Ben Settle - Email Players 1 - 15 ❲2026❳

The Email Players newsletter, created by copywriter Ben Settle, is a premium, offline monthly publication (print-only) that focuses on high-level email marketing, business strategy, and "infotainment" storytelling. The early issues (1–15) established the foundational principles that Ben Settle is now famous for, moving away from traditional "value-heavy" teaching to a personality-driven, daily mailing approach. The Story of Email Players 1–15

Ben Settle’s journey to creating the newsletter began 20 years ago when he was a broke, nearly bankrupt copywriter struggling with "analysis paralysis". He initially worked for clients but hated authority, leading him to seek a business model where he could be his own client.

Inspired by Matt Furey’s lifestyle—writing one daily email and then being done for the day—Settle spent years refining a system he calls "infotainment". This method treats email like talk radio: entertaining, personal, and consistently leading to a call to action.

The first 15 issues of Email Players (launched around 2011) codified these "dark arts" of email, focusing on:

The "Red Pill" Moment: Settle's shift from struggling in MLM and traditional advertising to discovering direct response marketing through the works of legends like Dan Kennedy and Gary Halbert.

Breaking Guru Rules: The issues challenged the idea of providing constant "value" in exchange for sales, instead teaching how to bond with subscribers through personal narratives that make them look forward to every email.

The "Copy Slacker" Philosophy: Issues 1–15 laid out how to build a business that earns high revenue from a small, highly engaged list rather than chasing mass-market numbers. Key Themes & Features

Offline Exclusive: The newsletter is $97 per month and delivered only as a physical paper publication, making the early issues rare and highly sought after by collectors of marketing "swipes".

Permanent Blacklisting: A unique part of the Email Players "story" is the strict policy: if a subscriber cancels, they are permanently blacklisted from ever subscribing again. Ben Settle - Email Players 1 - 15

Actionable Tactics: Early issues cover specific techniques like how to plug products in every email without being annoying (Issue 1, page 58) and exactly what to write in a first auto-responder message to build immediate trust.

For more details or to see Ben's current daily tips, you can visit the official Email Players website or Ben Settle's blog.

. This draft is designed to capture his characteristic edgy, direct-response style while highlighting the core value of those foundational issues.

The "Lost" Foundation: Lessons from Email Players Issues 1–15

Most marketers are obsessed with the "new"—the latest AI bot, the newest algorithm hack, or whatever "secret" is trending on Twitter this week. But if you look at the first 15 issues of Ben Settle’s Email Players newsletter

, you’ll see why the "old school" direct response fundamentals still crush everything else.

These early issues aren't just archives; they are the "Red Pill" for anyone tired of low open rates and "polite" marketing that doesn't sell. What’s inside the "Foundational 15"? The first 15 issues of Email Players

established the framework Ben Settle uses to dominate lists. Here are the core pillars covered in that initial run: The "Daily Email" Discipline The Email Players newsletter, created by copywriter Ben

: Why sending an email every single day is the ultimate way to build iron-clad authority and keep your subscribers "addicted" to your content. Micro-Riddles & Open Loops

: Using psychological "micro-riddles" (a tactic often credited to the late Gary Halbert) to make your emails more engaging than a Netflix thriller. The "Anti-Pitch" Sale

: How to write emails that look like pure content or storytelling but are actually "stealth" sales letters that sell without being "salesy". Turning Unsubscribes into Profit

: A counter-intuitive approach to list hygiene where losing the "wimps" actually increases your overall sales and lead quality. Subject Line Mastery

: Moving away from "clickbait" and toward subject lines that get opened because they promise an entertaining story or a punchy benefit. The Email Player’s Playbook

: Early subscribers received this physical guide, which details the exact auto-responder sequences used to "warm up" new leads into high-ticket buyers. Why these early issues matter today:

While the digital landscape changes, human psychology doesn't. Issues 1–15 focus on the "Dark Arts" of email—the stuff that works because it ignores the "rules" taught by corporate marketing gurus. It’s about being entertaining, edgy, and aggressive enough to actually make the sale. Key Takeaway

: If you want to move away from being a "bum rattling a paper cup" for attention and start running your business like a pro, these foundational principles are where it starts. adjust the tone to be more professional, or should I add a specific call-to-action for a product or service you're promoting? How To Write Emails In 4-5 Minutes - Ben Settle 29 May 2012 — Part 5: How to Apply Issues 1-15 Today

How To Write Emails In 4-5 Minutes * 94 email sequence (3+ months of DAILY emails) * The auto-responder sequence was built using ( Ben Settle - Email Marketing The SettleHead storytelling crib sheet - Ben Settle 11 Apr 2024 —

Part 5: How to Apply Issues 1-15 Today (Action Plan)

You cannot just read these issues. You must become the email player. Here is a 3-step action plan based on the first 15 issues:

Step 1: The "Purge" (Issue #2 & #5) Go to your email list. Write an email titled: "You probably want to unsubscribe." In the email, insult a common belief your competitors hold. Be specific. Watch your unsubscribes spike. Watch your sales follow.

Step 2: Kill the Autoresponder (Issue #1 & #10) Stop relying on automated "Welcome sequences." Turn them off. Instead, commit to 30 days of daily manual emails. Use current events, grudges, and customer wins as your content.

Step 3: The "No" List (Issue #5) Write down 10 things you will no longer do for clients/customers. Post it publicly. Then, double your prices.

How to adapt lessons for modern, ethical use

  1. Keep the daily-writing habit, but aim for value-first: alternate hard offers with genuinely helpful content.
  2. Find a distinctive voice, but avoid personal attacks or misinformation. Be bold, not abusive.
  3. Use short emails with a single, measurable CTA—track conversions and iterate.
  4. Test frequency: start with 3–5x/week if your audience is unproven, increase if engagement remains high.
  5. Respect unsubscribe signals; treat list health as a KPI.
  6. Use scarcity truthfully—only when limits are real.

Part 4: Criticisms & Reality Check

No review of Email Players 1-15 is honest without criticism.

  1. It is abrasive. If you are a luxury brand selling $10,000 watches to quiet retirees, Settle’s tone will ruin your business.
  2. It is not for beginners. He assumes you have a product, a website, and a basic autoresponder. He doesn't teach "how to install WordPress."
  3. The "refund" policy. He famously doesn't give refunds for the newsletter, which angers people who expected a magic button. The value is in the application, not the reading.

Furthermore, the world has changed slightly since these issues were written (circa early-to-mid 2010s). Email deliverability is harder. Spam filters are smarter. However, Settle addressed this in later issues (#16-30), but the principles of issues 1-15 are timeless.

Who Should Buy (And Who Should Avoid) This Collection?

3. “Stop Building Funnels – Start Writing Letters”

Before ClickFunnels became a verb, Settle was arguing that complicated funnels are a distraction. The first 15 issues contain the blueprint for what he calls the "Email Players Method": a sequence of 5-7 plain-text emails that act as a single, persuasive sales letter broken into pieces.