Peppermint Magazine is Australasia's first eco fashion magazine.

The magazine, created in Brisbane, has captured the hearts and minds of its readers. Here founder Kelley Sheenan answers a few questions about its origin and the reality of publishing a magazine while raising a three year old.

Q) What made you decide to create Peppermint Magazine?

My husband and I used to have our own small clothing range, and we started looking into using local fabrics. And then that lead to researching organic fabrics... and it was the tip of the iceberg really.

The more I looked into the effects of the clothing industry, the more horrified I was, and so we decided we needed to do something to try and show people that there were alternatives.

We were both graphic designers, with experience in advertising and marketing and fashion, so it seemed the obvious choice to produce a magazine as there just wasn't anything else on the market. By this stage we had our little boy Ryder, and nothing makes you care more about health and the planet than having children!

Q) How many people are involved in producing each issue?

I do all the editing and content planning and management, along with the design and layout, and then we have lots of wonderful contributors who help pull it all together with the writing and illustrations and photography.

Ben covers the men's section, and helps with web and design also. We also have a lovely intern Jo, and have just taken on a new advertising manager Jaye.

Q) What's been your greatest challenge so far?

The main difficulty has really been the financial side of things - most people assume we are a big company or backed by a publisher, but it really is just the two of us.

I was so blinded by passion in the beginning that the actual mechanics of money didn't really factor into it - we never created it out of a desire to make money. Then Ben was made redundant, and things got even more difficult!

Because our printing is the greenest possible (waterless printing and 100% recycled paper) it means it's the most expensive it can be. But the response has been so overwhelming to the magazine, and our circulation has been constantly increasing - our next issue is doubling to 10 000 copies!

Q) What's been your greatest success so far?

I would have to say the greatest success would be the sheer amount of emails I get from people constantly saying how much they love the magazine, and how they are now making an effort to reduce their environmental footprint. That's the best thing I could possibly ask for - that we are actually motivating people to change.

We were blown away by the amount of awards we won at the end of last year - at the Publishers Australia Bell Awards we won best in sustainability, best graphic design for a consumer mag, and best overall designer of the year. And then we won best magazine/book at the PICAs along with a special judge's commendation.

Very exciting! So it's onwards and upwards... 

Check out Peppermint Magazine online

You can view issue 2 in its entirety free online here. If you like what you see - you can subscribe to Peppermint Magazine here.

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People who know about Helvetica LOVE Helvetica.

Designer Beverly Hsu has produced a range of cookie cutters using this famous font first designed in 1957.

I think they're irresistible and sure to secure this micro business with a cult product range.

Head over to Beverly Hsu for more.

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SEO Secrets: The DIY Guide to Topping Google by Glenn Murray

Overview

SEO Secrets is a 213 page eBook written in a practical style offering solid advice. It takes you through the process of optimising your website for Google (with strategies applicable to all search engines) from beginning to end.

The eBook begins by introducing you to SEO then covers the importance of choosing your keywords, how to find the most effective keywords through analysis, copywriting for search engines and visitors, how to optimise all elements of your web pages, and how social media fits into your search engine strategy.

Knowledge is power - whether you're looking to hire an SEO company or optimise your website yourself this is an eBook that covers all you need to know.

Author

Glenn Murray is the director of Divine Write - a copywriting company based north of Sydney. He counts brands like Toyota and CareerOne as clients. Glenn is active on Twitter through his handle @divinewrite.

Is he legit?

Yes. I connected with Glenn more than a year ago over Twitter. He consistently delivers useful tips and knows his stuff.

What's in it?

This is a comprehensive guide that takes you through the A-Z of SEO.

Here's a sample of the chapters you'll find in the eBook.

• Understand what SEO means
• Why are search engines so important?
• What’s the difference between organic search results and paid listings?
• Which is more effective?
• How do search engines work?
• How long will it take for SEO to increase my ranking?
• Choose your keywords
• Keyword analysis tools
• Develop your website right
• Use HTML text copy, links & breadcrumb trails… and anything else important
• Structure your site around keywords
• Create a custom 404 error handling page
• Host and optimize your own WordPress blog
• Avoid duplicate content issues in your blog
• Make your posts easy to Tweet
• Add your blog to Google Webmaster Tools
• Create great web content
• Generate ‘buzz’ about your content with Social Media
• Monitor your blog’s popularity
• Monitor your ranking

I mentioned that it's thorough right?

