your unsubscription rate went through the roof today if you emailed everyone on your list like that. I don’t think I needed 7 reminders about your sale today. Are you really that desperate? Is this what you teach in your book?”

Well, I guess he told me!

Dang, why didn’t I think of that?

BTW, his email is about a recent sale.

The above commenter was complaining about how, on the last day of the sale, I sent out 7+ emails about that sale ending.

(Funny how nobody screams when eBay does it…)

Anyway, here’s why I bring it up:

His is the attitude of someone who thinks they know what they’re talking about… but doesn’t. (i.e. ex-spurt)

They’re all over the Internet, too.

Offering their unsolicited advice.

Giving uninformed opinions.

And projecting their biases onto others.

Sigh.

Kind of sad, really.

If only he’d asked (instead of mindlessly assuming) he’d have known I got more sales on that Sunday (when I mailed all those emails he was whining about) than on the previous 3 days of the sale combined.

Gotta love them ex-spurts.

Sure, their opinions mean zilcho.

But they’re always good for a few laughs.

Hey, speaking of special sales…

I’ve been perfecting my method for doing sales with email for the past few years in multiple markets (consumer and business-to-business).

It works like gangbusters.

Is very simple.

And it’s something I taught in this last December’s “Email Players” newsletter.

Complete with tons of examples.

Back issues are for sale to “Email Players” subscribers only.

(Not the general public)

To get in on the action, go to:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

G’Day Mate,

Here’s something kinda interesting.

One of the things I talk about in the “Email Player’s Playbook” (which comes with your “Email Players” newsletter — www.EmailPlayers.com — subscription) is how important it is to learn the slang of your market… and also slang your market is NOT familiar with to keep things fun, interesting and engaging.

Sometimes you can even make words up, if you want.

(I do just for kicks.)

Anyway, the BEST slang (IMHBAO) is from Australia.

In fact, check this out:

Last year, kool-cat copywriter Dean Jackson sent me a list of Australian slang terms he’d picked up since moving down under.

• As useless as tits on a bull

• Busier than a one armed brick layer in Baghdad

• Poo tickets (toilet paper)

• Fair dinkum (means everything looks good)

• Hoon (crazy driver)

• “G’Day Mate” (common Australian greetings)

• The word “bloody” for emphasis IE: “How the blood hell are ya?”

Alright, that’s it for today.

More tomorrow.

In the meantime…

Wanna write emails that aren’t as useless as tits on a bull?

And (worse!) aren’t mistaken for used poo tickets?

Then check out:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

There’s been a great disturbance in the force.

Apparently, I have a new enemy.

Check this out:

There’s this somewhat well-known Internet marketer who I kinda-sorta know (I was on his Internet radio show once a few years ago) who recently did a little “analysis” of me.

One of my subscribers forwarded it over.

And I found it quite… illuminating.

Why?

Because amongst his babblings, he said I fit the bill as a not-so-charming psychopath (and that I admitted it on my blog)… am not as sharp as I tell you I am… not making the killing I “brag” about (he said he Google’d me)… and that I write emails that are too long and uninspiring, and he knows this because he’s my perfect prospect but never clicks on any of my calls to action — yet says my writing intrigues him in a bizarre sort of way…

(Sounds almost like he’s both OGLING and Googling me.)

OK, so those are his opinions.

And he’s certainly welcome to them.

But, is he right?

Let’s see what’s going on here…

(And no, I’m not revealing his name and giving him a free plug, most long time IM’ers can figure it out on their own, anyway)

1. Psychopath

I heard someone else using this word about online marketers but I think what they REALLY mean is sociopath. There’s a difference in as much as psychopaths are extremely violent sociopaths, or who have an “urge” to kill (or maybe I’m just watching too much “Dexter”).

Anyway, this guy said I admitted to being one.

He says I took a personality test that said so.

But alas, he was wrong.

You can see what I actually said here:

www.BenSettle.com/blog/?p=4293

Burping along…

2. Bragging About Making A Killing Online

If he had done even a shred of actual research he would know I don’t publicly count money whether I’m hurting for it or if some day I end up swimming in the stuff like Scrooge McDuck. For one thing, it attracts all the wrong people into your life. And for another, it puts a juicy fat target on your back for “lawsuit happy” lawyers and losers who want to blame you for all their problems.

Besides, I’ve never said I make a killing, anyway.

