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Why nobody is successful anymore - Ben Settle
I want to talk about something that’s been on my mind lately. And, in fact, I back-and-forthed with my pal Doberman Dan over the Marco Polo app for some 3 hours about it yesterday, as it’s such a fascinating topic. Anyway, this month's Dan Kennedy newsletter (the one he does with Pete the Printer... do
Why video interviews are the devil - Ben Settle
Over the last few years I’ve gotten some “flack” from the troll sewing circle crowd about why I rarely ever appear on video or prefer not to be on video unless absolutely necessary. For example: One particularly self-loathing troll recently said it’s because I’m “scared” to be on video. He used my Client-less Copywriter program
The Lord says He can get Gen X out of this mess, but He’s pretty sure Gen Z is fooked - Ben Settle
A Twitter anon declares: “Gen X hate is finally happening and I'm here for it. Everything you hate about Millennials and Zoomers? It all came from Gen X — Millennials grew up with media made by Xers, and Zoomers were raised by Gen X. This reckoning is long overdue.” Not to burst the Zoomer's bubble,
I write because of dead people - Ben Settle
This may seem a tad morbid. But one tip I can trace a whole lot more profitable content written, created, sold in my business to is simply reading lots and lots and lots (using Audible 2-3x speed on long walks and in the shower, while shaving, driving, whatever it is) biographies from people who accomplished
A curse on offering guarantees - Ben Settle
An Email Players subscriber asks about guarantees: “What is your opinion on guarantees? Also, instead of a guarantee, what can I do to provide that level of confidence besides testimonials? Thanks for all you do Ben! Feel free to use this information and your answer if you think it will help someone else.” Don’t mind if
How chasing marketing metrics lead to suicides, despair, and bankruptcy - Ben Settle
Let me tell you a story every marketer should hear and probably memorize. Recently I saw a post about the comicbook Uncanny X-Men #211 from 1986. This single comicbook issue was, in some ways, responsible for the downfall of a publishing empire, sending Marvel Comics into bankruptcy and not being given more life until the
Advice to people plagued with self doubt and overthinking - Ben Settle
An Email Players subscriber (who I don’t know wants me naming him) asks: “...I’ve been dealing with a lot of self-doubt and overthinking. I know it’s not your topic and you don't have this problem, but maybe you could suggest something to read on this—or offer some quick advice? (Besides your Villains books, which are
The fall and rise of Ancient Email - Ben Settle
An Email Players subscriber (who I am not sure wants me to name him) asks: Question for your "old days" when you were starting to sell EP or even before then with CM: I'm trying to compare myself to where you were all the way back then if that helps. Anyway, what percentage of your first time
The Deadline Nazi - Ben Settle
When you are in direct marketing long enough, you eventually get haters. Of course, a lot of what haters say are lies and projection. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say they weren’t right about me sometimes, too. Like, for example, the people hating on me for my deadline rules. Yes, dear reader, I
How to consume info products 10+ times without going insane from boredom - Ben Settle
In which the question is asked: Do you have any tricks to increase your attention going through [the course you are learning from] the third, fourth, fifth time etc. Or do you just let it wash over and see what jumps out? I find it incredibly difficult to focus after the first run because my
Why Michael Bay is the greatest copywriter who ever lived - Ben Settle
Or, at least, an argument certainly can be made: “There are tons of people who hate me. They hate my movies and whatnot. But you know, hey, my films have made a lot of money around the world. 2-something billion dollars, that’s a lot of tickets. They said that I wrecked cinema. They said that
How to use images in emails without triggering spam filters - Ben Settle
A couple months ago I was grilled by Brian Kurtz in his Titans Xcelerator group, along with my biz partner at BerserkerMail Troy Broussard, about… Pictures/graphics/images in emails. Brian was keen to hear why we ban them from our BerserkerMail platform. And there are many reasons besides just potential inbox deliverability problems. For example: It
Some people just have “cheap” in their DNA - Ben Settle
A few years ago, my accountant wrote this ditty to his clients: If you use the Postal Service to mail your tax returns, spend the extra money for certified mail. For $3.75 you can purchase certified mail. Yes, you will have to stand in a line (or you can use the automated machines in many
What to write if you have nothing interesting or valuable to say - Ben Settle
Behold this question about having enough ideas to write daily (7x week) emails: “oh I have so much RESISTANCE to this. I already feel I email my list a lot (3x/ week usually). I know you must get this a lot, but what do you send on the days you don't feel like you have
let monsters be monsters in your writing - Ben Settle
