Marzipan

Author: Marzipan Media

  • How we find our calm

    How we find our calm

    Our favourite meditation apps

    Running a small business can be a lot of work. Managing staff, finding new clients, keeping on top of the admin, the socials, the bills. There’s a lot going on and not all of it fun. Add in a global pandemic, a splash of isolation and a few nationwide shut downs and it’s a wonder any of us ever get anything done ever! 

    When Marzipan Media started we were a team of two, relying on an army of freelancers, friends and peers to make it work.  Our personal and working lives have altered dramatically in the last twelve months but one thing has remained: For me at least, it’s been my meditation practice. 

    I started meditating for personal reasons using various apps and methods and it seemed that it would never cross over into my work life. It felt right posting about the best three apps to help manage your social media campaigns, or recommending top kanban tools to better prioritise your work flows but meditation seemed seperate. A past time at best, and, not the type of thing that would help with work. Nowadays, as my practise deepens I realise the two are inseparable. 

    Meditation helps me stay calm and focused throughout the work day. To gain a deeper patience with my my clients, reduce anxiety and those nagging thoughts of self doubt. These skills ultimately help me deliver a greater service to our beloved clients and strengthen our working relationships.

    Many of our customers are repeat customers who come to Marzipan for the same events and projects year on year. 

    There are less fires, less issues and more productivity, allowing us to create strong digital content refined online marketing strategies free from the noise of day to day life. For that I’m truely grateful. 

    So it seems right, as we head into October and a month of mental health awareness to give you my top three suggestions for mediation apps.  

    It began with Headspace

    Headspace is a great meditation app for beginners.

    Created by Andy Puddicombe who is a former monk and mindfulness expert. An accomplished presenter and writer, Andy is the voice of all things Headspace. 

    The app has tutorials, and works in packs of ten that will guide you through a range of meditation techniques including visualisation, breath work and noting to help with a certain aspect of your life such as stress, anxiety, relationships or more. This year they even rolled out new features including stretching and sports into the app.   Each of the meditations can be practised in sittings of 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes.

    It’s a great all rounder but if you’re not into Andy’s voice it can become a bit repetitive.  It can also feel a bit cute sometimes which while welcoming at first, can sometimes diminish the great work that’s gone into the teachings.  They do have a beautiful brand and the app is simple to use and to the point. 

    Headspace app costs around $90AUD for a year but well worth it. Try the free trial and see how you go first. 

    Insight Timer

    Insight Timer publish the world’s largest collection of free guided meditations, with over 60,000 titles. If the simplicity of Headspace is one, app, one voice, then Insight Timer turns this premise upside down. 

    There’s a meditation for every emotion, every moment, every feeling you might have. It can be a little overwhelming at first but the app has great features and allows you to follow, save and bookmark meditations as you go. I highly recommend Sarah Blondin, Dora Kamau and David Ji as an ideal place to start but they also have heavyweights such as Tara Brach and Russell Brand.

    Many of the meditations are free and they’re backed up with music, talks and soundscapes to help you relax or sleep.  It’s a formidable app and one I recommend to anyone who’ll listen.

    Vedic Meditation

    Ok this one wins because there’s no app included. For twenty minutes you can put down your phone, not worry about internet, headphones, or the rest of the world. Learning Vedic meditation has shifted my mindset and allowed me to really be comfortable in the space that exists between thoughts and feelings.

    There are many people teaching Vedic meditation and often they offer free trial classes so you can experience it. Like many of the great free meditation apps the exist, it coms down to finding a voice and a style that suits your needs so don’t be afraid to try a few. 

    Have questions? Drop us a line we’re always happy to talk : ) 

     

