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

“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

Here’s something kinda interesting.

One of the things I talk about in the “Email Player’s Cookbook” (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

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.

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 Cookbook” — 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

“What’s this case AGAINST affiliate marketing nonsense?”

Hey, like it or lump it, affiliate marketing can be extremely profitable, but in most cases it PALES in comparison to selling your own products.

Some reasons why include:

1. List building

You get a short term sale/commission, but the publisher gets all the long term benefits of having another buyer (not just a lead) on their list.

Goodie for the publisher.

Not so goodie for you…

2. Less money

You can make a 50% (or whatever) commission selling someone else’s product, or 100% commission selling your own. Yes, I know some publishers pay 100% commissions, but see reason #1 again.

3. Cookies

Think about this:

Someone gets your email on their smart phone or iPad and opts in. Unless they buy from that same device (and correct me if I’m wrong…) you won’t get the credit for the sale.

This happens a lot.

People opt in with phone/tablet, buy on computer.

Phooey.

4. No guarantee of getting paid

Publishers are notorious for not paying. Of course, this is is not a problem with clickbank, etc. But something to consider…

5. Sales tax nexus

I’m no tax guru.

But all the nexus laws here in the US of Bureaucrats is making it less attractive for publishers to let affiliates sell their products at all. At this rate, we may even see affiliate marketing go the way of neon text and tracking “hits” as a measure of online success.

So might as well sell your own stuff, too.

Anyway, let’s face it.

You and I both know hardcore affiliate marketers reading this email are rolling their eyes and think I’m nutzo.

But it’s all about good, better, best.

With selling affiliate offers being good.

And your own offers being best.

So at the very LEAST sharpen your email fangs to a gleaming sharp edge. In the next “Email Players” issue (that goes to the printer tomorrow) I give some tips on emails and affiliate marketing.

Including plenty of email examples.

More:

It also talks about a special kind of email I’ve been testing to score lots of sales and a little about writing solo email ads for list building.

She goes to the printer tomorrow.

Subscribe in time here:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

Even from supposedly “seasoned” marketers who claim to be making millions of smackeroos (and they gots the fake photoshopped bank statement images to prove it!).

And yet, it’s guaranteed to destroy your sales.

What mistake doth I speak of?

Doing “one shot” emails.

(i.e. only mailing an offer once, then moving on…)

Lemme ‘splain why:

Last year I wrote some emails to sell a tele-seminar training Jason Leister was doing. I don’t do a lot of JV’s — but Jason’s info is top notch, I’ve used it myself and I know first hand how effective his info is for getting clients.

So I happily mailed for it.

But, it wasn’t a one shot email.

It was an entire WEEK of emails.

Each of which built on the momentum of the others.

The result?

According to Jason, we got a juicy 8% conversion, plus 5.8% on the back end (selling coaching) which added even more commissions to my hot little pocket.

Not too shabby.

Especially considering I don’t market to freelancers.

BUT… realize this:

If I’d only pumped out ONE email (like many chumps doing affiliate marketing) and stopped, my response would have been FAR less. And my backend profits would have been probably zero to none.

What’s the moral of the story?

Mail hard.

Mail often.

And go for the gold, baby cakes.

Also, make sure you get your bootay on the “Email Players” subscriber list lickety split. The next issue goes to the printer Wednesday, and it not only shows you more about using email to kick gluteus assimus with affiliate marketing, but I also hand you the Jason Leister email sequence above for you to study, model and adapt for your own offers.

It just don’t get much easier than that.

“Email Players” subscribers are fortunate indeed.

To subscribe in time, go to:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

P.S. One subscriber sent me a testimonial over the weekend about how he mailed a list of 300 names and sold enough of his membership site subscriptions to be worth over £100k (he’s from across the pond) a year.

Try getting those numbers riding the goo-roo carousel.

Here’s where to subscribe:

www.EmailPlayers.com

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 Cookbook” (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

And whenever they ask my advice about how to use email to win at affiliate marketing, here’s what I tell ‘em to do:

You gotta go “Indiana Jones” on the competition.

Ever see the movie “Raiders Of The Lost Ark”?

Remember that scene where Indie is running through the crowd with whip in hand… and that swordsman pops up doing a bunch of fancy moves challenging Indie to a duel (whip vs sword)?

But instead…

Indie simply pulls out his gun and shoots the guy dead?

No “duel” necessary?

That’s how you do affiliate marketing.

In other words, don’t try to out-muscle your competition if they have more “celebrity” juice, better marketplace positioning, better ads, etc.

Don’t bring a whip to a sword duel.

Bring a GUN, baby.

And that gun is… email.

You have to realize with email, if you do it right (and almost nobody does it right), you have no competition. At least, not to the people on your list. All the goo-roos and other big shot affiliates may have bigger swords and fancier moves.

But with email you have a gun.

Use it and you’ll win without breaking a sweat.

And that’s where “Email Players” comes in.

Specifically, the next issue.

I explain EXACTLY how to win with email as an affiliate.

And also hand you two email sequences I wrote last year that kicked gluteus bootyus selling products as an affiliate (shocking the product owners in both cases with the high conversion rates).

But time is short.

This issue goes to the printer next week.

No time for dilly-dally.

If you want in, go here today:

www.EmailPlayers.com

Ben Settle

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