(Especially not in a psychopath kinda way…)

I wonder if this dude ever gets tired of being wrong.

Let’s see…

3. Not As Sharp A Marketer As I Tell You I Am

I have never claimed to be “sharp.”

But, I will be blunt with you:

There are lots of things I’m NOT good at.

Far too many to list.

But I have mucho confidence in those things I DO excel at — like emails, copywriting, selling, etc — and thoroughly enjoy myself when cowardly little goo-roo fanboys hiding behind their computers have emotional meltdowns over my perceived arrogance on such matters by sending me hate mail, etc.

Hey, it’s entertaining to read.

Plus, it means I’m probably doing something right…

4. Long, Uninspiring Emails

This I found especially amusing.

Reason why is because he says his passion is email and so he’s my “perfect prospect.”

Not so fast there, Jethro.

Methinks he’s the exact opposite of my ideal prospect.

How do I know?

Because from what I’ve seen, the dude is ALL about “free.”

Free traffic.

Free opt-ins.

Free Willie, etc, etc, etc…

It’s always about free.

Hey, if that creams his twinkie, goodie for him.

(I bet if my stuff was free he’d be clicking them links…)

But those kinds of customers (assuming they buy at all) tend to be huge pains in the assimus who never appreciate anything, never know the joy of earning what they take, and freak out whenever they have to — GASP! — pay for something.

As for length…

If it hurt my sales I wouldn’t do emails like this.

So ’nuff said there.

Anyway, normally I ignore nonsense like this.

Got enough drama in my life right now, thanks.

But this guy lied so easily about all this stuff (just like the sociopaths he claims to protect the public from, kinda makes ya wonder)… I wanted to set the record straight.

Actually, maybe I should be grateful for him?

After all…

He just gave me an excuse to plug my product:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

P.S. There was one more thing my paranoid foe said:

He suggested I don’t give any “gold” on my blog.

Gonna have to call BS on that one, too.

Forget for a second I have a “media” page on my site with more free content on it than most paid products… and forget for a second there’s like 700 posts on my blog.

Forget those facts for a second.

Let us ponder this:

If there’s no “gold” on my blog, then why do I get testimonials about my free content? And I don’t mean “oh wow golly gee whiz your website is like really neat and stuff” testimonials.

I’m talking performance testimonials.

Where people profited from the free material.

Like Jason Rivera who told me he made over a $1k in sales in 5 days just using the info in the free “Email Players” pdf issue I give away to new BenSettle.com subscribers. Or Kelly Tanguay who told me how she recently astounded her employers (using just the free tips) to the tune of DOUBLING their response (and MORE than doubling sales). In fact, she said her “Settle-inspired” emails made the company over $50,000 EXTRA unexpected dollars in a single mailing.

Sounds like a lot of gold in them thar hills to me, Batman.

This has been happening more and more.

At first, I ignored it.

But, as my list has been growing, it’s happening more frequently, and methinks it’s time to put the kibosh on it.

I’m talking about…

People asking for personalized email advice.

For free (of course).

Ain’t gonna happen, Maverick.

The ONLY people I give personalized advice to (and it’s via email) are “Email Players” — www.EmailPlayers.com — subscribers.

This ain’t just a matter of principle, either.

It’s a matter of survival.

Think about it:

Even if I was a syrupy sweet nice guy (I’m not) and believed in giving away valuable information free (I don’t) and had time to answer everyone’s questions (I can’t), I wouldn’t get anything else done.

Now, some are more subtle about it.

They’ll ask something like:

“Ben, I’m thinking of joining your newsletter, but first what would you do with this product I sell…”

Amusing, ain’t it?

(Hey, can’t blame ’em for trying…)

So let me be clear about this:

If you’re “thinking” of joining, don’t.

You’re not ready.

It’s for people ALREADY using email.

Who have a list (even a small one) they’re adding names to.

And are fired-up to MONETIZE said list.

(In a big way.)

If you’re a newbie, that’s okay.

If you’re ready to take serious action then that’s why your subscription comes with “The Email Players Playbook” — which shows you the methodology of my system. The newsletter then lets you build on that foundation (monthly) so you can keep the party going perpetually. It astonishes me how anyone could not pick up any issue of my newsletter and not make their money back each month in spades.

After all, each issue has plenty of examples.

(Easily modified in most cases).

Including emails I’m using myself (this ain’t theory).

Plus, there’s lots of easily-implemented tips and tactics, too.

