Ben Settle

Lately everyone thinks I’m going to promote their offers.

And are SHOCKED when I tell them to take a hike.

I don’t know why they’re shocked, though — as I’ve made it abundantly clear before I’m not going to mail other peoples’ offers except when it’s a friend or something I’ve used and bought and just can’t stand NOT letting other people know about.

But everyone else’s offers?

Fuhgeddaboudit.

Why am I such a prick about this?

For one, it’s more profitable to sell my own products.

But besides that, I’m amazed at the junk that’s being sold out there. And this goes double for any product with a goo-roo’s name attached to it. Further more, even if I WAS open to selling other peoples’ products to my list, I’d still ignore 99% of the offers that come into my inbox because the pitches are so… lame.

They’re not personal.

They’re not interesting.

And, in 9 out of 10 cases… they’re not even original.

(Just “cut & paste” jobs.)

With no personal story about using the product.

No personality.

And no… humanity.

I’ve actually been toying around with one day reprinting some of these JV pitches in my Crypto Marketing Newsletter just for kicks. But then I’d probably be breaking copyright laws (and bad writing is just as much under copyright laws as good writing).

And finally…

A lame JV pitch speaks volumes about the product.

So why even bother looking?

I mean, what would be the point?

Look… maybe I’m being a “joint venture nazi” here.

But I can’t stand lame products.

And just assume my list does, too.

Ben Settle

I haven’t decided yet.

But I may be cutting back on the number of emails I send to this list for a while — maybe instead of 5 per week (on average) down to 2 or 3 per week.

Mayhaps even less.

Again, I am not 100% sure yet.

And will be playing it by ear.

Question is… WHY would I do this?

Have I changed my mind on the wisdom of doing daily emails? Have I seen a drop in sales? A rise in spam complaints? Something else altogether?

No, nothing like that.

In fact, my spam complaints are at nearly 0.

Sales have always gone up with daily emails.

And, I am MORE convinced of the need to do them daily than ever before (especially as the economy gets worse and all your customers are seeing is junk from goo-roos who know how to promote but couldn’t sell their way out of a paper bag).

So why cut back?

Because I’m invading a new niche.

And, right now at least, it’s taking a LOT of my time.

I’m not going to reveal which niche, or what I’m doing (there are way too many loser copycats on my list, as there are on any list full of Internet marketers). But I am using some extremely powerful business-building methods I learned while interviewing people for the bonuses you get when you join The Crypto Marketing Newsletter that I could KICK myself for not doing earlier.

Anyway, so that’s that.

Again, I have not decided to cut back for sure yet.

Mayhaps I will… mayhaps I won’t.

But if you don’t hear from me as often, that’s why.

Ben Settle

Last week I did a long affiliate campaign.

And the result was over 26% conversion (clickthrus to sales).

Not too shabby, is it?

Sure, it could always have been better and nothing is perfect. But I dare say it’s safe for us to declare the venture a raging success. And today I thought it’d be fun to break down some of the reasons WHY it did so well, especially for anyone who does affiliate marketing.

So without further ado…

Se7en reasons why this campaign kicked gluteus assimus:

1. Can’t-refuse offer (i.e. discounted price)

2. Extremely high quality product

3. Product has a great story behind it (a personal story from me actually USING it, not just blindly tossing an offer out there)

4. Product has mucho built-in credibility

5. Great bonuses (one of which is totally unique)

6. Firm offer deadline

7. Finally… I spent a whole WEEK of emails promoting it — and not just a one shot, “throw it against the wall and see if it sticks” affiliate email

This is very important.

Each email built on the momentum of the previous one.

And each was more than just a standard “pitch.”

Anyway, email is sort of my bread & butter skill, and what I consider to be the single most potent online skill anyone can learn (if you have an email list, of course).

To see the email marketing system I use, go to:

No, it’s not “cheap.”

And yes, it’s true there is no money back guarantee.

Frankly, 90% of my list does not now (and never will) qualify for my email system, so I don’t even try to sugar coat it for them.

Why don’t they qualify?

Because my system is for “doers”, not “viewers.”

I have nothing against viewers (people who only VIEW info and never use it), because I understand most people are not really entrepreneurs. I guesstimate only about 3% of people online are truly entrepreneurs — the rest are employee-minded, and it shows in their purchasing habits and lack of application of products, as well as their verbiage describing products as being “expenses” instead of “investments.”

Nothing wrong with viewers, of course.

And they are NOT “bad” people by any means.

But “doers” (i.e. entrepreneurs), are the opposite.

