Ben Settle - Email Players 1 - 15 Direct
These middle issues form the "how-to" spine of the collection.
If you are a business owner, copywriter, or freelancer who is tired of playing the "like and share" game, Ben Settle's Email Players issues 1-15 are required reading. They are not a gentle introduction. They are a shock to the system.
Most marketing courses teach you how to fit in. Settle teaches you how to stand out by being so distinct that people cannot ignore you.
The compilation of issues 1-15 represents Settle at his most raw, his most hungry, and his most effective. You will close the document feeling slightly offended, slightly entertained, and absolutely ready to write an email that makes money.
The final verdict: 9/10. Minus one point because if you have thin skin, you’ll cry. But for the rest of us? It’s a blueprint for printing cash while telling the world to go screw itself.
Are you ready to become an Email Player? Or are you going to go back to begging for retweets?
Note: This article is an independent analysis and is not officially affiliated with Ben Settle or his products. "Email Players" is a registered trademark of Settle, LLC.
Unlocking the Vault: A Look at Ben Settle’s "Email Players" Issues 1–15
If you’re looking to master the art of "edutainment" and daily email marketing, you’ve likely stumbled upon the legend of Ben Settle Email Players Newsletter
is widely considered one of the gold standards for direct response marketers who want to write less and earn more.
The first 15 issues of this newsletter laid the groundwork for what Settle calls the "Settle Way." Here is a breakdown of the key concepts and value found in these foundational issues. The "Email Players" Philosophy Unlike digital courses that gather dust, Email Players
is a premium, offline (paper and ink) newsletter delivered to your doorstep. Ben Settle's methodology centers on applying sound, principled thought and the laws of human behavior to daily emails. Atomic Brevity
: Settle advocates for emails that can be written in as little as 10 minutes. The "Tractor Beam" Effect
: The goal of early issues is to teach you how to create a "world" around your business that makes audiences addicted to your content. Repelling the Wrong People
: His style is intentionally polarizing to filter out "tyre-kickers" and attract aggressive, action-oriented marketers. Key Techniques in Issues 1–15
While the specific contents of each individual issue are typically reserved for subscribers, several core pillars were established during this initial 15-month run: The Power of Subject Lines Ben Settle - Email Players 1 - 15
: Settle emphasizes that subject lines are the "gatekeepers" of your revenue. He often references old-school masters to provide templates that work for virtually any niche. Turning Pain into Profit
: A major lesson involves taking customer research—even obscure fears or frustrations—and turning them into engaging email themes. The 24 Ways to Make Money
: A cornerstone of his early teaching includes a breakdown of 24 different openings, subject lines, and approaches to boost sales immediately. The "Dark Side" of Growth
: Early on, Settle warns about the "sudden drop" in sales that occurs if you stop adding new names to your list, teaching you how to maintain momentum after an initial sales spike. Why Start with the Early Archives?
For many, the first 15 issues represent the "Red Pill" moment of copywriting. They transition you from being a boring corporate "announcer" to a personality-driven marketer. Newsletter Back Issues Are Not Free - 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. These middle issues form the "how-to" spine of
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."
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
Title:
The Unvarnished Art of Email Marketing: Lessons from Ben Settle’s Email Players 1–15
Introduction
In an era of marketing automation, AI-generated copy, and “growth hacks,” Ben Settle’s Email Players newsletter stands as a contrarian manifesto. Issues 1 through 15 lay the foundation for what Settle calls “emailing like a human being who isn’t a slimy used car salesman.” Rather than focusing on list size or open-rate hacks, Settle emphasizes direct, frequent, and personality-driven email marketing. These early issues reject the mainstream “bro marketing” advice and instead teach a philosophy: emails should be entertaining, useful, and slightly abrasive — because bland marketing gets deleted.
The Core Philosophy
From issues 1–15, Settle drills three non-negotiable principles. First, frequency wins: he argues that daily emailing (yes, even on weekends) builds a “mental movie theater” in subscribers’ minds. Second, controversy sells: Settle frequently picks fights with industry gurus, not for shock value, but to clarify his position and attract loyal buyers who share his worldview. Third, the subject line is a mercenary: it’s not about being clever; it’s about making a specific promise that the email body delivers.
