Tech Tag: Blogging

An open-access blog, visible without login, offers high freedom of information sharing and keeps the entry barrier low. It’s easy to attract visitors through search engines and social media sharing. However, we live in an age of large-scale AI scraping. Automated agents powered by AI are rapidly advancing, collecting and utilizing personal writing, illustrations, and unique insights without permission.

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Creating a personal website can be a transformative step for individuals, offering numerous benefits across various aspects of personal and professional life. Here are some compelling reasons to consider:

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1. Convert Public Key to HEX format

1. Copy the Public Key from the Damus home screen
2. Open Damus’ KeyConverter and convert Public Key to HEX format

2. Creating a JSON file

1. Use a code editor (e.g. XCode on Mac)
2. Create a new folder on your desktop
3. Create “nostr.json” file
4. Enter the code below and replace <name> with your own Damus ID name (the string after @), and <pubkey> with the hex key created above.

{"names": {"<name>": "<pubkey>"}}

3. Upload JSON file

1. Open the server’s file manager
2. Create a “.well-known” folder in the public_html folder
3. Upload the nostr.json file in the “.well-known” folder

4. Enter CORS settings in .htaccess file

Add the following code between the IfModule parentheses in the .htaccess file depending on the server software.

• For Apache: Header set Access-Control-Allow-Origin "*"
• For Nginx: add_header 'Access-Control-Allow-Origin' '*';

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule .* - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}]
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
Header set Access-Control-Allow-Origin "*"
</IfModule>

The server I’m using is an XServer, so I used Apache’s.

5. Set NIP-05 VERIFICATION

1. Tap “Edit” on the Damus home screen
2. Enter “DamusIDname@yourservername” in NIP-05 VERIFICATION
3. Tap “Save”

If configured correctly, the authentication batch will be your server name. Tap the verification badge to access your site.

You need to include the rel=”me” attribute in the link from the destination URL to your Mastodon profile. However, there is currently no direct way to set the rel=”me” attribute on links in the Gutenberg editor. Therefore, it is better to use the “Custom HTML” block and edit the HTML directly.

Example: <a href="https://mastodon.social/@username" rel="me">Mastodon</a>

Blogs and microblogs serve different purposes and cater to different audiences, so they should be used differently to maximize their effectiveness. Here’s a breakdown of how each can be utilized:

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“Own your data” means maintaining control and ownership over your personal or organizational data by ensuring:

1. Your data resides under your control: Host data in environments you own and manage, reducing reliance on third-party platforms and minimizing risks from external policy changes.
2. You retain long-term access: Prioritize data portability and the ability to back up, export, or migrate data independently, safeguarding against vendor restrictions and ensuring ongoing control.

These principles empower privacy, security, and user autonomy.

Interest in personal websites and blogs is resurging as users seek alternatives to social media. Key reasons include:

1. Platform Fatigue: Escape algorithm-driven chaos for curated, ad-free spaces.
2. Privacy: Full control over data and content.
3. Self-Expression: Revive creativity and individuality from the early web.
4. Decentralization: Align with the move toward user-controlled platforms.
5. SEO Advantage: Authentic, lasting content favored by search engines.
6. Monetization: Flexible, direct revenue streams without platform restrictions.

Conclusion: Personal websites offer privacy, control, and meaningful engagement, making them a compelling alternative to social media.

Here’s a side‑by‑side look at running a free, open blog versus putting your posts behind a paywall, plus some hybrid options and key factors to consider:

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1. Audience Growth & Discoverability

Free Blog

• Pros:
  • Easy sharing & SEO-friendly. Anyone can link to and quote your content, which helps you rank in search engines and spread via social media.
  • Lower barrier to entry. New readers can sample your work without commitment, so you’ll generally attract more casual and first‑time visitors.
• Cons:
  • Less perceived exclusivity. When everything’s free, it can be harder to stand out as “premium.”
  • Traffic noise. You’ll need a solid content and promotion strategy to keep readers coming back.

Pay‑gated Blog

• Pros:
  • Built‑in filter. By charging, you signal that your content is high value; subscribers tend to be more engaged and loyal.
  • Predictable audience. You know exactly who’s reading, and can build deeper relationships (e.g., via newsletters, events).
• Cons:
  • Slower organic growth. Search engines and social platforms tend to rank/pay more attention to freely accessible content.
  • Conversion friction. Every new visitor must decide to subscribe before reading—many will bounce.

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2. Revenue & Monetization

Free Blog

• Ad‑ or sponsorship‑supported. You can monetize via display ads, affiliate links, sponsored posts or partnerships.
• Volume‑based. To make meaningful income, you usually need high traffic—often tens or hundreds of thousands of pageviews per month.

Pay‑gated Blog

• Subscription income. Direct monthly (or annual) revenue per subscriber, often more sustainable and less volatile than ad rates.
• Premium upsells. You can bundle reports, courses, coaching or community access as add‑ons.

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3. Content Strategy & Effort

Free Blog

• Frequency & breadth. You’ll want to publish frequently across a range of topics to keep SEO engines happy and cover more keywords.
• Evergreen plus news. Mix timely commentary (to ride trends) with in‑depth guides that remain search‑relevant over time.

Pay‑gated Blog

• Depth & specialization. Subscribers expect deep dives, unique data, analysis or insider insights they can’t find elsewhere.
• Consistency & reliability. You must maintain a regular publishing cadence (e.g., weekly reports) or risk churn.

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4. Community & Engagement

Free Blog

• Open comments & sharing. Social proof through public discussion can drive visibility—but moderating comments can be time‑consuming.
• Lower commitment. Readers may “lurk” or drop off easily if they lose interest.

Pay‑gated Blog

• Exclusive community. Subscriber‑only forums, Q&A sessions, or newsletters foster a tight‑knit audience and higher engagement.
• Higher switching cost. Subscribers are more likely to stay and participate if they’ve paid.

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5. Hybrid & Metered Models

If the all‑or‑nothing choice feels too extreme, consider:

• Metered access (“freemium”). Let users read, say, 3 articles per month free; beyond that, they hit a paywall.
• Teasers & excerpts. Publish a summary or intro publicly, then gate the rest. Good for driving social shares while capturing email sign‑ups.
• Tiered subscriptions. Basic free newsletter, mid‑tier paid blog access, top‑tier VIP community or consulting.

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6. Key Factors to Decide

1. Niche & audience willingness to pay. Technical B2B, finance, health or legal niches often support paywalls better than broad‑interest lifestyle blogs.
2. Traffic vs. revenue goals. If you need scale quickly (for ads or sponsorships), free may be best. If you value predictable income and can build a small but devoted base, paywall wins.
3. Content production capacity. Are you able to deliver high‑value, original analysis on a schedule? If not, free shorter‑form could suit you more.
4. Marketing & distribution channels. Do you have an email list, social following, or partnerships to drive paid sign‑ups?

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Bottom Line

• Free blog = fastest growth, wider reach, ad‑driven revenue—but more traffic needed to monetize.
• Pay‑gated blog = steadier, subscriber‑based income and closer community—but slower to scale and higher upfront value expectations.
• Hybrid models offer a middle path: maximize reach while still capturing some revenue from your most loyal readers.

Publish content on your website first to retain ownership, boost SEO, and build authority. Then syndicate to platforms like Medium or LinkedIn to expand reach and drive traffic back to your site.

Benefits

• Ownership: Full control over content.
• SEO Boost: Original content ranks higher.
• Greater Reach: Syndication grows your audience.

Best Practices

• Use canonical tags to link back to the original.
• Tailor content for each platform.
• Delay syndication to prioritize your site.

Strengthen your site’s presence while reaching new audiences through syndication.

POSSE (Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere) is a content publishing strategy that emphasizes posting original content on your own website first and then syndicating (sharing) it to third-party platforms like social media or other content aggregators. This approach ensures you maintain control and ownership of your content while still reaching audiences on external platforms. Below is a comprehensive guide to implementing POSSE:

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Steps to Implement POSSE

1. Set Up Your Personal Website

• Use a platform like WordPress, Hugo, or Jekyll to create a website that you own and control.
• Ensure your website supports RSS feeds, as these are often used for syndication.
• Choose a domain name that reflects your brand or identity.

2. Publish Content on Your Website

• Post all original content (articles, blog posts, microblogs, etc.) on your website first.
• Include metadata like canonical URLs to establish your site as the original source.

3. Syndicate Content to External Platforms

Syndication involves sharing copies or summaries of your content on third-party platforms with links back to the original post. Here’s how:

• Manual Syndication: Copy and paste the content or its summary to platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, including a link to the original post.
• Automated Syndication:
• Use tools like Bridgy for automated sharing to platforms like Twitter or Mastodon.
• Plugins like “WordPress Crosspost” can automate syndication from WordPress to Medium or other platforms.
• Services like IFTTT or Zapier can connect your RSS feed to social media accounts for automatic posting.

4. Link Back to Your Original Content

• Ensure syndicated posts include a link (e.g., permashortlink) back to the original post on your site. This helps redirect traffic and improves SEO.

5. Track and Manage Responses

• Use tools like Webmentions or Bridgy Backfeed to aggregate comments, likes, and shares from third-party platforms back onto your website.

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Tools and Plugins for POSSE

Here are some tools and plugins that can simplify POSSE implementation:

• WordPress Plugins: Plugins like “IndieWeb” or “Jetpack” support syndication and webmentions.
• RSS-Based Tools: Tools such as Feed2Toot (for Mastodon) or Enhance’s Arc Plugin can syndicate RSS feed content automatically.
• Custom Scripts: For developers, tools like SiloRider (Python) or custom GitHub Actions can be used for more advanced automation.

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Benefits of POSSE

1. Content Ownership: You retain full control over your content without relying on third-party platforms.
2. Improved SEO: Canonical links and backlinks from syndicated content improve discoverability.
3. Platform Independence: If a social media platform changes its terms of service or shuts down, your content remains safe on your site.
4. Audience Reach: Syndication allows you to meet audiences where they are while driving traffic back to your site.

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Example Workflow

1. Write an article on your personal site (e.g., WordPress).
2. Use an RSS-based plugin or tool like Bridgy Publish to share the article on Twitter and Mastodon.
3. Include links in syndicated posts pointing back to the original article.
4. Aggregate comments from Twitter using Bridgy Backfeed.

By following this model, you can ensure that you maintain ownership of your content while leveraging external platforms for visibility and engagement.