This is the only issue often available as a free PDF sample to new leads. Core Lesson
: Understanding the specific pains and concerns of the target market is essential for creating content people actually want to read. Key Lessons from Early Issues (1–15)
: Special pricing on other "high-priced" products like his List Swell book or Elbenbo Press resources.
Before diving into individual strategies, any new student of Ben Settle must understand the paradigm shift he introduces. Most traditional corporate email marketing relies on a heavy-handed separation between "content" and "pitch" (often following the outdated rule of giving away 80% free content and 20% selling). Settle aggressively flipped this script: “Email Players” Is A Go - Ben Settle ben settle email players 1 15 new
Ben doesn’t repeat himself. If you’ve read his older Email Players issues, you’ll still find gold here. If you’re new, this is the perfect on-ramp.
Settle frequently discusses using "polarization" as a tool. Issue 115 dives into how to alienate the wrong prospects safely, ensuring that the people who remain on your list are fiercely loyal and far more likely to buy your high-ticket offers. 3. Overcoming Autoresponder Fatigue
New data suggests B2B "players" check email before lunch. Law #10 abandons the classic 8 AM send time. This is the only issue often available as
You get loyalty.
: Unlike standard digital courses, these are designed as "paper and ink" newsletters delivered to your door to prevent digital distraction. Direct-Response Breakdown
This likely references the very first issues of the newsletter. For any collector or serious student of a subject, the foundational material is often the most valuable. Acquiring issues 1 through 15 of "Email Players" would be like getting a masterclass from the very beginning, when Settle was first developing and documenting the core principles of his unconventional system. Given that the newsletter has been running for many years—with issues published well into the 100s (e.g., Issue 142, Issue 18)—the early issues from the first year or so are rare gems. Before diving into individual strategies, any new student
Lists eventually get tired of the same voice. This issue breaks down tactical shifts in tone and formatting to shock a stagnant list back to life, prompting clicks from subscribers who haven’t bought anything in years. The Anatomy of a Ben Settle Style Email
Strategic Comparison: Ben Settle vs. Traditional Email Marketing Marketing Element Traditional Email Marketing Ben Settle "Email Players" System 1–2 times per week Daily (or multiple times per day) Content Type Heavy "how-to" value, tips, and long guides Infotainment, opinionated commentary, stories Monetization Content emails mixed with occasional launch sequences Pitching a product or service inside every single email Formatting HTML templates, images, logos, banners Raw, unformatted plain text List Metric Goal Mass volume, low unsubscribes Hyper-responsive buyers, high engagement Implementing the Lessons of Issues 1–15 Today
New subscribers traditionally receive a physical field manual alongside their first month's issue. Across the first 15 issues, Settle expands on this playbook, detailing the "Street Smart Email" system used to drive millions in sales across highly competitive niches. 3. Aggressive List Hygiene & "Repelling" Tactics
: Paradoxical strategies to keep engagement high while filtered out "whiners" or those who aren't aggressive buyers. Notable Features Physical Format : Unlike most marketing courses, this is a printed newsletter mailed to subscribers' homes. The Playbook : New subscribers typically receive The Email Players Playbook
: This is often provided as a digital PDF for new subscribers and contains 24 different ways