When I wrote my 6th novel in the Enoch Wars series (Hell’s Frankenstein) I deliberately made it more exaggeratedly violent, gruesome, gross, disgusting, disturbing, and all-around horrifying. The reason: I knew it would be the shortest of the books. And so I wanted it to be the most memorable — but in a creepy &
The case for being a self-aggrandizing social media prick - Ben Settle
Earlier today in the BerserkerMail Facebook group I was asked the money question for list building: “does anyone have a recommendation for an article publishing platform?” My response: I am always on the lookout myself for such sites but I do not think they really exist. The old ones used to rely on SEO and
The blog “glitch” that’s secretly been growing my list since 2012 - Ben Settle
A new subscriber to my list thinks he found a glitch: “when you click on the link on your [blog] labeled ‘emailplayers . com’, instead of going to emailplayers . com, it redirects back to your blog with the CTA being to sign up for the newsletter and app” Once every few years or so,
Email secret of a Pharaoh who lived 3600 years ago - Ben Settle
Below is my latest Oregon Eagle article titled: “Ancient Egyptian Marketing Secret Overruns Local Businesses With New Customers” Here goes... Behold a marketing secret from 1600 B.C.: Many years ago, the late advertising genius Bruce Barton (the second “B” in today’s billion dollar BBDO ad agency) recorded a radio broadcast about the Biblical patriarch Joseph
TikTok brain is ruining these guys - Ben Settle
Recently I wrote an email listing Christmastime movies for marketers who like money. Which then got this reply: “Does any of these movies actually help? Or is it just content to produce over xmas time?” Magnificent reply guy valor. Especially since the exact helpful parts to watch/look for in each and every movie I listed were
Why short one line email paragraphs are a plague upon the earth - Ben Settle
A reader asks: Hi, Ben! I was wondering, why do you use a longer line length than pretty much every other copywriter whose email lists I've subscribed? I'm a beginner copywriter with only a couple of months of experience, but I think it was Joe Sugarman who said that a longer line length makes the
The Profit Settle’s 2025 & beyond predictions - Ben Settle
Here goes.. Besides continuing credit deflation I talked about at end of 2023 which I think will only get worse and worse, I have looked into my righteous fake crystal ball and see... a series of deafening POP! sounds. Those sounds being from the following bubbles exploding. I don’t think they’ll all pop in 2025.
Ben-dersnatch tips for copywriters wanting to write fiction - Ben Settle
An Email Players subscriber (not sure he wants me naming him) asks about writing fiction: I've been listening to Bandersnatch since you recommended it a few days ago, too... so good, wish I'd followed your recommendation to read it earlier... My question: You've got me thinking about writing a novel. And I wanted to ask
elBenbo goes to war with Nigeria? - Ben Settle
My new fan here seems to think so: Ben don’t be rude and disrespectful to Nigerians . How dare you direct this message to Nigerians like we have to do something extraordinary to get paid for our service . Moreover you had the guts to use our situation to sell your dirty program . You
Christmastime movies for marketers who like money - Ben Settle
Behold... * Trading Places — especially the scene where Mortimer and Randolph Duke are explaining to Eddy Murphy’s character Billy Ray Valentine how their commodities brokerage firm operates, followed by his reply on what business they are actually in. * It’s A Wonderful Life — the very beginning when Joseph is giving Clarence his assignment
Canadian neuters his own success - Ben Settle
Last month I lost a customer because, as he said: “I love the advice and insight, but, as a Canadian, I can't take the politics.” On the one hand, I get and understand the impulse, and certainly don't blame him for high tailing it out of here. I am not, never have been, and never
The heavyweight champion of the world of success hacks - Ben Settle
About 14 years ago during the week between Christmas and New Years, I decided I’d had enough of client work. I was doing a lot of copywriting for others at the time. But I grew tired of it and wanted to be my own client. So I sat down during that week and hammered out
Not for all the fees in China - Ben Settle
A cautionary tale for freelancers: One of my Email Players subscribers (who asked I not name him — although if you know him, I suspect you will see him talking about this soon… if he hasn’t already) wrote some email sequences for a Chinese eCommerce brand purely on commission. He did a great job, increased
Strange & Unusual 2024 reading list - Ben Settle
Every December, I list off the books I read that year to Email Players subscribers. Excluding the books I read and didn't think we're good or books I re-read, of course. Usually I put this list in that year's December issue. But this year, I am posting the list publicly. Here goes: * The Circadian
Best app I ever used for productivity and creativity - Ben Settle
Came a question: ... you reference so many different ideas, movies, marketers, items from history and current events – how do you keep track of all your ideas? Do you have notebooks, notecards, post-its or some physical way of noting things that interest you or that you might use later? Or a digital system? Or