Doers **apply & succeed**… while the viewers **cry & concede**.

Harsh?

Maybe so, but it’s true.

But here’s what some “Doers” say about my email system:

Hey Ben,

I’m a fulltime copywriter who manages several lists for clients. I write on average 6 emails a day for some pretty huge, and well established info-marketers. I’m less than a quarter way through your course and I gotta say it’s blown me a way. Your first chapter on subject lines alone was worth multiple times the investment.

– Francis Ablola
Ablola.com

I’m already testing a couple things he recommends and they’re already (just within the past 3 days) starting to bring in a lot more sales. I think it might even DOUBLE the sales I’ve been getting from e-mail marketing.

-Doberman Dan Gallapoo
DobermanDan.com

All I can say is “WOW.” As soon as it hit my doorstep I had to drive to Charlotte, NC to get my hair done and listened to the 6 core CD’s in the system and was blown away. I got so many ideas that I was sitting in my car sending recording voice memos into my iPhone so I wouldn’t lose all the great ideas I was getting from the CDs. This is definitely one of the best courses I’ve ever bought on marketing. Thanks a lot Ben, keep up the great work!

-Marquetta Breslin
BraidsByBreslin.com

Hi Ben,

This email course is incredibly valuable.

I can’t think of another info product I’ve purchased in the last 3 years which comes close. I’ve listened to the cd’s twice and read the transcript once. Each time I get something new… My sales have never been higher, and I’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback from members as well.

Thanks Ben – this is fun, and profitable!

– Travis Giggy

Hey Ben, your “Street Smart Email System” is, by far, the best program I have read on how to write emails that get opened and read. The chapter on subject lines alone is worth a small fortune to anyone serious about email marketing. Two thumbs up from me.

– John Anghelache
Copywriter whose clients have included
Gary Halbert, Michel Fortin, Yanik Silver,
Joe Vitale, David Garfinkel and Peter Stone
JohnAngelCopywriting.com

You have really over delivered on this. I am getting a HUGE value from the program and can easily say it fits into the top 3 programs I’ve ever purchased. It is amazing. My writing has improved 200 fold and I can’t wait to see what happens with my conversions. Even more exciting is your system keeps me in front of the customer with ease and not feeling like I am pushing products all day long.

-Jason Froehlich
RenegadeFitnessResults.com

The bonus audio with you and Senoff ALONE is worth more than the cost of the course many times over. In my opinion anyone with a tiny list can take the information on that session and simply do what you talk about and pay for the entire cost of your course a few times over. If they have anything more than a small list they could totally kick butt with it.

– Michael J. Dolpies
CyberspaceToYourplace.com

Notice how the above are DOERS?

They are not just saying “oh it was great!”… they are saying, “I USED it and XYZ happened…”

Those are doers.

They are not viewers.

And the difference between the two is simply…

Results.

Anyway, if you’re a doer who is interested in learning my email system… and if you have the funds to afford it (do NOT put yourself in financial jeopardy to buy it — if you can’t afford it, you don’t need it), then here are the details:

Again, it’s not cheap.

There’s no money-back guarantee.

And most will never qualify for it.

But if you got the right stuff, then it can change your life.

Ben Settle

Everyone’s doing year-end predictions.

So I think I’ll take a stab at it today, too.

Of course, the standard disclaimers apply: I’m NOT a prophet, a fortune-teller or even Miss Cleo — but I have zero doubt all three of the following things will happen…

Prediction #1:

Credibility will be KING in 2011.

“No duh”, right?

Still, judging by the lack of ads with ANY credibility elements whatsoever… just taking the time to put SOMETHING credible in your ads should make you stand out like a fart in study hall.

Prediction #2:

The economy will get 10 times WORSE.

It is NOT going to be pretty.

In fact, bad as it is now, imagine it 10 times worse. Personally, I don’t see any way around it. And even if I’m wrong, it never hurts to imagine the worst case scenario and plan for it, right?

And finally…

Prediction #3:

I predict many of the people reading this email wanting to get better at writing ads and sell more products will NOT order the $20 Eugene Schwartz copywriting seminar sale (that ends tomorrow at noon).

Why?

Maybe they’re suspicious?

Suspicious it can’t POSSIBLY be as awesome as I say it is?

That there’s nothing “unique” inside?

Or it’s just another empty goo-roo product?

Hey, can’t blame them.

But check out this email I got from customer Jeff Mitchell:

“I rarely ever thank someone for promoting something to me… but this was hands down one of the biggest steals that i have seen in the industry for a long time. The value of this $20 product is potentially millions. Thank you for sharing it.”

