Alex Reviews Tech started as an adjunct to my regular freelance work back two years ago… but well… about that…
So when I started Alex Reviews Tech, it was very much with the viewpoint that I was still quite busy as a freelance technology writer and editor, creating content across and for a number of quite prominent mastheads.
Still, I wanted a little more, especially as the reality of writing for others is that you not only lose control, but from time to time have work outright cancelled due to “commercial considerations”.
I’ll let you ponder on what that statement might mean, because, frankly, Australian defamation law is a THING, and not one I fancy ending up on the painful needing-a-lawyer side of. ‘Nuff said.
I’d be lucky to be able to afford this guy as my lawyer, frankly.
That was all part of the game to an extent, but the reality is that the game has also changed, because the game board has shrunk massively, and with it, being 100% transparent and clear, so too have the freelance opportunities.
If you’re in the trade this isn’t news to you, but the fact of the matter is that while Australians use and embrace technology in nearly every aspect of their daily lives at an accelerated rate, the number of quality publications that are producing content has gone down, not up.
Literally, decades of my work online has gone up in digital smoke in the last year as sites such as CNET Australia, Gizmodo Australia, Kotaku Australia and Lifehacker Australia have been shuttered.
As such, ART has shifted to the “this is my side gig that I’ll do from time to time” to being a very significant part of my daily working routine.
I am still freelancing (and happy for the work, to be clear), but my own-self publishing work, whether in text or increasingly video form has become far more important to me than it used to.
That’s where you come in, because while the ads that I did pause back in August and September are indeed back, they’re never going to be enough of an income source — and I’m well aware that a certain number of folks are outright ad-blocking them anyway. I get it, I really do.
So I wanted some ways that people could support what I’m trying to do here, creating ethical tech journalism and reviews, but I’m also aware that the friction of getting payments up and running is a very real thing.
That’s why I’m trying a couple of different ways for readers and viewers to support what I’m doing.
Support Alex Reviews Tech On Ko-Fi!
If you’d prefer to support me via Ko-Fi (I do like a nice cup of coffee) you can do so below. That’s pretty much a straight support donation, same as it’s always been, your way of showing appreciation for an article or video.
You can support me via Ko-Fi using the button below!
Added bonus: If you’re a recurring Ko-Fi supporter, you’ll also get a thanks shoutout in my upcoming videos for the months you’re supporting me!
Become an Alex Reviews Tech patron at Patreon!
Sponsor ART to give me more time to do this!
I’m giving Patreon a try as an alternative to Ko-Fi (both have their ups and downs and all that), but I know the Patreon audience is a little different.
So alongside the callout of thanks in videos for the month that you’re a Patron, I’ll also be publishing at least one article per week over at Patreon for members only. Want even more ART in your life? Become a Patreon subscriber today!
Donate directly via PayPal!
Donate! It’s what Godzilla would do… if he had a bank account.
A simple, easy route that I think most people will be familiar with as a payments platform. If you’d like to just make a simple donation, you 100% can do so via PayPal:
Support me via PayID
Rather not pay inflated transfer fees?
If you prefer to use PayID (which, to be honest, eats up less in transaction fees, so it’s a bit of a win-win) then you can also donate to me via PayID!
Alex Reviews Tech PayID: alexkidman@alexkidman.com