I’ve written about web design and related topics for over a decade. I feel like writing has informed my development work, and vice versa. Following both passions has been satisfying and helped me stay afloat financially.
I owe a debt of gratitude to Paul Andrew, the owner of Speckyboy Design Magazine. He gave me my first opportunity to get paid for my writing, and I’m thankful to still work with him today. In fact, I’ve now published 900 articles on that site. I don’t even want to guess how many words that adds up to!
It also opened the door to other opportunities. Starting as a writer allowed me to move to hosting podcasts at The WP Minute, among other things.
The web has shifted quite a bit in that time. There are plenty of technological changes we could talk about.
However, the way we make money by creating content has also changed. That’s something we don’t talk about nearly enough.
Making Money via Content Is Getting Harder
Traditionally, many publishers relied on search engines to grow their audience. Combine that with various forms of advertisements, and you have a way to pay for new content.
That model has been turned on its head in recent years. Changes to search engine algorithms resulted in a dramatic drop in traffic for some sites. Revenues dropped accordingly. Writers like me have felt the impact, taking an income hit that has been difficult to rebound from.
You can see a similar trend with bigger publications like newspapers. Much of the once-free content is now hidden behind a paywall. The premise is fair enough: pay for what you want. Journalism costs money, after all.
The difficult part is that many of us are experiencing subscription fatigue. We pay recurring fees for streaming services and other products. It’s easy to feel like we’re being nickel-and-dimed to death.
Meanwhile, the cost of living continues to rise. Paying for news or other content we enjoy is a bridge too far for some of us. That directly affects the creative professionals behind the keyboard, mic, or camera.
As such, it feels like writing has become more work for less pay. That sounds about right.
How Can We Write the Next Chapter?
For smaller sites, I believe the future for publishing on the web comes down to two things:
- Sponsorship
- Audience loyalty
Sponsorship is all about supporting content that’s important to you. It could be a company sponsorship, as some of the outlets I work for have adopted.
For example, sponsors of The WP Minute get their product or service in front of an audience full of potential customers. The content we publish is relevant to what our sponsors do, but we maintain editorial control.
This works well for niche publishers. Sponsors don’t have to search for their target market, and we can keep everyone happy. They also receive other perks, like guest appearances on our shows.
Individual memberships are another form of sponsorship. It’s like having an online subscription to a newspaper. It’s something everyday people can do without breaking the bank. That is, if you have room for yet another subscription.
Audience loyalty is different in that it’s not a direct revenue generator. Well, I suppose the bigger the audience, the more you can charge for sponsorships. But that’s another conversation.
I’m talking more about participation and support on social media. I wrote about this at Speckyboy: Learning to Appreciate Great Content
It doesn’t cost a thing and could be as simple as liking and sharing a post. That small act can have a ripple effect, introducing a publisher to new people.
Social media feels like a dumpster fire, and I’ve scaled back my involvement. However, it’s still a viable way to spread the word about the things we value. Quality content is something worth sharing.
There may not be a tangible financial benefit. But it does make us feel good when someone takes the time to do so. Creators love to see their work making an impact on others.
Support Content Creators Before It’s Too Late
We live in an era where anyone can use AI to generate content and call it a day. That’s not the same as someone dedicating their time and talents to creating something original. AI can help us hone our processes, but shouldn’t be relied on for quality or accuracy.
So, if you enjoy a piece of content, support the person who created it. Whether you spend a little bit of money on a membership or post an article to your Facebook feed, it helps.
Standing out amongst the AI slop is getting harder, as is search engine visibility. A few small steps can make a difference.