Course Review: Ben Settle – List Swell
Introduction 🚀
In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, building a robust and responsive email list remains a cornerstone of success. Ben Settle, a renowned email marketing specialist, introduces “List Swell,” a course designed to provide practical, albeit unconventional, methods for growing an email list that converts. 📈 This isn’t your typical guide filled with fleeting trends; instead, it delves into time-tested strategies that prioritize quality over quantity. “List Swell” promises to equip you with the tools and mindset needed to cultivate a loyal audience eager to engage with your offers. This course is particularly geared towards those who appreciate a direct, no-nonsense approach to marketing, eschewing the hype in favor of genuine connection and value. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting out, the principles taught in “List Swell” can help you construct an email list that is not only substantial but also highly responsive and profitable. 🎯 Ben Settle’s unique perspective challenges conventional wisdom, urging you to adopt strategies that are both ethical and effective, focusing on long-term growth rather than quick fixes. Prepare to transform your approach to list building and unlock the potential of a truly engaged email audience.
Course Description ✍️
“List Swell” by Ben Settle offers a comprehensive, albeit contrarian, approach to building an email list. Unlike many modern marketing courses that emphasize paid advertising and social media gimmicks, Settle advocates for slow, steady, and organic methods that focus on attracting a loyal and responsive audience. 🌳 The course is structured around a collection of list-building techniques derived from Settle’s own successful “Email Players” newsletter. These methods, while not always glamorous or quick, have proven effective in creating one of the most engaged email lists in his industry. Participants can expect to learn strategies that include leveraging content marketing, podcast appearances, and unconventional outreach methods to attract high-quality leads. The course also delves into the psychology of list building, emphasizing the importance of creating genuine connections with subscribers and delivering value consistently. 🎁 Settle’s teaching style is direct, no-nonsense, and often humorous, making the learning process both engaging and practical. He doesn’t shy away from challenging conventional marketing wisdom, encouraging students to think critically and experiment with different approaches to find what works best for their unique business needs. Overall, “List Swell” is designed for those who value long-term growth, ethical practices, and building a truly engaged email community. 👍
Ideal Student 👤
- Entrepreneurs seeking sustainable list-building strategies 🌿
- Small business owners tired of ineffective marketing fads 😫
- Email marketers looking for a fresh, contrarian perspective 💡
- Content creators aiming to build a loyal audience ✍️
- Anyone who values ethical and long-term marketing practices 🤝
Learning Outcomes 🎓
- Develop a deep understanding of unconventional list-building techniques. 🧠
- Implement strategies to attract high-quality, responsive leads. 🧲
- Master the art of leveraging content marketing for list growth. ✍️
- Gain insights into using podcast appearances to build an audience. 🎙️
- Learn how to create genuine connections with subscribers. 🤝
Course Modules 📚
Module 1: The Ogilvy Headshot Secret
- Description: Uncover the bizarre secret that the late, great ad man David Ogilvy accidentally discovered about headshot pics. Learn how this secret can potentially get your website hundreds of extra opt-ins.
- Key Takeaways:
- Understand the psychology behind effective headshots.
- Apply Ogilvy’s secret to your website to increase opt-ins.
- Optimize your personal branding through strategic imagery.
Module 2: Siphoning Leads from Big Platforms 💰
- Description: Discover two little-used ways to (legally) “siphon” the best leads from Facebook, Google, and other paid advertising platforms without spending money on ads or needing accounts.
- Key Takeaways:
- Learn how to identify high-quality leads on major platforms.
- Implement strategies to attract these leads to your email list organically.
- Understand the legal and ethical considerations of lead generation.
Module 3: Leveraging Partnerships 🤝
- Description: Grasp a ridiculously simple way to get other businesses to send your website their best leads. Understand why so few businesses think to do this.
- Key Takeaways:
- Identify potential partnering businesses.
- Create win-win scenarios for lead sharing.
- Implement partnership strategies to quickly build your list.
