Samantha (Zhimin) is a web designer and founder of Sincere Copy, a boutique web development and content writing studio in Melbourne, Australia. She is a degree-qualified communications specialist, passionate about written words, good design and technology.
Samantha spent her childhood in sunny Singapore and Malaysia before moving to Melbourne to pursue her bachelor’s degree in communications. With over a decade of experience in corporate marketing across various sectors like health services, not-for-profit, and retail, she also holds a postgraduate qualification in management. Her passion for marketing and design led her to start her own business, Sincere Copy, which offers personalised consultation and services to small business owners. Her services include agency-quality WordPress web design, written content and templates. Samantha simplifies complex information and industry jargon into effective storytelling and impactful web design that helps her clients build their businesses.
Over the years, her clients have been featured in publications such as Frankie Magazine and YEN. She has also written for digital publications such as Polka Dot Honeymoon. Samantha is active in the space of female leadership, being an active member of APAC women’s leadership networks Uncommon Co. She currently lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and preschool-age son.
Samantha also hosts a fortnightly podcast, Sincerely Yours, sharing marketing and business tips to create compelling and authentic brand messaging.
What gets you so excited about storytelling and visual design?
A good story can transport you to a different realm, and that is what I love about storytelling – it’s the closest thing you can get to time travel. Visual design and written words are the mechanisms in my storytelling kit. Great visual designs and written words can elicit different responses and behaviours in different people.
I am simply fascinated by how each individual views a story or a certain design differently and how their own worldview and context frame their response to a story or design. With Sincere Copy, my mission is to help businesses and professional services connect and communicate with greater clarity via storytelling and visual design.
Do you have a project that holds a special place in your heart?
Every project is unique because I pour a piece of myself into it. It’s like Voldemort and his Horcruxes (for the Potterheads out there). Recently, I helped a development coach bring her vision to life through the creation of a deck of facilitator cards to use in her workshop.
She had a very specific look that she wanted, and it was great to help her bring that vision to life from the initial scribbles and sketches on a Word document. I went on to assist her with the marketing, content creation and e-commerce process to bring her product to market…and to see her orders rolling in… it is simply incredible to be part of her business journey.
In your personal experience, what were some of the toughest things you had to overcome starting a business in Australia?
As a first-generation migrant, I found that I was two steps behind some of my peers when it came to starting a business, particularly because I had the added challenge of navigating Australia’s immigration and visa system in the first few years of my residency in Australia. The added cost pressure also meant I was in full-time employment while freelancing under my own name. Another significant challenge was finding business networks and getting the “lay of the land” about Australian business structure, etc. Working as an employee was a great training ground to:
1. Save up funds needed to start a business
2. Start networking and understanding the Australian business landscape.
What are some top tips you would give to small business owners looking to engage with a content marketing agency for the first time?
Definitely have a clear understanding of your business goals and what you want to achieve. Nobody knows your business better than yourself, whether it’s brand awareness, lead generation or sales. If you have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve, you can guide your agency and won’t be distracted by the latest tech or flashy stuff the agency presents to you.
Also, conduct thorough research – look at their portfolio, reviews and case studies to assess their track record. Don’t be afraid to contact the clients listed in their portfolio to verify or vet the agency if need be.
Ask the agency about KPIs and evaluation. Content marketing and web design are long-term and a two-way street. It’s always a red flag if your agency is not proactive in setting up a project plan or evaluation plan.
Ensure there is a clear contract in place that outlines the scope of work, deliverables, payment terms and termination clauses. Legal clarity can help you avoid disputes. It pays to have peace of mind.
Finally, trust your gut! If you have any doubts about the agency’s commitment, expertise or their approach, it may be worth exploring other options. With consideration and communication, the right web design and content marketing agency can be the partnership you need to grow and scale.
If you had a super power bestowed upon you tomorrow, what would it be and how would you use it to change the world?
Time control – to slow down or speed up time. Selfishly, slowing down time will give me more time with my loved ones. I would slow down time to allow humanity more time to address environmental issues, adapt to technological changes, and find more sustainable ways to reduce resource scarcity. I would speed up time to find medical cures and improve quality of life.
Follow Sam and the Sincere Copy podcast