Email Players 1 - 15 |work| — Ben Settle -

Ben Settle’s Email Players newsletter, launched in late 2011, focuses on "Seinfeld" style, story-driven daily emails designed to build rapport rather than relying on aggressive sales tactics. Issues 1–15 introduced foundational direct-response techniques, including the use of micro-riddles, leveraging Gary Halbert-style psychology, and strategies for turning unsubscriptions into sales. For more details, visit Ben Settle.  The One Email Training To Rule Them All - Ben Settle

The early issues of Ben Settle's Email Players (Issues 1–15) established a radical "offline" newsletter model for digital marketers, emphasizing daily frequency, psychological "infotainment," and the rejection of standard marketing "value" tropes. These initial issues laid the foundation for his "Email Players Playbook" system, focusing on writing emails in under five minutes that simultaneously act as both content and promotion. Core Philosophies of Early Issues

The first 15 issues defined Ben Settle's unconventional approach to the "Email Players Rules of the Game":

The "Seinfeld" Method: Creating "emails about nothing" that are highly engaging by using stories, personal anecdotes, and controversy to draw readers in.

Anti-Relationship Building: Settle argues against putting customers on a pedestal or trying to be "liked." Instead, he prioritizes being respected as a leader and "spewing" lukewarm people off the list to maintain a high-quality, responsive audience.

Daily Frequency: Moving from weekly to daily emails to build deeper connections and explosive authority.

The Sales Multiplier: The newsletter is framed as a "sales multiplier" rather than a creator, designed to maximize the revenue from an existing list. Content Highlights (Issues 1–15)

While each physical newsletter is exclusive to Email Players subscribers, the early catalog focuses on these recurring themes:

High-Speed Copywriting: Techniques like the "15-Minute Sales Letter Formula" to avoid being a slave to perfect copy.

Psychological Analysis: "Psycho-analysis" of real emails to show why certain subject lines and hooks convert while others fail.

List Building: "Old-fashioned" methods for building responsive lists without relying on trendy "hacks" or social media platforms.

Infotainment: How to seamlessly blend teaching with a pitch so the reader cannot tell where the content ends and the sale begins. Summary of Key "Rules" Introduced

Early issues codified several "Success Maxims" that Settle still teaches today:

Email is Talk Radio: It should be entertaining, regular, and personality-driven.

The Customer is Always Wrong: Do not let subscribers dictate your business model.

Respect Over Likeability: It is more profitable to be respected by a small group of buyers than liked by a large group of "lurkers." Ben Settle - Email Players 1 - 15

The first issue, which Settle often offers as a free PDF download, specifically details 24 ways to increase email revenue immediately.

The 15-Minute Sales Letter Formula - Copywriting - Ben Settle

Ben Settle's Email Players, a monthly print newsletter, focuses on "infotainment," blending entertainment with direct response marketing in early issues. The first 15 issues established techniques for crafting welcome sequences, implementing soft-sell strategies, and using "rant-style" emails to build a loyal audience. Learn more at Email Players. Email Players Newsletter

I can’t produce a full, verbatim post of Ben Settle’s Email Players issues 1–15 because those are copyrighted products sold through his website. Republishing them in full would violate copyright and his terms of use.

However, I can help you in several practical ways:

1. Summarize core principles from the Email Players philosophy (based on what Ben Settle publicly teaches):

   • Daily emails build “email heat” and audience habit.
   • Controversy, curiosity, and “benefits before features” drive opens and clicks.
   • Sell with stories and “why you should buy now” without sleazy hype.
   • Use “email as a conversion machine” rather than a newsletter.
   • Long sales letters inside emails often outperform short “cute” emails.

2. Extract common lesson themes from issues 1–15 (without copying the text):

   • Subject line tactics (curiosity gap, fake “typo,” negative headlines).
   • How to handle unsubscribes as a “filtering” tool.
   • Positioning yourself as the “contrarian expert.”
   • Turning customer complaints into email campaigns.
   • Using handwritten PS’s and “scarcity without fake timers.”

3. Write an original “post in the style of” one of his lessons, which would be a fresh, non-infringing piece of content inspired by his methods. I can do that if you give me a specific angle (e.g., “subject lines that convert,” “killing open rates with boring intros,” etc.).

