I've had a website for several decades, and followers of the blog have tracked with me through a lot of different platforms. It's always been free, the content I've created.
In the last several years, things have gotten weird online. As in, people are scrambling to find alternative platforms to publish content where they won't be censored.
As I noted on my website:
"I am on several social media platforms, not because I'm eager for more "socializing" but because I decided I'd better get on some alternative platforms that aren't culling and censoring what you can do on them (MeWe, Gettr, Locals, Rumble, Odysee, Gab, Platforms Whose Names I Can't Remember Anymore). It's a lot. That's not great. Some I tried actively for a few months but just walked away from, because I'm a curmudgeon. I have mostly retreated to paper books that have no comments sections. Have a Telegram group. Trying out Substack. Have a paper mail newsletter. Am on Patreon and Locals."
In the process of finding different platforms, I've also begun offering a mix of free and paid content. Admittedly, I'm weary of all the adds, promoted sponsors, and need to pay money for everything while at the same time understanding that it takes time to make content, it's harder now because you have to jump through a lot of hoops to find a place to publish it, and that there's been a shift in how people online view paying small sums for access to creators and their content.
I hope I get the mix right.
I still want to do mostly free, so my blog on Substack is...mostly free. Patreon and Locals are going to be seen as the paid option for extra content from behind the scenes. You don't need it to enjoy a blog post, but it's there if you want it.
Because you have to double-build your presence knowing that some platforms may censor you at some point, Locals is a kind of copy to Patreon. They are not set up the same, so each platform offers its own way of providing benefits. It's up to you to choose which you want.
You can find links and information on my website: http://loneprairie.net