Is it hard to implement?

Glenn has a great style of writing about what essentially is a pretty dry topic. He's one part conversation and one part technical writing - exactly what this subject matter needs.

As far as technical ability goes - to implement the steps advised in this eBook you'll need to have either

a) The ability to update the titles and add links to content or
b) Web support (your designer or developer) to do it for you.

If you've got one of the above you won't have any problems.

So, are the secrets really secrets?

I'm not a fan of products promoting "secrets" to things they don't control 100%. The only people who know exactly how the search engines work are the engineers of the search engines.

However, as someone who has a background in SEO dating back from 2001 - I thoroughly agree with the advice that Glenn offers in this eBook. He has learned from experience (the only way to thoroughly learn SEO) and shares what works so that you don't have to discover it yourself.

So are the secrets really secrets? Yes - they are tried and tested and not everyone knows them or would share them freely.

Wrap up

I use SEO Secrets as a resource whenever I want to check the latest information on an SEO topic. I agree with and endorse the approach that Glenn takes - that is sticking well within the search engine guideliness with unique and useful content - to put it simply!

I highly recommend this eBook.

Buy SEO Secrets eBook

'SEO Secrets' V2.1 includes:

• 212 pages
• Understand what SEO means (5 pages)
• Choose your keywords (7 pages)
• Develop your website right (36 pages)
• WordPress V2.7 blog optimization (30 pages)
• Optimize your web content (9 pages)
• Link baiting (26 pages)
• Other link building methods (13 pages)
• Monitor your progress (4 pages)
• The future of SEO (9 pages)
• 207 references in the bibliography

SEO Secrets is $49.97 USD. 

Read more or buy it now.

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If you're into art, money, entrepreneurship or online business and marketing and you've visted your favourite blogs today you'll know about Seth Godin's new book.

Godin has focused his energy on interacting with bloggers to reach his audience - giving traditional media outlets the cold shoulder. 

I've stumbled across his book launch via Chris Guillebeau and David Meerman Scott today, not to mention reading about it all over my Twitter stream.

Linchpin by Seth Godin

Linchpin explores the ideas of being indispensable to get what you're worth by being the linchpin in your workplace, industry or community and walking a less conventional path.

Godin describes linchpins as "people who invent, lead (regardless of title), connect others, make things happen, and create order out of chaos. They figure out what to do when there's no rule book. They delight and challenge their customers and peers. They love their work, pour their best selves into it, and turn each day into a kind of art."

"Every day I meet people who have so much to give but have been bullied enough or frightened enough to hold it back. It's time to stop complying with the system and draw your own map. You have brilliance in you, your contribution is essential, and the art you create is precious. Only you can do it, and you must."

Buy Linchpin

Buy Linchpin via Amazon, or get free shipping with The Book Depository.

Reference: Amazon.

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I stumbled upon a website that I'd found last year and wanted to share it with you.

Daily Routines takes us through how writers, artists, and other interesting people organize their days. A little inspiration for those of us who work at home.

Image Credit: Lifetracks

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I came across this interesting article about cyberbulling and your rights when it comes to what is posted on the internet.

The Marie Claire article highlights a US case involving model Liskula Cohen, a blog called skanksinNYC.com and search engine giant Google.

An article about Cohen had been posted annonymously on the blog - in order to reveal the identity of the blogger Cohen had to take Google (owner of the blog platform that hosted skanksinNYC.com) to the Supreme court.

The article brings up a couple of interesting points:

• How do you manage your reputation online and what part Google plays in this issue
• The challenge our legal system faces regarding privacy on the internet
• Highlights how essential it is to have a presence online (like a blog) that gives you a voice and platform to protect your reputation.

Read the full article here. Found via Laurel Papworth.

Crazy eyes aren't a good thing. Crazy eyes in a clock are fabulous.

I love this little clock from Curiosity Shoppe based in my new dream destination - San Francisco.

The website describes it best - "One eye shows the hours, one shows the minutes; sitting on your desk, slowly rolling round - as if agreeing with you, yes 9am is too early. This clock may not be the most precise, but it is the most understanding."