Module 4: Optimizing Privacy Policies 🛡️
- Description: Find out about an almost laughably easy way to use the privacy policy on your squeeze pages to get more opt-ins to your business’s email list.
- Key Takeaways:
- Understand the key elements of an effective privacy policy.
- Implement strategies to increase opt-ins through policy optimization.
- Ensure compliance with privacy regulations.
Module 5: The Cheapskate’s Guide to Hot Leads 🤑
- Description: Delve into the cheapskate’s guide to building a hotlist of leads who are so anxious to read and buy from your offers, they might have their credit cards out before they opt-in.
- Key Takeaways:
- Identify cost-effective methods for generating high-intent leads.
- Implement strategies to attract leads ready to convert.
- Understand the mindset of leads eager to make a purchase.
Module 6: Twitter List Building 🐦
- Description: Discover how smart “Email Players” subscribers on Twitter are using that platform to build out large email lists for free.
- Key Takeaways:
- Learn effective Twitter strategies for list building.
- Identify key influencers and potential followers.
- Implement engagement tactics to attract and retain followers.
Module 7: The Cold Email Secret 📧
- Description: Learn the exact cold email the “most connected man on the internet” used to help get even complete strangers with huge audiences to promote his business. Understand the psychology behind it.
- Key Takeaways:
- Understand the key elements of an effective cold email.
- Apply psychological principles to craft compelling emails.
- Implement cold email strategies to gain exposure and build partnerships.
Module 8: Infomercial Secrets 📺
- Description: Learn about a secret invented 70 years ago by the billion-dollar infomercial industry that can help even a business with a small list, social media following, or audience get a steady stream of qualified new opt-ins.
- Key Takeaways:
- Understand what makes infomercials so successful.
- Apply infomercial techniques to your marketing efforts.
- Generate a consistent stream of qualified new opt-ins.
Module 9: Podcast Marketing 🎤
- Description: Learn every trick, technique, and method Ben knows for getting booked solid on podcasts (both big and small shows) and turning those appearances into bigger email lists and bigger paydays.
- Key Takeaways:
- Identify potential podcast opportunities.
- Pitch yourself effectively as a guest.
- Engage with your audience during and after the show.
Module 10: Leveraging Kindle 📚
- Description: Learn how to use Kindle to get people to basically pay you to be on your free opt-in list.
- Key Takeaways:
- Understand how to create valuable content for Kindle.
- Optimize your Kindle content for lead generation.
- Monetize your content through Kindle and list building.
Module 11: Old School Press Releases 📰
- Description: Learn about an almost forgotten way to use old-school press releases to drive traffic to your website.
- Key Takeaways:
- Craft compelling press releases that attract attention.
- Identify and contact relevant media outlets.
- Track your press release’s impact on traffic and opt-ins.
Module 12: Connecting with Ice-Cold List Owners 🧊
- Description: Discover an admittedly strange and weird way to use an ordinary ball to connect with ice-cold list owners with big audiences and influence, who might be interested in emailing their lists about your website.
- Key Takeaways:
- Use innovative and creative tactics to break the ice.
- Personalize your pitch.
- Focus on building genuine relationships.
Module 13: Getting Free Solo Ads 📰
- Description: Learn how to get other businesses to write free “solo” ads about your business to their lists.
- Key Takeaways:
- Identify businesses with synergistic audiences.
- Leverage the content to drive traffic.
- Promote relevant offers.
Module 14: Podcast Interview Hacks 🎙️
- Description: Grasp an almost never-talked-about way to get yourself booked on podcasts with big audiences and lots of industry-wide influence.
- Key Takeaways:
- Identify what made that interview successful.
- Replicate those elements in your own podcast outreach.
- Improve your chances of getting booked on influential podcasts.
Module 15: Legally Hijacking Leads 😈
- Description: Learn how to legally hijack leads from high-traffic blogs right to your opt-in page.
- Key Takeaways:
- Discover techniques the author uses to convert text-based articles into valuable leads.
- Leverage existing content.