  • How to use Instagram to grow your database

    How to use Instagram to grow your database

    Instagram isn’t the only free marketing tool out there. Email may feel a bit old fashioned but it’s still one of the best ways to establish an ongoing relationship with some audiences. ⁣⁣
    ⁣⁣
    Here‘s how to use Instagram to grow that database 👇🏼⁠⁣⁣
    ⁠⁣⁣
    #1: Add a Call-to-Action in your Instagram bio (offer an incentive to why people should sign up)⁠⁣⁣
    ⁠⁣⁣
    ✨ Discount code for first purchase⁠⁣⁣
    ✨ Free download to a PDF full of value⁠⁣⁣
    ✨ A challenge ⁠⁣⁣
    ✨ Mini Course / short video full of value⁠⁣⁣
    ✨ Free sample⁠⁣⁣
    ✨ Access to products/services before anyone else⁠⁣⁣
    ⁠⁣⁣
    #2: Make your email subscription easy to find on your website! Make sure your link in bio allows people to sign up easily without searching your entire site! ⁠⁣⁣
    ⁠⁣⁣
    #3: Promote your newsletter on instagram stories, posts, IGTV and reels! ⁠

  • How to Survive the Pandemic as a Freelance Content Writer

    How to Survive the Pandemic as a Freelance Content Writer

    With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the world, life is not the same. While it has impacted every industry, the plight of the self-employed workforce is beyond imagination. They are neither getting employment nor are they eligible for government’s financial aid benefits. Dealing with the loss of business, restrictions and a lot of mental and emotional stress have become a lifestyle for many. 

    However, if you’re a freelance content writer, we’ve some news for you. You may still work around and flip the situation. Lots of businesses are closing on their brick and mortar stores and going digital. This has increased the scope of content writing as a career.  It is truly said, “words never die”. The extra time on hands will encourage you to think out of the box and play to your strengths strategically. 

    The current situation is a great excuse and incentive to get rid of that writer’s block and yield some cash. Let’s take a look at how to kill two birds with one stone and survive the pandemic.

    Internet Is Your Savior

    The pandemic has caused chaos around. There is hardly any form of entertainment apart from gadgets being our best friends. People are utilizing this time to indulge in some reading. Writing engaging articles and blogs can help you make money in this pandemic. 

    A lot of online platforms pay writers to provide content. You can look them up and find a way to mine some cash. The key here is to know your audience. Find a platform that caters to your needs without compromising your talent. While some organizations prefer writing about current affairs, others sell artwork and stories. Take your pick and work your way through.

    Looking for the Right Platforms

    Most content writing clients do not look for individual writers. They contact SEO content writing companies whom they can trust with their content. Get in touch with those organizations to secure a stable job with consistent pay.

    With so much crises going around, lots of organizations are looking to write about it. Each business, big or small, has been affected by COVID19. Many of them are using it as a tool to market their business benefits through articles. Even nonprofit organizations have no other way to spread information and content than through social media. These would include captions, blogs, and poster content. Approaching them to get and give help is a good idea. 

    Work on your website

    You probably chose to freelance because you like to work for yourself and on your terms. In the fight between income and self-employment, income always wins. Now is the chance to reverse that. Start working on that site you have been gazing at but never got to finish. It will distract your mind from the mental stress. Cherry on the top, we can help get online in no time at all with our affordable web design services

    Readers have an eye for informative content on the current situation. Apart from the virus, 2020 has been a rocky road in several aspects. Penning down thoughts about politics or even the climate change situation will attract the audience.

    Plagiarism Checkers to the Rescue

    Plagiarism is a big no-no in any institution or organisation. Why should a company hire you or why should users read your content when the same can be Googled in a few seconds? Thus, while writing any piece, your priority should be to ensure your work is original and authentic.

    Taking references, statistics or facts does not count as “copied” work so, don’t frown already! Plagiarism checkers check for similarity in sentences and not content. Even though your topic is the same, it might not be plagiarised. However, you must frame it in your own words while delivering it.

    With so much time on hands and strain on minds, clients are being incredibly particular. This means zero tolerance to plagiarism and low quality. Hence, it is always better to be safe than sorry. 

    In this situation, online plagiarism checkers are extremely helpful. There are a ton of them available on Google for free. While the paid ones are precisely accurate, the ones available for free do a decent job as well.

    Google Is Your Best Friend

    Search engines are blowing up with quarantine content all over the internet. Google statistics show that the top search during the pandemic is well, all related to the pandemic! These are followed by searches for new connections and ways to change routine. Articles covering trendy topics like these can put your visionary under the spotlight.

    The SEO content hunt still continues in the market. It is essential to keep in mind the keyword density while writing for a client. The more you give to Google, the more it will give to you. So, make sure you’re writing to impress and attract.