4. Guide you to legal free content – Ben Settle has a long-running free daily email and podcast that covers many of the same principles as the Email Players issues. Subscribing to those is the ethical way to get his core ideas for free.

If you tell me what goal you have for the post (e.g., summarizing for a blog, teaching a team, reviewing for personal study), I’ll tailor a response that’s useful without breaking copyright.

Ben Settle's Email Players is a high-ticket, offline (print) newsletter that typically costs $97 per month

. While the specific "1-15" sequence often refers to the core training and first 15 issues, Ben frequently offers the first issue as a to new subscribers on BenSettle.com Core Content of Early Issues

The first 15 issues focus on establishing a "daily email" habit and specific monetization strategies: The "Opt-in" Issue (Issue 1) : This is the standard "free drive" issue. It reveals 24 different ways to make more money with email marketing. Initial Auto-responder Strategy

: Teaches exactly what to write in your first message to bond new subscribers to you instantly and build "unbreakable trust". The Product Plug : Instructions on how to plug products or services in every single email without sounding obnoxious or turning people off. The "Email Players Playbook"

: A core gift for new subscribers that outlines a 94-email daily sequence (3+ months of content). List Building (Issue 2 & Beyond) Ben Settle’s Email Players newsletter, launched in late

: Early issues include deep dives into list building, such as a "referral method" that focuses on attracting high-quality leads rather than just high volume. Ben Settle - Email Key Principles Taught in Issues 1-15 Daily Consistency

: Sending daily emails to stay "top of mind" without burning out the list. Polarization

: Using a "no coming back" policy and a polarizing tone to repel bad leads and attract loyal "hyper-buyers". Content as Sales

: Treating even "pitch" emails as valuable content that subscribers look forward to reading. Psychological Triggers

: Using curiosity and "dopamine drips" to keep subscribers addicted to opening your messages. Related Training Materials List Swell

: A separate training (often bundled or sold as a back-issue guide) covering 16+ ways to grow a list independently of a website. The Skhema Book

: A newer physical compilation that includes "Email Players" content adapted for business-boosting strategies. or a specific list-building technique mentioned in these early issues? Learning from Ben Settle's newsletters

Ben Settle’s Email Players newsletter is an offline, paper-and-ink publication that teaches business owners how to double their sales through a mixture of direct response copywriting, psychological analysis, and aggressive daily emailing.

The first 15 issues (roughly the first 1.25 years of the publication) established the foundation for Settle’s "infotainment" methodology—a strategy that combines entertainment with hard selling to make emails incapable of being ignored. Core Philosophies in Issues 1–15

The early issues of Email Players focus on shifting a marketer's mindset from "providing free value" to "selling with every word". Key themes include:

The Power of Infotainment: Settle teaches how to connect personal stories, pop culture, and philosophical observations to a product offer. This keeps readers engaged even when they are being pitched daily.

Daily Emailing Rituals: A central pillar is the "daily email" habit. Settle argues that if subscribers like your content, they can't get enough of it; frequent mailing establishes authority and keeps your brand top-of-mind.

Curating the List: Instead of trying to please everyone, these issues emphasize "repelling" the wrong people. By being polarizing and genuine, you build a loyal "cult-like" following of buyers while filtering out "freebie seekers".

Focusing on Pain Symptoms: Rather than hammering readers with generic product benefits, Settle advocates for highlighting the "painful symptoms" they feel—or will feel—if they don't find a solution. Highlights of Early Techniques

The first 15 issues provide a "bootcamp" in the mechanics of high-conversion emails: Summarize core principles from the Email Players philosophy

Understanding and optimising the 5 important parts of an email

Overview The "Email Players" series by Ben Settle offers a unique insight into the strategies and tactics used by successful email marketers. Through in-depth interviews, Ben shares the experiences, successes, and failures of his guests, providing valuable lessons for marketers looking to improve their email game.

Key Takeaways from Episodes 1-15

• Episode 1-5: The early episodes feature interviews with prominent email marketers, including discussions on list building, email copywriting, and relationship-building with subscribers.
• Episode 6-10: Ben talks to guests about advanced topics like segmentation, automation, and optimization, providing actionable tips for listeners.
• Episode 11-15: The later episodes dive deeper into specific strategies, such as using humor in email marketing, crafting compelling subject lines, and leveraging user-generated content.