- Turn content into a lead-generation tool.
Module 16: Website Optimization 💻
- Description: Implement stupid-obvious things (that hardly anyone does) you can do to your website to double the size of your list over time using just the current traffic you’re already getting.
- Key Takeaways:
- Optimize user flow.
- Implement opt-in opportunities.
- Use design principles to improve conversion rate.
Module 17: The Telephone Tactic ☎️
- Description: Understand why one of the best tools for building an email list is an ordinary telephone.
- Key Takeaways:
- Identify scenarios where a personal call can replace/improve traditional approach.
- Personalize your approach by talking to your customers.
- Foster long-term relationships.
Module 18: Maximizing Solo Ads 💰
- Description: Learn how to get the maximum number of leads onto your opt-in list from solo ads or endorsed mailings.
- Key Takeaways:
- Identify best performing solo ads.
- Optimize to create high conversion rates.
Module 19: Facebook List Building 📘
- Description: Grasp a quirky way Ben learned from observing one of the most popular podcasters on the planet for using Facebook to help build your list without buying any ads or writing any extra posts than you are now.
- Key Takeaways:
- Implement real-world examples of leveraging Facebook organically.
- Implement alternative options if necessary.
Module 20: Turning Adversity into Opportunity 😥
- Description: Find out how one of Ben’s customers turned being bum-rushed by an online mob of drooling psychopaths and hostile media outlets (including Snopes!) into lots of new sales, new traffic, and new leads on her email list.
- Key Takeaways:
- How to turn adversity into opportunity.
Module 21: Resource Box Optimization 🎁
- Description: ethically “finagle” your ezine article resource boxes that can as much as double (and possibly even triple) the clicks you get to your opt-in pages over time.
- Key Takeaways:
- Optimize existing content.
- Turn ezine into valuable tool for increasing clicks to opt-in pages.
Pros and Cons ⚖️
Pros
- Unconventional and practical strategies 💡
- Focus on building a responsive list ✅
- Emphasis on ethical marketing practices 👍
- Direct and engaging teaching style 🗣️
- Comprehensive coverage of list-building methods 💯
- Valuable insights from industry experts 🌟
Cons
- Methods may require patience and effort ⏳
- Some techniques may be outdated 📅
- Not focused on quick, flashy results 🚫
- Can be expensive 💰
- Physical book format only 📖
- No refunds offered ⛔
FAQs ❓
- Is this course suitable for beginners?
Yes, the course is designed to be accessible to both beginners and experienced marketers, although some techniques may require more advanced implementation. - Are the strategies taught in this course still effective today?
While some of the strategies may be considered “old school,” they are still highly effective when implemented correctly, focusing on building genuine connections and providing value. - Is there a digital version of the book?
No, “Email Players List Swell” is exclusively available as a physical book. - What kind of results can I expect from this course?
Results vary depending on your niche, efforts, and audience. However, the course aims to help you build a more responsive and engaged email list over time. - Are there any guarantees offered with this course?
No, due to the nature of the content and the focus on implementation, there are no refunds or guarantees offered. - How much does the course cost?
Currently the course costs $641.00 with free shipping worldwide.
Final Verdict ✅
“Ben Settle – List Swell” is a unique and valuable resource for anyone looking to build a responsive email list using unconventional methods. 🚀 While it may not offer the instant gratification of modern marketing techniques, it provides a solid foundation for long-term growth and genuine engagement with your audience. This course is particularly well-suited for entrepreneurs and small business owners who are tired of chasing fleeting trends and want to focus on building a sustainable, ethical, and profitable email list. 🌟 If you’re willing to put in the time and effort required to implement Settle’s strategies, you can expect to see a significant improvement in the quality and responsiveness of your email list. However, keep in mind that this course requires patience and a commitment to long-term thinking, and it may not be the best fit for those seeking quick and easy solutions. Ultimately, “List Swell” is a worthwhile investment for those who prioritize authenticity, value, and building a loyal email community. 👍