Practical Tactics Unveiled
These issues are not just theory. Settle reveals several specific tactics. For instance, issue #7 covers “The Puppy Dog Close” for email sequences — giving value so generously that buying feels inevitable. Issue #12 deconstructs “The Hater Filter,” advising readers to intentionally write emails that make time-wasters unsubscribe, thereby sharpening list quality. Issue #14 introduces “The 6-Word Story” as a template for creating curiosity gaps without clickbait.
Case Study from Issue #9
In Email Players #9, Settle shares a client example: a supplement seller who switched from weekly “helpful tips” to daily emails blending personal stories, industry rants, and pure entertainment. Within 45 days, revenue per email increased 212%, and unsubscribes dropped. The lesson? People don’t unsubscribe from frequency; they unsubscribe from boring emails.
Critique and Limitations
Settle’s style is not for everyone. His tone can be aggressive, and some readers may find the constant self-promotion grating. Additionally, the advice assumes a responsive, warm list — a cold audience may not tolerate the same directness. Issues 1–15 also lack detailed analytics or split-testing frameworks, focusing instead on psychology and storytelling.
Conclusion
Email Players 1–15 is less a “how-to” manual and more a “how-to-think” about email marketing. Settle forces you to abandon metrics-obsession and remember that behind every inbox is a human who craves entertainment and authenticity. For marketers tired of the vanilla “value-first” orthodoxy, these 15 issues offer a bracing alternative: be interesting, email daily, and never apologize for selling. Whether you adopt his method wholeheartedly or adapt it, one truth remains — your email strategy is only as strong as your personality.
Next Steps for a Longer Essay
If you need a full 2,000+ word essay, here is the expansion blueprint: Note: This article is an independent analysis and
A central feature of the early issues of Ben Settle's Email Players newsletter is the concept of "Infotainment"
—the "stealth" method of writing emails that look like engaging content but are actually pure sales pitches. Email Players
Specifically, issues 1 through 15 focus on several core pillars designed to increase sales quickly and predictably: Core Pillars in Early Issues The "Seinfeld" Method
: Writing daily emails about seemingly "nothing"—using mundane, everyday events (like a dog pooping in the rain or a childhood story) as a hook to transition into a product pitch. High-Impact Subject Lines
: Techniques for creating "nuclear option" subject lines that are almost guaranteed to be opened, even by inactive subscribers. Sales-Driven Storytelling
: Moving away from the "guru" advice of "providing value" through long, educational lessons, which Settle argues can actually kill sales. Instead, he teaches how to use stories to bond with subscribers and build trust instantly. Psychological Triggers
: Using "micro-riddles" and bizarre events to ensure your emails stand out in a crowded inbox. Email Players Issue-Specific Highlights Issue 1 (The Free Taste) : Often includes a foundational list of 24 different ways
to make money with emails, including specific openings and subject line approaches. August Issues : Traditionally focus on client acquisition
, showing service providers how to get booked solid using the same daily email system applied to products. Each monthly issue is delivered as a physical, paper-and-ink newsletter . Upon subscribing, members typically receive the Email Players Skhema book
, a 150-page "field manual" that establishes the Settle system before the first issue arrives. Email Players or how to get the first issue for free Email Players Newsletter
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
Before we crack the spine, let's clarify the artifact.
"Email Players" is the name of Settle’s private, paid newsletter (distinct from his free daily emails). The first 15 issues were released in the early 2010s. They are notoriously difficult to find in the wild because Settle controls distribution tightly.
The collection “Email Players 1 - 15” is a compilation of these original monthly issues. Think of it as the Origin Story volume. Before the advanced tactics, before the "Settleism" catchphrases, there were these 15 raw manifestos.
Format: Typically text-based, 10–20 pages per issue. No fluff. No images. Just black text on a white background. It reads like a series of late-night rants typed in a fit of inspiration.