Niche Websites Are Over — Build a You Website Instead

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I created my first website decades ago. It was a German fitness site that earned me about $100 a month at its peak. While trying to figure out how to drive traffic, attract readers, and make a bit more money from it, I stumbled upon the concept of niche websites.

Back then, everyone was recommending building websites with an extremely narrow focus. I read about one guy who made a site about Micro Machines (the toy cars), another who built one about microscopes, and another about flip knives.

The idea was simple: the more specific your topic, the less competition you’d have. That way, Google would send traffic your way almost instantly for a particular keyword. It worked — for a while. My site made its $100 a month consistently but never really grew beyond that until I moved on to different ideas.

Today, nobody builds niche sites anymore. The market is oversaturated, and AI has taken a huge share of the pie. Trends come and go — and niche sites are definitely going.

Not long ago, NFTs were the hottest thing online. Everyone was talking about those pixelated ape images selling for thousands of dollars. Now? Almost no one mentions them. The market has dried up completely.

When you build your brand around a trend, everything you do becomes tied to it. And when the trend fades, your brand fades too.

That’s why most niche sites have such short lifespans. Just like NFTs, they might enjoy a year or two of hype where you can make some quick money, but after that, it’s over.

So what if, instead of chasing trends, you make your website — and your brand — about yourself?

Now we’re talking about a personal blog, one that documents your way through life. This year you might be focused on getting fit and losing weight. Once you reach that goal, maybe you’ll write about building an online business. And perhaps two years from now, if NFTs make a comeback, you’ll explore that too and share the process.

Sure, not every reader will follow you in every direction. But most readers aren’t there just for your first topic — they’re there for you. And you’ll still be you, whether you’re writing about fitness, online entrepreneurship, or digital collectibles.

That’s why creating a You website is the better way. Such websites don’t fade when a trend fades. As long as people are online and reading, there will be an audience for your writing.

Whatever your interests are, make your blog about you.

For example, I could have started a generic blog about becoming an author. There’s already plenty of content out there to copy or rewrite. I could even ask ChatGPT to write a daily post about book marketing for indie authors to publish on it.

But if I write about my personal effort — how I’m trying to become a successful author, how I market my books, how I find readers — that makes the blog interesting to read for an audience. What I do here is real, it’s authentic, it’s me.

And people who read my stuff are not just interested in the topics I cover; they’re interested in me. And as long as I keep being me, they’ll come back for more.

It Seems People in Germany Are Being Massively Censored on Twitter

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I had my doubts, but when Elon bought Twitter and brought back many of the so-called controversial voices, I also had my hopes. Over the last few weeks, however, more and more people are reporting mass shadow-banning of accounts that critically discuss developments in Germany.

My account is by no means large—I’ve gathered around 900 followers, most of whom are primarily looking for a refollow. But I have a blue checkmark, which I pay for to support Elon’s attempt at creating a free speech platform. With that checkmark, a “response boost” is promised. In simple terms, accounts with a blue checkmark should appear first under tweets, while those without appear later. I once read that it’s a threefold boost; others say fivefold. I’m not sure which is correct, but a boost was definitely advertised when subscribed two years ago.

Yesterday, I went over several responses I posted the past few days and found some with only a single impression (which should have been my own). How is it possible to get such low visibility when a boost is promised? And how is it possible to get so few impressions when you have 900 followers?

I’m not expecting thousands of impressions, but getting just one is hard to explain without considering censorship and shadow-banning.

I’ve heard it’s even worse in the UK. Large US accounts are also reporting a recent sharp drop in reach.

Have the censorship overlords now reached Elon?

He made an official announcement this week that the AI algorithm is about to be updated, which should “solve some issues.” I don’t expect it to solve the problem of government censorship, though.

If things stay the way they are, Twitter is not a platform I’m going to invest much time in anymore. I might use it for posting links and “Free Book Promo” announcements and will check daily if readers reach out (you can say hi to me here). But I’m not going to create original content for Twitter without a fair playing field—something it seems German accounts not affiliated with the system do not have.

Instead, I’ll focus on writing daily for my blog (which is growing), creating video content on YouTube and Rumble, and, of course, writing short stories and books. There’s plenty of work to do there anyway.

