Ian Stanley: How Can You Write Emails That Don’t Suck?

21st Century Entrepreneurship

Ian Stanley is an entrepreneur and comedian that has sold over $200,000,000 worth of products online over the past few years. He is considered to be one of the best copywriters in the world. He started his first business at the age of 12 stringing tennis rackets. Since then, he's started multiple businesses and sold his Ecommerce company to the fast growing start up in Canada. He now runs Almost Passive Income, a company that helps people make more money in less time while having more fun.
In this episode, Ian breaks down the art of writing emails that connect with people on a personal level, rather than coming across as “corporate mayonnaise.” He emphasizes the importance of making your emails feel like they’re coming from a friend, and why this approach is crucial in building a deep, profitable relationship with your audience. “Your emails should feel like they're written almost to a friend or from a friend,” he shares, underscoring the need for a conversational tone that resonates with readers.

We also explore the role of AI in email marketing, with Ian sharing his initial skepticism and eventual surprise at how AI, when trained correctly, can produce emails that sound more human than those written by most people. He candidly describes his experience with AI tools, noting, “I was amazed at what it wrote because it sounded more human than most humans.”

Some of the key takeaways from our conversation include:

• Email Frequency: The more you email, the more you make. Ian debunks the myth that frequent emails annoy your subscribers, asserting, “You're only annoying people if you suck.”
• Storytelling: Storytelling is a powerful tool in email marketing. Ian explains how sharing personal stories can help build trust and connect with your audience, making them more likely to buy from you.
• AI in Email: While general AI like ChatGPT might struggle with email copy, Ian talks about the effectiveness of specialized AI tools that can save time and enhance your email writing, especially for those who struggle to generate content ideas.

Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just getting started, this episode is packed with actionable advice that can help you write better emails, build stronger relationships with your audience, and ultimately, make more money from your email list. Tune in to learn how to make your emails stand out in an inbox full of corporate jargon and lifeless copy.