The Small Website Discoverability Crisis (2021) (marginalia.nu)

Article summary

The article discusses the difficulty of discovering small, interesting websites on the internet, as they are often not found on Google or Reddit. The author proposes a simple solution of creating and publishing lists of bookmarks to interesting websites, allowing users to discover new content. This approach is seen as a way to promote small websites and create a healthier community. The author also mentions the limitations of existing solutions, such as web rings and curated link directories.

Main themes

• small website discoverability
• internet fragmentation
• search engine limitations
• user behavior
• open web decline
• alternative solutions
• community promotion

What commenters say

• The internet has become less discoverable due to the dominance of large platforms and search engines.
• Small websites are not well-represented on major search engines, making them hard to find.
• The lack of discoverability is a result of user behavior and preferences, rather than a technical issue.
• Existing solutions, such as blog rolls and link directories, are no longer effective in promoting small websites.
• Some argue that the problem is not with the internet, but with the average user's behavior and preferences.
• Others propose alternative solutions, such as using specialized search engines or curated link platforms.
• The rise of walled gardens and advertising monopolies has contributed to the decline of the open web.
• Simple, user-driven approaches, such as bookmark sharing, may be a more effective way to promote small websites.