Why the TPK Blog is Changing: A Video for All TPK Subscribers

When I first announced TPK Premium, the response from readers was incredibly encouraging. I’m deeply grateful for your understanding of this big step forward. Transparency is key for me, so I’ve put together a video that explains the reasons behind this change and what it means for you:

Prefer to read? Here’s a written version of what’s included in the video:

Why TPK is Transitioning to a Premium Model

Many of you TPK subscribers have been with me for several years, and it’s important to me that you understand why this change is happening. When I started The Postman’s Knock (TPK) Blog back in October 2012, the internet was a different place. Back then, the model was simple: put out quality content, and search engines like Google would direct people to the site. New visitors would discover TPK, explore the tutorials, and often support the site by purchasing calligraphy worksheets or other resources. This model worked well for many years.

However, the online landscape has shifted dramatically. In “internet time,” twelve years is an eternity, and things have evolved in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. Websites now often monetize through models that compensate creators directly, like Substack. This shift got me thinking seriously about how I could continue providing valuable content sustainably. When I started working on my book with DK, I couldn’t devote the same energy to the Blog, and it made me realize how much I loved creating in-depth tutorials and projects without worrying about SEO or making TPK Digital Catalog/Supplies Shop sales.

Over the years, my articles on the TPK Blog have been largely dictated by Google algorithms. I might want to write about a unique drawing technique or explore a niche calligraphy topic that I know you’d enjoy, but if Google didn’t deem it a high-traffic topic, I had to choose something else. As a result, I felt like I was often serving search engines rather than you, my community.

A turning point came recently when I searched for an article on my own site to share with someone. Google provided a summarized snippet of my content that included all the key points. It was a frustrating moment—seeing a day’s work of writing, photography, and video condensed into a small box that gave people no incentive to visit the site. Why put so much work into a blog if search engines aren’t connecting new people with it?

In addition to these changes, maintaining a website of TPK’s scale is expensive. The site has grown significantly, with thousands of daily visitors and a database filled with over a decade of content. The larger a website is, the more money it costs to host its content and provide a high-speed browsing experience. On top of that, there are costs for hosting videos, using design software, and sending out newsletters. While the TPK Supplies Shop and Digital Catalog help, they’re not enough to keep the blog sustainable long-term.

I realized I had three options:

1. Use the Blog as a Promotional Tool: This would mean writing only about topics related to products in the Supplies Shop or Digital Catalog. However, this approach feels inauthentic, limiting the topics I can cover to those directly tied to sales.
2. Allow Advertising: This option was immediately off the table. TPK is meant to be a creative, ad-free space where you can find inspiration without distractions. Ads would disrupt this experience and go against everything TPK stands for.
3. Transition to a Membership Model: This is the option that feels the most aligned with TPK’s values. By asking for a small membership fee, I can focus on delivering high-quality, ad-free content that’s crafted with you in mind.

With over 125,000 free subscribers, even a small fraction supporting the blog at $5 a month would make a tremendous difference. This fee allows me to dedicate my full attention to creating content that doesn’t have to cater to search engines or be crafted around sales. Instead, I can focus on what truly interests and inspires both you and me.

Another factor in this decision is the rise of AI. Artificial intelligence systems scrape data from sites like TPK, and, in some cases, can provide responses based on my content without credit. While AI has its benefits, especially in areas like medicine, I want to protect my creative work from becoming part of this data pool without my consent. A membership model will help shield TPK’s unique content from being exploited in this way.

Additionally, managing spam comments has become increasingly time-consuming. While filtering software used to handle most spam, AI has made it easier for spammers to bypass these filters. By limiting comments to TPK Premium members, I can foster a more genuine community interaction and significantly reduce the time spent on managing spam.

I understand this change may not be welcome news for everyone, and I want to thank you for considering this new chapter with me. I’m keeping the membership cost low in hopes that it will remain accessible. Ultimately, this transition allows me to bring my best work to the blog and to continue doing what I love: creating inspiring content for you.

Thank you for your understanding and support. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I look forward to seeing many of you in TPK Premium!