I don’t now how to make it easier.

But, it DOES require thinking… a bit of creativity… and, of course, taking action.

If you don’t have those attributes, don’t subscribe.

You’ll probably just quit, anyway.

(So what’s the point?)

On the other hand…

If you DO have those traits, then I believe I can help you, and, I believe I can help you FAST.

There’s no guarantees, of course.

No “do overs”, either.

It’s sink or swim in the Settle Sea.

And true entrepreneurs wouldn’t have it any other way.

Here’s where to subscribe:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

I might talk a good game about email.

Like it’s the 9th wonder of the world.

But, truth is it ain’t all watermelons and cream. There’s also a “dark side” to using my email methodology that scares people away from it sometimes.

Here’s what I mean:

It’s not unusual to see a HUGE sales bump with my methods.

Right off the bat.

Sometimes as much as double your current sales. (Yes, “Email Players” subscribers have reported this, and I’ve had it happen, too.)

It’s different for everyone, of course.

But it has happened.

So what’s the problem?

The problem is…

The following sudden DROP in sales.

It’s always unexpected.

(Even though I warn people about it…)

And it always throws people for a loop. I mean let’s face it — when sales shoot through the roof and then suddenly fizzle away for no apparent reason, you’re gonna sense a disturbance in the force.

You’ll know something is rotten in Denmark.

But you won’t what it is or how to fix it.

Soon worry sets in.

Panic rears its fugly head.

And the calls for help flood my inbox…

So what causes this mysterious drop in sale?

It’s quite simple, really:

Not adding more names to ye olde list.

This happened to me early on, too.

I was selling my “Copywriting Grab Bag” product. Sales shot up overnight using my email methods. And I was as happy as a politician in a brothel thinking the party would never end.

Until it did.

Sales started dropping off.

They continued to come in consistently (still way better than before I used my email methodology), but the big waves of sales stopped.

Yes, the buyers list was growing.

But the prospect list had significant… shrinkage.

Eventually, the lightbulb went on and I got busy list building.

Now, here’s the good news:

Luckily, “The Email Player’s Playbook” (that comes with your “Email Players” subscription) includes a couple appendixes on how to quickly (and inexpensively) grow your list. And the next issue talks about using solo email ads (a great way to grow most lists), with examples on how to write them.

So something to think about.

But if you want in, decide quickly.

Next issue goes to the printer soon.

Subscription info at:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

So Star Wars Phantom Menace is being re-released.

I remember seeing the original Star Wars as a 3 year old when it first came out. I was just fascinated when Obi Wan did his “Jedi mind trick” — where a Jedi controls a weak-minded person’s thoughts. In the movie Obi Wan does it by waving his hand at the storm troopers who stop him and Luke at a checkpoint.

The weak-minded stormtroopers do exactly as he says.

Without question.

And without hesitation.

Kinda reminds me of certain goo-roo ads.

I’m amazed at how easily the “weak minded” keep buying products that are obviously rehashed from a previous product, thrown together and sold as if brand “new.”

It’s maybe not exactly like a Jedi mind trick.

But the EFFECT is the same:

They send an email to their list…

And with a wave of its “hand” the ad has a sort of dialogue with the reader’s inner psyche.

It goes something like this:

GOO-ROO AD: Yes my claims sound like bullshit, but you don’t need to check my credentials or track record.

READER: No need to check his credentials or track record.

GOO-ROO AD: That’s not the info you’re looking for.

READER: That’s not the info I’m looking for.

GOO-ROO AD: Move along and click here NOW.

READER: I better click here now!

Hey, don’t scoff, Chewie.

Thats essentially what happens.

Most people turn their “trust dial” down a notch (or two).

While the weak minded buy.

And buy again…

And again… launch after launch after launch…

If that’s you, there’s still hope.

A NEW hope.

It’s called… learning how to sell.

You’ll quickly know if something is BS or not.

Lies will stand out like Jabba the Hutt at a nudists colony.

And you’ll be immune to hype and nonsense.

Only question is… what KIND of selling?

I recommend using email.

In fact, that’s the whole point of my “Email Players” newsletter — to teach you how to stand on your own two feet out there online, chopping off your competitors’ hands and heads (figuratively!) with your lightsaber, and winning one for the LIGHT side of the force, baby.

Bottom line?

Master the mysteries of email.

Use it every day.

And soon, a Jedi marketer will you be.

Go here to subscribe:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle