In today’s digital age, reaching an audience might seem easier than ever. However, for Christian platforms, the online landscape is full of unexpected challenges. Despite the promise of global connectivity, algorithms, platform policies, and a profits-first approach often make it harder to share Christian content, even with those actively seeking it.
Over the years, many people have asked me what it’s like to run a website like Nerd in the Word. Today, I’d like to share my response. The truth is that maintaining an audience requires constant effort, and this type of ministry involves complexities that aren’t always obvious.
If you’re pressed for time, I encourage you to scroll down to the section titled “Challenges, Success, and Determination” for our year in review and tips on how to get the most out of Nerd in the Word in 2025.
📉 The Algorithmic Struggle for Visibility
When people use Facebook, the natural expectation is that content shared on your page will appear in the feeds of all your subscribers and followers. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Often, followers remain unaware that a post has even been made. For instance, our recent Thanksgiving post on Nerd in the Word reached only 4 out of 89 Facebook followers within the first day. A week later, it had reached just 31 people in total. In my experience, Facebook only consistently delivers posts to followers when an advertising budget is in place to boost visibility. Without it, organic reach and engagement remain severely limited.
However, as time progressed, even using ads failed to yield meaningful results over time. In November 2023, I placed a $30 advertising budget for a week to promote the article “The Most Famous Person to Ever Exist.” By the end of the campaign, Facebook had delivered only $6.43 worth of ads. Despite 1,316 ad placements, the article garnered only 9 reads— making it my least-read piece to date, even underperforming unboosted posts that came before and after it.
I have had similar problems with X (formerly Twitter). Since establishing a presence there in 2019, no post has exceeded ten views, and as of this writing, the account has gained only two followers. This minimal engagement suggests that content will remain largely unseen without paid promotion. I have had more success with Bluesky. Since creating my first post there on December 4th, 2024, it has already gained seven followers in the short window of time it has been available.
However, even platforms designed for content sharing, like Medium, have yet to provide relief. I uploaded nine articles to Medium months ago, yet none have received a single view despite the platform’s reputation for amplifying the visibility of smaller writers.
These consistent setbacks raise questions about whether algorithms intentionally or unintentionally repress Christian content. As a programmer, I understand that these algorithms are self-programming. There is likely no human-designed negative bias towards Christian articles programmed into the system, but the algorithm’s tendency to repress Christian content cannot be ignored.
⛔ Roadblocks and Rejections
The challenges extend beyond social media. In early 2021, one of the tools our website used changed how it operated and it resulted in a total collapse of the website. Fortunately, I am a programmer and able to do the maintenance myself. However, it took over a month and quite a bit of money to migrate everything over to a new system that was more future-proof.
In 2024, Google terminated the Nerd in the Word Google Play account hosting the BibleMind app. Despite providing identity and address verification three times, the account was rejected and ultimately deleted without a chance for recovery. During all this time, customer support remained unreachable due to direct communication being reserved for the largest companies on Google Play.
Worst of all has been trying to work with Ad networks. Nerd in the Word has been burning through money for years. So, I have made various efforts to minimize the yearly losses. Despite my efforts, every ad network I have applied to, except Google, has rejected Nerd in the Word as an advertiser. Google will accept anyone, and while they do display ads on the site, they are very minimal. The revenue generated amounted to just $10 in 2024, meaning it would take a decade to reach the $100 minimum threshold required for withdrawal. Obviously, this is insufficient to keep the ministry operating.
📧 Communication Barriers with Email
Email remains one of the most effective communication tools, but reaching subscribers directly can still sometimes be a challenge. For instance, some email subscribers reported not receiving notifications about new articles. Investigations revealed that these emails were being flagged as spam, even for recipients who regularly opened each email they received. At one point, I even began having Nerd in the Word emails going to spam in my own inbox.
I recently attempted to resolve this issue using Amazon’s Simple Email Service (an industry standard) but was met with issues once again. Amazon rejected our application for access, citing unspecified security concerns as they considered our use case a danger to their brand. I was suspicious we were being discriminated against and filed an appeal. It turns out a disgruntled employee disagreed with our platform and rejected it despite being in compliance with Amazon’s terms and conditions. I am happy to say that the appeal request and some prayer time have resolved the situation and have allowed us to get approved for 50,000 emails a day, which will enable us to expand Nerd in the Word’s email subscription system to multiple languages in the future.