1984 by George Orwell (Books to Read #2)

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Everyone has heard of the book. Whenever those in power see their influence waning, they claim the other side is trying to create an Orwellian state.

The former Green Party minister of economics in Deutschland actually wrote the foreword for the latest German translation of Orwell’s timeless classic. This is a textbook example of what Orwell wrote about: the inversion of reality. As it was (and is) mostly the Sozialist Green Parties in Germany that are building a state of totalitarian censorship — as exemplified by the same Green Party minister having a German citizen arrested just for calling him a dimwit on Twitter at the beginning of the year. Crazy times.

Anyway — most people know about 1984. But how many have actually read it? Some are forced to in school. And when you are forced to do something, you’re unlikely to enjoy it — which means you’ll probably learn very little.

So the real question is: how many people have read the book because they wanted to? I would assume not many. Because the book opens your eyes to state power and how the media inverts reality to keep that power running, and I see millions in every Western country not understanding that at all.

Orwell’s absolute genius shines through when he dissects how Big Brother uses language to destroy people’s ability to think: can you think about freedom when the state has censored the word “freedom” so much that nobody even remembers that the word existed?

Cognitive dissonance is another brilliant aspect of the story — explained in the final torture scene, where the protagonist Winston must deny reality before his very eyes in order to end the suffering inflicted by the personification of the state: O’Brien.

What Orwell missed, though: the deconstruction of gender and race that has been happening for the last 50 years. But what he unveiled more than anyone else was how wars are used to keep people in check. There is always a war going on since forever and the reason why is shown in 1984.

Today, the so-called debt-based economy and the resulting never-ending materialistic consumption have somewhat replaced the need for large conventional wars. But Orwell couldn’t foresee that, because it was Nixon who detached the U.S. dollar from the gold standard in 1971, long after Orwell’s death.

However, if you add an understanding of the debt-based economy, gender deconstruction, and mass migration to what 1984 teaches you, the current “clown world” suddenly makes total sense.

By the way: you can check out a free audiobook of 1984 here.

Why I Don’t Recommend Writing on Medium

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In 2024, I wrote 365 articles on Medium to test whether the platform was worth it.

Well… I lied a little. I wanted to write 365 articles, but about halfway through the year, Medium decided to ban me. Here’s why.

The Beginning

After writing close to 50 articles, Medium restricted my account features in February. I couldn’t believe it. I was only writing about my author project, my YouTube channel, and my freelancing work. Nothing controversial at all. Yet, a small banner appeared at the top of my homepage saying my account had been banned for violating Medium’s community guidelines.

When I reached out, they replied two weeks later:

Oops, our bad. The automated censorship system — which we don’t officially call a ‘censorship system’ — somehow confused your blog with someone else’s. Here’s your account back. Have fun writing for Medium — the best platform for authors on the web!

Three months later, my account features were restricted again. This time, I assumed it was another automated error. But a week later, they told me I was banned for good for violating community guidelines.

Which guidelines did I violate? They didn’t say.
How did I violate them? No explanation.
Which article caused the ban? Still no answer.

Like many social media platforms, Medium has vague community guidelines that prohibit posting “hateful content.” What counts as hateful? They don’t specify. This gives them the option to shut down any user they dislike.

Write something pro-conservative, and you might get banned in a liberal climate. Write pro-liberal, and the same thing could happen when the political tide changes. It’s absurd.

I considered my Medium writing to be very tame. I never used swear words, insulted anyone, or posted negative comments. Yet I got booted.

Meanwhile, there’s literally pornography on Medium — really explicit and graphic stuff — and that’s apparently fine. But expressing a mild political opinion? That’s where Medium draws the line.

My Thoughts on Medium

Enough about my ban. Here’s what I learned from six months on Medium:

  1. Medium gives you an audience faster than a website
    I did get readers. I didn’t achieve fame, but once I paid $5/month to join the Partner Program, I earned a few dollars here and there. My estimate: after 365 articles, starting from zero, I might have broken even — averaging about $5/month after a year.
  2. Viral articles don’t necessarily pay well
    One article “went viral” by my small-profile standards: 180 views, 90 reads, and it earned me 4 cents. Yes, 4 cents. Some magazines pay that per word, which puts Medium’s pay into perspective.
  3. There are “whales” on Medium
    The real money comes from readers who pay $15/month. Their reads are worth more than average. Without attracting these whales, making a living is nearly impossible.
  4. I liked the design
    Medium is clean, reader-friendly, and visually pleasing. I’ve tried to replicate some of that design on my own website.
  5. Organic growth is possible, but limited
    Following people who follow you is a simple trick to gain initial subscribers. The more followers you have, the more your articles appear in feeds.
  6. Most content is generic
    Many successful Medium writers write about how to succeed on Medium — a ponzi-like cycle where success breeds advice for the less successful. Unique voices are rare. And for political writing? Be liberal, preferably an Obama fan.
  7. Medium’s payment system is essentially a ponzi scheme
    Users pay at least $5/month, some of which goes to writers. But a large portion goes to Medium itself. Not everyone can earn their money back, let alone make a living in that system, as this would make Medium become unviable.
  8. AI writing floods the platform
    Articles like “10 unknown facts about the Great Wall” are now everywhere, generated in seconds. Medium is swamped with AI content, making reading less enjoyable.
  9. Your platform can be taken away overnight
    The biggest flaw: you can be banned without explanation. No second chance, no appeal. You’re building Medium’s platform, not your own.

When to Write on Medium

If your content is non-political and you want to reach an audience quickly, Medium can work. Post daily articles on topics like cooking, travel, or investing. Follow people and mention in your profile that you refollow everyone. Once you have an audience, write about how to write and make money on Medium.

Don’t expect to break even in the first year, and don’t expect to earn more than $100/month anytime soon.

When Not to Write on Medium

If you want the freedom to speak your mind, avoid Medium. Build your own website, grow your audience, and sell books or services when the demand is there.

Your website — and your writing — is yours. Whatever you do on Medium will never truly be yours.

Why Everyone Needs a Website

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People started moving to social media around 2016. I’d noticed the decline of truly worthwhile blogs to read about ten years ago. But I believe that trend is about to reverse.

Social media gives you access to a large audience, and people often expect you to have at least a Twitter account if you’re a public figure. I get that. I use Twitter and YouTube myself — and maybe, in the future, I’ll increase efforts on Instagram too.

However, the way these platforms have evolved makes having your own website more important than ever. I was banned from Medium over a year ago without a single warning, I’m fairly sure YouTube shadow-bans my channel, and German Twitter is full with state censorship for those who don’t align with the mainstream narrative.

On my website, nobody can censor me. I can write what I want and speak my mind freely on here. Some will like it, others will hate it — but no one can deplatform me here. Sure, Google might bury content it doesn’t like in the search results, but once I’ve built a loyal readership and mailing list, Google’s influence over me fades.

For authors, maintaining a blog is especially valuable because it’s a simple (and free) way for readers to discover and get into your work. I often give away books for free, but blogging is another way for potential readers to get to know me without any commitment. If you enjoy my blog, you’ll enjoy my books — guaranteed.

But I believe a website is essential for any public figure. In the near future, hosting video content will likely become very affordable. At that point, anyone could host their own vlogs, video essays, podcasts, and livestreams directly on their own site. Add a payment processor that doesn’t discriminate by political beliefs, and the bubble of mainstream media control could finally burst — giving rise to a new golden age of citizen journalism. No add AI video making and anyone could make Hollywood quality movies and post (and sell) them on their own website.

Even if you’re not an author, social commentator, vlogger, or influencer, a website is still for you. At the very least, it serves as your personal business card — a place to showcase your projects and interests. Whether you study math, play college sports, work as a plumber, invest in crypto or dividends, or love to travel — create a website and write about it. You might not become a famous influencer or make big money from it, but it will open doors.

And I’m not just talking about professional opportunities — personal ones, too. Let’s say you love riding motorbikes. With a website, you’ll quickly connect with other enthusiasts in your area. If you love reading, authors might start sending you free books or you’ll get great book recommendations by other readers. If you’re passionate about a sports team and write about them for fun, you might gain better access to games in the future.

A website simply builds credibility — in every area. And it does that far better than social media can for the average person. Sure, having a million Twitter followers is great, but what about smaller accounts like mine, with only around a thousand? Nobody cares about these accounts as they’re a dime a dozen.

A website with just 1,000 monthly readers, on the other hand, is something real — a meaningful platform that connects you with potential friends, collaborators, and opportunities.