Maybe I'm going crazy working by myself because I'd quite like the company of this little guy!

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What can I do for you?

A little intro first. My background is in web design, development and online marketing. In fact, I created this entire website alone from scratch with my own two hands.

Starting my career as an SEO specialist in 2001 after completing a degree in New Media, I've since worked in the US, UK  and AU internet markets in web design, search marketing, affiliate marketing, domain monetisation, online strategy and more recently social media.

I write a monthly column for Australia's online business magazine - Nett and was listed on Forbes as one of 30 female entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter - the only Australian in the list.

I launched my consultancy, Dot Marketing, in 2008 after spending 8 years full time working for The Man. I work with businesses of all sizes however these days my schedule is very full.

I want to help and advise business owners who want to get online and grow their business in a "Do It Yourself" fashion.

Here's what I've got to offer you -

• 10 years experience and knowledge of working in business development online
• I know what goes into the back-end of websites and how good web design helps your business
• I know how to market websites to bring in more targeted visitors and convert them into a meaningful transaction (sales, newsletter signups, product downloads etc)
• I know how find those visitors and increase conversions through search engines, social media, affiliate marketing and more
• I know how to setup and build an email list that is win win for your business and your customers
• I know how to setup a blog and bring readers to it
• Consulting advice that costs $200/hr in a more affordable and accessible way

I could go on but that should give you a picture of what I'm offering.

Here's where you come in

I want to package up this knowledge and experience into a format that will be
a) Most suitable to your schedule
b) Most beneficial to you and your business

I've been watching the questions roll in from members asking for help - from whether you should use Wordpress for your blog or website, how much a website should cost, how to setup an email list, how to setup a Twitter account etc.

I understand your pain and want to help. I want to know what you want to achieve but don't know how to? What have  you tried that hasn't worked?

I've put together a little survey to find the best way to deliver information that will help make you confident and comfortable using the internet to grow your business.

Take the Survey

Please take 2 mins to answer 3 easy questions.

Image credit: Barca

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Apple is one of the world's most loved brands

In his free eBook and website, ex Apple Marketing Executive Steve Chazin shares his insights into why this is.

Just like the design and execution of their products - Apple's marketing strategy is a thing of beauty. 

Nearly everyone has an opinion on their products (I've got an iPhone but use a PC) (<- see!!) and their product development announcement are watched intensely as their product releases.

This is a great eBook that you can refer to again and again. Check out Marketing Apple: 5 Secrets of the World's Best Marketing Machine here.

So I'm wondering - are you a Mac or a PC?

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Over 19,782 bloggers have participated in 31 Days to Build a Better Blog already.

I purchased this workbook last year to improve my personal blog - clarelancaster.com.au and I've found the information invaluable. I didn't work through it in 31 days straight - I've used it more as a reference guide and still refer to it when I need inspiration or to check on my strategy or read tutorials.

That said - I think working through the book consecutively would give you consistent growth and plan on re-reading the workbook and taking this approach myself. 

What's in it and how it will help you

Here's a taste of what's in the workbook -

• How to write an elevator pitch for your blog
• How to write a list post
• How to promote a blog post
• How to analyze a top blog in your niche
• 27 must-read tips and tutorials for bloggers
• How to join a forum and start participating
• How to set up alerts to monitor what is happening in your niche
• How to come up with 10 post ideas
• How to solve a problem: 7 ways to identify readers' problems

If you publish a blog for your business it will help you write quality content and attract more readers to that content.

Anyone who knows the Probloger name or Darren Rowse knows that he is the real deal. Darren is very protective of this reputation and only offers solid advice backed by experience. He shares what works and what doesn't.

Buy Problogger's 31 Days to a Better Blog eBook

By the end of the 31 Days you’ll have:

• Written a variety of different types and styles of posts
• Learned techniques for coming up with new post ideas
• Promoted your blog in a variety of ways
• Built relationships with readers
• Reached out to and developed working relationships with other bloggers
• Developed an editorial calendar for your blog going forward
• Discovered ways to be more connected to your niche/topic
• Designed a plan for the next month of your blogging

All in all the daily tasks are 31 steps to transform you blog into a valuable online asset.

Read more or buy it now.

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