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

Last year I was driving down the hellways of California and a song came on the radio by George Thorogood called…

“I Drink Alone”

The song is about… why he drinks alone.

And how, when he drinks alone, he prefers to be by himself.

I can kinda relate.

No… I don’t sit around drinking all day. But I do understand wanting to be alone and shutting the rest of the world out when taking care of business.

Maybe it’s my introverted ways.

Or that most people simply annoy me.

Yes, I realize many can’t understand this.

A lot of entrepreneurs need constant human interaction.

Like going to seminars.

Networking with the locals.

And attending various events.

Me?

I AVOID such things like the zombie apocalypse plague.

I always turn down speaking invitations.

Have no desire to fly anywhere.

And even last year, when I was invited to an event in Las Vegas to be put up in my own suite in one of the top hotels on the strip… the request was received…

… processed…

… and denied!

This annoyed clients sometimes (when I did client work).

Confuses my friends.

And drives extroverts crazy.

But that’s just the way I roll.

I drink alone.

Ben Settle

P.S. That said, I will probably venture out of my “lair” soon and attend an event in 2012.

If I can find something in driving distance, at least.

We’ll see…

P.P.S. I’m not sure there was even a point to this email.

If you read this far, I suspect you’re either REALLY bored… or one of the 25% of the population who are introverts — 25% of the general population, but 100% of the GIFTED population.

Either way, I want to make it worth your while:

I’m giving away a free email marketing book on Kindle.

Check this out:

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

Sad announcement:

Copywriter John Ritz passed away.

I barely knew him (we’d exchanged a few emails over the years, always wanted to JV with him, but never did). He also once interviewed David Garfinkel several years ago and I got it as a free bonus for buying one of John’s products.

That interview changed the way I write copy.

And, it had a HUGE impact on my response.

How?

It got me thinking about the market, and not the “writing.”

It’s ALL about the market, babycakes.

Writing is secondary at best.

And the interview pounded that into my skull.

Hey, that may seem small.

Maybe even disappointing.

(Not a “ninja” copywriting trick…)

But it will radically change your response.

And now, I pass that info on to you.

Use it and profit from it.

John would probably have it no other way…

Ben Settle

No, no, no…

I’m not talking about THAT.

(Get your mind out of the gutter…)

Listen:

One of the best success quotes I’ve ever heard is from pro quarterback (and NFL Hall-Of-Famer) Steve Young when he said:

“The principle is competing against yourself. It’s about self improvement, about being better than you were the day before.”

Oh yeah, baby!

That quote is solid gold.

When you compete against yourself… ignore what everyone else is doing… and instead keep trying to only beat your own “records”… how can you possibly lose?

You can’t.

It’s impossible.

You can ONLY get better and more successful.

I’ve been applying this daily for 10 years and I can tell you, there is NO better way to master and excel at what you do than by striving to always do better than your last best accomplishment.

To play the game better than you did before.

And to strive to do even BETTER the next time.

The philosophy works, mi amigo.

But, you know what?

As good as this works…

There’s also a time to do the exact polar OPPOSITE — and play the game against others.

Look, none of my colleagues knows this.

(Guess they will now…)

But I’ve spent the past few years “competing” (silently, in my mind) with many of them.

Not in a “I hope they lose!” kinda way.

But in a “how can I outdo what they just did?” way.

For example:

I’d see a sales letter someone in one of my mastermind groups wrote, and think, “that’s fraggin’ brilliant — I gotta step up my game!”

And it’d motivate me.

Push me to work harder.

Dig deeper into my market and product.

And result in nothing by my BEST effort.

(Even if I could “get away” with dogging it…)

It doesn’t take long of doing that to get good (really good!) at what you do and start sticking out from the bleating herd of wannabes.

Anyway, something to think about.

Have yourself a great weekend.

And don’t forget to check out:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

Hey, so this won’t apply to everyone.

Just a select few.

And even for them, it may be a stretch.

We’ll see.

Anyway, here’s the scoop:

Over the past year I’ve gotten a spattering of questions about whether or not I do “corporate” email training — i.e. do I ever train other companies (who have big and solid lists but, small and saggy response) and their employees how to write emails the “Settle Way”, up close and personal.

Either “in house” training, or done virtually.

I’ve gotten this question enough where I can’t ignore it.

(Including once by a $100+ million per year business…)

At first, I found these requests flattering.

But, I just didn’t have any interest.

Just having too much fun working on my own projects.

Hey, what can I say?

Ben likey’s his freedom.

But lately, I’ve been having second thoughts.

The idea of increasing some underachieving business’s sales by tens of thousands (even hundreds of thousands if their list and product are right) of smackeroos in sales kinda excites me.

(The bragging rights alone would be worth it…)

So I’m really digging the idea.

But first, I want to see if anyone of my readers are interested.

Do you have a list of at least 50k?

Are you struggling to convert them?

Do you want me to PERSONALLY teach you and/or your employees how to hammer out emails that pull in as much as double (or more) the sales you’re doing now, every time you push that beautiful, shiny, “candy like” send button?

Then let me know.

For now, I’m just gauging interest.

So no need to ask about price or fees.

In fact, if you have to ask, it’s too expensive — like everything I sell, this ain’t for price shoppers, it’s for profit shoppers.

So yes, it will be expensive.

(Though not NEARLY as expensive as all those lost sales…)

Anyway, if you’re interested, email me through this link:

www.BenSettle.com/blog/contact

If this gets enough interest, I’ll run with it.

Next time:

Something else…

Ben Settle