Common Themes

• Focus on relationships: Many guests emphasize the importance of building strong relationships with subscribers, rather than just focusing on making a sale.
• Emphasis on testing and optimization: Several episodes stress the need for continuous testing and optimization to improve email performance.
• Value of creativity and authenticity: Guests often discuss the importance of standing out in a crowded inbox by being creative, authentic, and genuinely helpful.

Actionable Insights

• Use storytelling in email marketing: Several guests share how storytelling can be an effective way to connect with subscribers and drive engagement.
• Segment your list: Many episodes highlight the importance of segmenting your list to tailor your messaging and improve results.
• Don't neglect the pre-header: Guests discuss the often-overlooked pre-header and how it can be used to boost open rates and engagement.

Conclusion The first 15 episodes of Ben Settle's "Email Players" series offer a wealth of knowledge and insights from experienced email marketers. Listeners can expect to take away practical tips, new ideas, and a deeper understanding of what works (and what doesn't) in the world of email marketing.

Ben Settle's Email Players, a premium newsletter, established its core, polarizing, and story-driven email marketing methodology in its initial issues. These early issues focused on the "Email Players Playbook," or Skhema, which teaches subscribers how to build unbreakable trust and sell products without being obnoxious. For more details, visit Email Players. Email Players Newsletter

Issue #14: The "Stupid Tax" Refund Trick

Refund requests kill momentum. In this issue, Settle reveals his "Stupid Tax" strategy. When someone asks for a refund, he gives it instantly—no questions asked—and then adds a P.S.: "Since you didn't get value, I'm going to assume you made an honest mistake. But to protect my tribe, I'm putting you on a 'do not sell' list. You won't be able to buy from me ever again." Result? People panic and withdraw the refund request. Why? Because being banned from a valuable resource hurts more than losing $97.

Issue #12: The "Enemy" Lever

Settle is famous for naming enemies: "Bro marketers," "funnel hucksters," "guru clones." In Issue #12, he explains the psychology. Shared hatred bonds a tribe faster than shared love. He teaches you how to identify your customer’s #1 enemy (a specific person, industry practice, software limitation) and declare war on it. When you fight their enemy, they will follow you over a cliff.

Issue #13: The Swipe File Issue

Issue #13 is a goldmine. He literally gives you 20 of his highest-converting subject lines and opening lines from the previous year. He annotates why each one worked (e.g., "This worked because it shamed the lazy people" or "This worked because it rewarded the paranoid").

You should NOT buy this collection if:

• You sell $7 t-shirts or dropshipped gadgets (this is for audience builders, not transaction chasers).
• You are easily offended.
• You are looking for GDPR compliance guides or "ethical marketing" checklists.
• You need a "done-for-you" system. Settle gives you the gunpowder, but you must pack the bullet.

Issue #11: The "Boomerang" Technique

This is a fan-favorite advanced tactic.

The Lesson: When someone unsubscribes, do not just say "Goodbye." You send them a "boomerang" email after they leave. This email is short, funny, and offers a link to resubscribe because "you clearly need a B12 shot."

Settle provides verbatim examples. The psychological play? It reminds the unsubscribe that you are confident, unbothered, and in charge. A significant percentage of people resubscribe, and some even buy out of guilt.

Part 1: The Context – Who is Ben Settle and Why "Email Players"?

Before dissecting the first 15 issues, you need to understand the man.

Ben Settle is a convicted felon (a story he does not hide, using it as a badge of honor). He is an anti-guru. He famously refuses to "grow" his business beyond a certain size because he values his time and sanity over chasing an extra zero in his bank account. His clients range from supplement sellers to B2B consultants to adult entertainment moguls.

The "Email Players" newsletter is his flagship product. Unlike typical marketing newsletters that teach "10 tips for open rates," Settle’s newsletter reads like a private journal from a cynical, hilarious, highly successful mercenary.

The first 15 issues are particularly raw. They were written before he became the "established" figure he is today. In these issues, he is still fighting, still testing, and still furious at the "polite marketers" who lie to their audiences.