    Connect with Others

    It is in the times of need that you must have your friends and helpers close to you. If the internet is not able to surprise you, a person from the industry definitely will. Make yourself a LinkedIn page and reach out to other freelancers. Contact companies and apply wherever you can.

    A million people are facing this difficulty and it is important to know that you are not alone. Talking to someone facing the same situation will not only give you mental peace but also a new perspective. Add writers and authors to your network and they might be able to hook you to some agency or company. It is necessary to market yourself in these desperate times.

    If you have leisurely avoided your finances before, it’s high time that you turn back and evaluate. It is uncertain as to when these tough times will end. So, pay attention to your money. If you’re living with a friend on rent, move back in with your parents. 

    Invest in some good bank policies and create an emergency fund. If there is anything that the pandemic has taught us then it’s that life is too short and unpredictable. Therefore, adopt these ways to survive the pandemic and make a living for yourself.

    Guest post written by Megan Madison.

  • Three SEO Tips for small businesses right now

    Three SEO Tips for small businesses right now

    Top 3 SEO tips for your business

    Let’s face it, everybody is spending a lot more time online right now. The latest mobility trend data from Google shows residential activities up by 15% on previous baselines.

    Coronavirus lockdowns around the world and more of us working from home than ever before have seen a sharp rise in online activities such as meetings, shopping and dreaming. Many of us are incessantly scrolling through all manner of social media feeds in search of distraction and connection. 

    As more businesses are pivoting to online versions of their old selves the uptick in new websites being created is making it harder than ever to be found among the top pages of a Google search result.

    These three tips can help you rank higher on Google and get found online ahead of your competition.

    ⠀
    1. Refine your local SEO keywords

    With more people at home and less public transport options available, people are buying local, more than ever before. A few tweaks to your website copy including your suburb/area could make a world of difference.  This is especially true if you’re a reliant on local customers, such as coffee shops and beauticians.

    For these small businesses getting seen in the geographical search results generated by Google Maps is vital right now. Fortunately getting a Google My Business listing, is free, quick to set up and a great way of boosting you SEO.

    Many people will click directly on the map options for local businesses when conducting a search. The results stem directly from Google My Business listings, capturing people in the midst of a needs based search, such as “Coffee shop near me” that delivers instant solutions so people don’t even have to scroll down to find what they’re after.

    Your business needs to be in these local results. Treat your business listing like a blog with frequent updates and images as appropriate.

     

    2. Use the situation as a great way to communicate to your audiences

    Tell your customers what you’re doing in response to Coronavirus. Create informative digital content around:

    – Delivery times – For example has shipping been impacted?

    – Is your customer services receiving a higher volume of calls?

    – Videos showing us how to get the most out of your product

    – Blogs with keyword rich content, such as this small plug for our SEO services ; ) 

    Our friends at Sydney Living Museums are a great example of a business keeping their customers up to date with the changing times, providing the latest news regarding changes in Covid restrictions and offering free downloadable materials for kids during lockdown.

    3. Revisit and revise your existing blog content

    As many small businesses pivot and adapt to the environment it’s a great time to revisit those old blog posts to ensure they’re still relevant. Try adding more SEO rich keywords, a fresh introduction, or a stronger call to action to ensure your digital content is a fresh as possible.

    You may pick up the occasional typo that slipped through the net or new materials to link to within your site. Keeping people on your pages longer and providing another flag to Google that can increase your SEO.

    Keeping your digital content turning over regularly with new and relevant information is a great way to ensure your audience will return more often and offers another pulse towards the Google gods that your site is live and worthy of that first page, search engine result.

    If you need more information or a helping hand getting your business found on Google, get in touch today and see how our affordable SEO services can help you shine online.

  • 4 quick tips to improve your Instagram Live Video

    4 quick tips to improve your Instagram Live Video

    Instagram Live is becoming an increasingly effective channel for reaching your audience in these strange socially distant times.

    On Instagram, Live videos are given top priority in other people’s feeds. So if you’re looking for a way to get noticed and beat the algorithms, look no further.