😇 Patreon: A Beacon of Hope
Amid these challenges, Patreon has remained a reliable platform for us. Patreon has been supportive from the beginning, and I have never had a problem with them. They ensure followers always receive notifications for new posts without the interference of algorithms, and not too long ago; they added a free tier system for subscribers. Going forward, we will have a bigger focus on Patreon since that platform is most invested in our success. Their commitment to Nerd in the Word being able to connect directly with its audience makes Patreon a great option for those wishing to stay updated on our platform.
📑 Takeaways for Christian Content Creators
Have your own platform: If you want to create Christian content, do not rely on Facebook, X, Reddit, or other social media platforms to make it available. Create your own website with your own identity. There are many website builders available, such as WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix. As a programmer, I chose self-hosted WordPress since it allows me to easily program custom features into the website. Still, for those less technology literate, there are accessible ways to make a website that does not require programming skills.
Email is King: Although email may seem like an old-fashioned communication platform, it is by far the most reliable way to maintain an audience. There is little to no cost starting out, and it gives you direct contact with your audience. The email list will always be yours, and you will always have the option to move to different email services as your needs change. This is truly an invaluable asset.
Growth is a Journey: Do not expect to be a famous Christian writer overnight. When I started Nerd in the Word in 2017, I made a ten-year plan to make Nerd in the Word a recognizable name. Ignoring some setbacks, average annual growth was about 15-20%. Exposure is a slow process unless you have infinite money to burn. There are 252,000 new websites created each day, each fighting over your audience’s time. Most Christian websites take over 10 years to build a solid audience and become a recognizable name.
Don’t Do it for Money: If you want to get into Christian ministry for side cash. Well, you are looking in the wrong place. It’s rare for a ministry to be a source of income and it becomes almost impossible if you aren’t willing to sink your own money into it for years. God doesn’t promise it will be easy, but God will bless you for your work. And you can find peace knowing that what you are doing is for the benefit of others.
📈 Challenges, Success, and Determination
Support from readers is crucial in overcoming these hurdles. For the last seven years, Nerd in the Word has been operating with less than $200 in revenue monthly, making sustainability very difficult. Becoming a patron on Patreon, even if only contributing a dollar or two a month, can make a significant difference over time.
Nerd in the Word received roughly 16,000 article reads in 2024. That means someone somewhere in the world reads a Nerd in the Word article roughly every 33 minutes. Despite a 31% growth, ad revenue for the year has only been about $10. 99% of the rest of our funding comes from a single generous donor on Patreon.
Donating $1 a month to Nerd in the Word through Patreon supports us more than 16,000 pages with ads. Please do not underestimate the difference this can make for the cause of Christ. Something you wouldn’t even miss adds up when we pool our resources together.
As of 2024, over 45% of Nerd in the Word’s readers live in non-English-speaking countries. Though you may not see it when browsing the English site, Nerd in the Word is a global ministry that reaches people with Gospel truth, sometimes even beyond the firewalls of China. (We specifically had 18 readers in China this year.) We are doing great work, but we need your help as we continue to grow and costs increase.
✨ Please consider donating at: https://www.patreon.com/nerdintheword 👈🏻
For those unable to provide financial support, I still ask you to follow Nerd in the Word on Patreon on the free tier since Patreon has assured me you will always be notified of any content I post there. If you currently follow us on Facebook, liking our posts can help expand our reach and encourage the algorithms to favor Christian content.
Nerd in the Word has been sharing content for over seven years and remains committed to this journey for the long haul. Plans are still underway to further expand into new languages with the release of a website redesign. Our transition into the upcoming new website and email system will allow us to support multiple languages more effectively.
Perseverance and community support are key in a digital landscape filled with obstacles. While setbacks have been numerous, they serve only to strengthen the resolve to continue this important work. Together, we can navigate these challenges and ensure that Nerd in the Word can reach the world for Christ.