Not too shabby a testimonial, is it?

Whatever the case, this sale ends tomorrow.

After that, it goes from $20 back to $297.

Here’s where to get it:

Yes, this IS my affiliate link.

And when you order through it, you get two more goodies:

1. A 527 ad swipe file (which includes Gene Schwartz ads)

2. “The Sales Letter Jam Session” (which teaches you the nuts and bolts of how to build an ad from beginning to end)

There’s no time for dilly-dally, though.

This offer ends tomorrow at noon.

Ben Settle

P.S. Here’s the link again:

Behold…

My all-time favorite Eugene Schwartz headline:

“Should Any Man Be Given This Much Sexual Power Over Women?”

This baby was on the outer envelope.

And it pulled MUCHO orders, too.

Here are a few (of many) reasons why:

• Isn’t “salesy” (doesn’t make your guard go up)

• Question (it’s almost neurologically impossible to ignore a question you want to know the answer to)

• Short (easy to process)

• Curiosity provoking (I mean, c’mon…)

• Amusing (has entertainment value — but not “slap stick”)

• Has none of the usual hype & non-sense most ads talking about sex have (you can say many things about this headline, buy “hype” ain’t one of them)

How many Internet goo-roo headlines do you see like this?

The answer is zero.

That’s because most goo-roos hyping themselves up as copywriting experts wouldn’t know a good ad if it bit ’em in the prostate gland.

Anyway, I can rap about this all day long.

But the best way to write headlines like Schwartz did is to listen to HIM talk about 3 of his best-selling headlines himself in his famous Phillips Publishing speech.

This speech isn’t cheap, and normally costs $297.00.

But you can get it for just $20 (for the next few days) at:

Yes, this IS an affiliate link.

And if you buy from it, you also get a huge 527 ad swipe file (with some Gene Schwartz ads include), plus a copy of “The Sales Letter Jam Session” I did with Doberman Dan about the process of writing ads (how to build an ad from the ground up).

Hey, like him or not Gene Schwartz was THE MAN.

This speech is in my top 3 copywriting trainings.

And today you can get it for just $20:

Ben Settle

P.S. Another of his headlines that kicked bootay is:

“71-Year Old Man Has Sexual Congress 5 Times Per Day”

He talks about this one in this speech, too.

Grab it for $20 here:

Some copywriters are big on the so-called “7 deadly sins.”

In fact, many copywriting teachers and coaches will insist you work them (i.e. wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony) into your ads whenever possible.

Does that really work?

I wouldn’t know.

I can’t remember ever sitting down and thinking, “okay, now I’m going to work some wrath in… then slap in some gluttony… and top it off with some lust…”

That’s not the way I roll.

And I don’t think about it, either way.

BUT… there is one emotion I always, Always, ALWAYS work in to my ads… that I think every single person who tries to sell anything (online or offline) MUST learn about.

And that emotion is… belief.

No, it doesn’t sound as sexy as the 7 deadly sins.

But this is the one big “AH HA!” secret I learned from the late, great copywriter Eugene Schwartz that’s been responsible for more winning ads than anything else I’ve ever used. In fact, Schwartz discovered a way to arrange his paragraphs and sentences so they oozed credibility and belief, with or without testimonials or other “proof” elements, and even as he packed them with hundreds of big claims and promises.

Very cool stuff.

And very PROFITABLE, too.

You can hear all about it in his famous Phillips Publishing speech.

This 90-minute teaching helped me compete against FAR more experienced and better trained copywriters when I was just starting out.

And it (quite literally) saved my bacon!

Usually, it sells for as much as $297.00.

But for the next few days, you can grab it for just $20.

For the details go to:

Ben Settle

P.S. If you buy from my affiliate link above, you will also get a copy of “The Sales Letter Jam Session” (which shows you a simple process for writing sales letters — from “A to Z”) and a 527 ad swipe file stuffed with top-performing ads from Gary Halbert, Joe Karbo, Ben Suarez, Claude Hopkins, Eugene Schwartz, David Ogilvy, Maxwell Sackhiem and hundreds more.

It’s all just $20 if you jump on this today.

So stretch forth thy hand and grab it while you still can at:

Got this question a while back:

“Ben, I’m just not having any success selling online. I’ve tried everything, bought thousands of dollars in info products but no luck. Any advice?”

Not really.

I need more info.

But I’d bet you’re probably complicating things.