    But there are no retakes on Instagram Live, which can make your first broadcast feel seriously daunting. Fear not, here’s some quick tips to help you get the most of the experience for you and your audience:

          1. Test your sound and video quality. Make sure you’ve plenty of phone battery, natural light and a quiet (ish) space to present your story.
          2. Find your purpose. Your Instagram Live broadcast should bring viewers something extra special that they can’t get from your regular Instagram account.
          3. Tell people upfront what to expect. Why are they watching and what are your call to actions. Follow me for me, view our blog, purchase today etc. It’s a good idea to give your followers a few moments to join before jumping right into the focus of your live session, so consider having a holding screen or making some small talk for a minute or two.
          4. Relax and be yourself. Your followers chose to follow you. They’ll be kind, so engage, give shoutouts to followers and respond to questions. You can also mute any trolls from commenting it’s getting weird. Instagram Live allows your audience to submit their comments and questions in real-time, making it one of Instagram’s most interactive video platforms.

    Check out our social media services if this all feels too daunting for you. We’d be happy to help. Otherwise, follow us on Instagram for more digital content creation tips

  • New digital creations for Feb

    New digital creations for Feb

    It’s been a busy month for our digital content creators, with a number of new websites launched by the team at Marzipan Media. 

    One we’re especially proud of is the new AskLOIS website. Designed by students at UTS Shopfront the site was produced by the team here who implemented a powerful new knowledge base search function to improve user experience and ensure the valuable resources available on the site are found more easily. 

    We streamlined the build to speed up the site and ensure greater search engine optimisation by adding additional mobile responsiveness to the design. You can see the final result here: asklois.org.au

    The #1 Web Design Sydney - Marzipan Media
    cwtch

    Cwtch PR & Video

    Another new website we recently launched is the Cwtch PR Agency. Giving the communications agency a fresh new look to promote their amazing services. The website is built on WordPress using the Elementor visual editor to allow for easy updates by the team at Cwtch. Check out the site here: cwtch.agency

  • Three tips to help create beautiful digital content

    Three tips to help create beautiful digital content

    Marzipan Media - digital content creators agency sydney

    As digital content creators we know the pit falls of creating beautiful content for the sake of it. Great content comes from great understanding of your audiences and the challenges they face. 

    But it takes time, research, and a lot of effort.

    The three tips below can help you create digital content but they’re just the tip of the iceberg.  

    1. Understand your Audience

    Most of us marketers believe we have a clear understanding of our audiences. But how often do we really put our theories to the test. Quite often we discover a gap in  understanding from the perceived need to the actual one, that can result in sending the right message to the wrong people. 

    Not only does this result in a poor return but it can also damage the brand reputation. When we start with a new brand or business, regardless of the type of content we are creating, we’ll always ask the following questions: 

    • What problems do your potential customers have?
    • What kinds of content do they really crave?
    • Why are they hesitating to buy your products and services?
    • What are they telling your sales team?
    • What are they saying about your business on social media?

    By demonstrating you can solve customer problems you’ll start creating content that is both relevant and useful, not only engage your audiences’ head, but also their heart. Creating emotional connections between your brand and audience will build a longer lasting community. Ultimately your digital content should appeal to the wants and desires of humans not algorithms.

    2. Understand your Why

    This is crucial as you go into creator mode. What are trying to achieve with this particular slice of digital content?

    Once you know what you want to achieve with your content, it’s much easier to create content formats and topics that support your goals. You might focus on one or two goals, such as:

    • generating new leads for your business
    • selling a new product category 
    • building customer engagement 
    • looking for cross promotional opportunities
    • boosting your brand awareness online

    Once you’re clear  on your why you’ll have a better idea as to the type of digital content you’re looking to create. Are you going to need a new website, blog post or video to help you reach your objective or can a new email, sign up form or questionnaire work just as well? 

    3. Be Authentic

    Your brand, your tone of voice, your company. They’re exclusive to you. It’s ok to borrow ideas but you have to make them your own based on your customers needs. Straight up lifting or copying content from your peers could damage your SEO and reputation.

    Creating unique digital content in such a saturated world can be a tricky business but understanding your whys and your audiences will help massively.

    Sharing ideas you’re passionate about and that are relevant to your audience will create the magic.

    Audiences are more savvy than ever and can spot authenticity, or lack thereof a mile away.  Land on the right side of the content creation debate and you’ll boost your credibility while winning hearts and minds of your audiences. 

    Useful links

    Need a hand?
    Marzipan Media are here to help: 


    Contact us

  • 3 easy tips to boost SEO results!

    3 easy tips to boost SEO results!

    Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a much needed way to help you increase organic traffic to your website by obtaining a high placement in organic search results of a search engine. No one searches the second page on Google, so ranking highky for your chosen keywords is a must.

    This is important because having a high ranking in search results increases your brand’s visibility, and therefore, increases organic visitors to your website. Organic website is the pathway to your site without advertising on search or social. People type in their keywords to a search engine and up you pop. This doesn’t happen by accident. It can take a bit of work.

    So where do you start if you are looking to boost your SEO?

    1. Keywords: You want to target keyword themes by aligning the broader content of your businesses’ site to those target keywords. 

    2. Website Performance: Is your website easy for a visitor to navigate? How easy is it for the search engine to crawl? How fast will it load?

    3. is your website optimised for mobile? It needs to be, otherwise you will be missing out on much needed traffic and search results.

    Things that can affect a visitor’s experience is slow site speed, server errors and not being mobile optimised.  Ultimately improving your SEO is not a once off marketing program, it’s a continuous and ongoing element of your marketing that starts with the very fabric of your website design. 

    Reviewing your SEO plan regularly is an important habit to develop in creating a successful online presence!

    These three simple SEO tips are a good place to start, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Speak to us today if you’d like to know more ways to improve your websites performance, boost organic traffic and improve your SEO. We offer a range of SEO services including backlink building, copywriting and more. 

    SEO Services
  • Happy New Year

    Happy New Year

    Australia’s bushfires showcase the power of social Media for good.

    Happy New Year from all of us to all of you. We’re so excited for another lap around the sun.

    We, in Australia, have had a heartbreaking start to the year. We have been shocked and saddened at the impact of these devastating bush fires. While we have held much scorn over the slow reaction of our government, it’s love for fossil fuel, and denials of climate change in the face of great scientific data, we have also been heartened by the great digital initiatives that are pooping up online this Christmas.

    Some creative and delightful opportunities exist out there to support local business and we would love to share a few of our favourite social media accounts and digital content creators bringing joy to the world right now. 

    @buyfromthebush A showcase of beautiful things to buy from rural communities facing drought.

    @spendwiththem by @turiapitt and @graciemcb. A hub through which fire-ravaged towns can showcase their wares for sale. Purchase incredible products to keep the businesses and economies of these damaged areas ticking over.

    @emptyesky A movement of foodies + adventurers supporting local businesses affected by the Aust

    www.itsmyshout.com.au An online platform which lets you pay for virtual products to support businesses in East Gippsland, Victoria impacted by the lack of tourism amid the bushfires.

    @social_for_goodness An insta auction which raised over 12K for the NSW and QLD fires and continuing to use the power of social media for good.

    Let’s not forget former client and all round legend Celeste Barber’s global campaign which raised a whopping $45,789,348 and counting!

    If you have created, led, participated, donated to or shared any campaigns supporting fire impacted communities, THANK YOU. Sadly, there are still fires burning and communities to rebuild so please keep on giving and supporting as much as you can.

    Feature image from Stoll Photography

  • Marzipan Media Creations For December

    Marzipan Media Creations For December

    This month we teamed up with Photo Workshops Australia to help improve SEO and clean up so out of date Adword campaigns in time for Christmas. We delivered our specialist, long lasting back links service and cleaned up meta descriptions, alt tags and more to elevate the local business within Google. 

    Scott was kind enough to invite us along to a photography workshop here in Bondi. Check out their range of courses and workshops here. 

     

    UK SEO PROJECTS

    Elsewhere this month has see us continue to improve and enhance existing websites such as Wealth Management Services, Imperial Chartered and Cornerstone Finance. Focusing on AMP pages for key landing pages together with continued SEO to ensure they rank in the UK for chosen search terms and phrases. 

     

    WEB DESIGN PROJECTS

    In the pipeline this month we also welcomed the Women’s Legal Services of NSW to our roster and look set to complete and brand new website for CF Asia Pacific. Our first website designed for a major transport logistical company. Stay tuned to hear more.