In most cases, people who say they’ve “tried everything” are simply not taking marketing and sales to the primal level that the great persuasion expert Bernard Baruch did when he said:

“FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE WANT,
AND SHOW THEM HOW TO GET IT”

Kinda like the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

George Bailey got himself in quite a pickle, didn’t he?

Old man Potter put him in a financial bind and he was facing scandal and jail and worse. The dude was so scared and miserable he didn’t know what to do.

In fact, he even considered suicide!

But remember what happened?

He got paid a visit from Clarence, his trusty guardian angel. And while Clarence may not have been the “coolest” cat in heaven, he knew how to help George out by showing him what the world would be like had he never been born.

In the end, Clarence saved George’s bacon.

And guess what?

That’s all you have to do in selling.

You just gotta be like Clarence looking around for “George Bailey’s” to help. Prospects who are desperate to end a problem your product solves.

And once you find your George Baileys, go after ’em.

Show them you understand their problem and demonstrate how your product or service is the best way to solve it.

Do that and marketing is cake.

And it’s a lot more fun, too.

Doesn’t matter if you sell online, offline or on the sidelines, either. In fact, when you get this, and I mean really “get” it, I think you’ll find selling to be a breeze.

Maybe even “routine”, in some cases.

OK, that’s it for today, my friend.

See ya in the funny papers.

Ben Settle

P.S. I feel like plugging a product.

How about…

Last week I had a semi-interesting adventure.

I was driving through town and noticed a dog running away from an elderly lady holding a leash who was chasing after her. The dog was a local shelter dog, and the lady was walking briskly after it, as it crossed the busy road, never letting her get very close.

So the Nerd Girl and I stopped and joined the pursuit.

No luck.

The dog skillfully avoided us, too.

And it was especially interesting how determined she was to keep going in the same direction (as if on a mission).

Well, guess what?

Turns out there was a rhyme to this dog’s reason:

She was going back home.

In other words, she’d just been dropped off at the shelter recently. And, when she got away, she instinctively started making her way back to her former master’s home.

Sucks when perfectly good dogs are dropped off like that.

But still, it was fascinating to watch this phenomenon.

And it got me to thinking about business.

How many customers do you have with that kind of devotion to you, your products and your brand? Who, if you had to change your website, physical location or they simply lost your contact info, would do the same thing?

How many would sniff you out?

Track you down?

And do whatever it took to find you?

Hey, let’s face it:

With that kind of market bond, you almost can’t lose!

And speaking of which…

One of the best ways to bond with your market like this in my humble (but accurate) opinion is old fashioned, “1990’s style” email.

It’s far more intimate than social media.

A lot more visible than blogging.

And, when done right, makes lots of the green stuff.

Get your email learn on at:

Ben Settle

There are lots of lies in the marketing world.

Lots of exaggerations, too.

And in some cases, even outright hoaxes.

The biggest is probably people claiming to be testing.

I’ll even give you a real life example:

For over a year and a half I worked with a big, and fast-growing info publishing business. And early on, I remember the main marketing guy bragging about testing and measuring everything. However, while things may have changed in the last couple months (I don’t roll with them anymore), do you know how many “tests” I saw in that 1.5 years?

I could count them on one hand.

In fact, the entire time I was there, I only saw ONE headline test.

This is VERY common in Internet marketing.

People claim to test, but really don’t.

And even those who do usually only test two turds against each other (based on what they see a goo-roo doing, foolishly believing that just beause someone is a great marketer they are a great copywriter, and vice versa) to see which one doesn’t stink as bad, instead of testing bold, fresh and… yes… contrarian ideas that often lead to big response.

My point?

Many people who claim to be big testers simply aren’t.

They might SAY they are.

They might THINK they are.

They may even BELIEVE they are.

But they’re not.

And if you’re studying them, you’re sabotaging yourself.

Ben Settle

P.S. If you are going to study other test results, I suggest ignoring Internet marketers and seeking out OFFLINE marketers, instead, who test with their own money on the line.

Only the BEST survive in that climate.

And just having a “rock star” persona won’t cut it.

One of my favorite offline marketers is Doberman Dan.

He worked side-by-side with Gary Halbert.

He tests promotions offline with his own money.

And he has more “real world” business experience than any of the high falutin’ Internet goo-roos who are one bad launch away from poverty.

And guess what?

He just created an info product for people who want to be “kitchen table entrepreneurs” (people who make money online or offline in just a few hours each day, whether at your desk, on the couch or even at your kitchen table).

You can grab a free lesson he’s giving away at: