News|Commentary

By Drew Bryant
January 1st, 2023, theloadoutblog.com

In 2019, I embarked on a mission—to merge firearms and culture in a way that hadn’t been done in over 50 years. The Loadout Blog was born, envisioned as a fun, informative, and educational hub, featuring reviews on firearms, insightful guides, and even a touch of entertainment with a focus on movies and video games.

As the site grew exponentially, it became a go-to source for honest, accessible information and entertainment within the community. Over time, my focus shifted more towards firearms, temporarily setting aside the entertainment aspect. Yet, it’s a facet I’m eager to bring back, with a grand vision of transforming this website into a digital magazine, complete with a team of staff writers.

The journey so far has been solely funded by yours truly. However, for The Loadout Blog to reach its full potential, a necessary juncture has arrived. First, I plan on introducing advertising dollars, but I’m committed to avoiding clutter on the site and promoting only companies or products I genuinely use and recommend. I refuse to compromise my journalistic integrity or freedom for money.

Second, I will be introducing a subscription-based model. This shift is twofold: maintaining the website’s independence and ensuring it thrives. I’m eyeing a monthly subscription fee of $20. I believe it to be a fair price aimed at valuing and respecting my audience finances.

Why the subscription? It’s not about merely sustaining the website; it’s about propelling it forward. The funds generated will enable more reviews, class assessments, and the acquisition of essential equipment, such as a ballistic chronograph, to a camera, and ammunition. My aspiration is to develop a comprehensive white pages area akin to industry veterans like Aaron Cowan from Sage Dynamics or Pew Science, presenting information and reviews in the most unbiased manner possible.

Subscribers won’t just be patrons; they’ll be part of an exclusive community with perks. Imagine giveaways of reviewed firearms, monthly raffles featuring gift cards to industry products, and behind-the-scenes insights into the latest articles I will be working on. It’s a way of saying thank you for supporting a vision that seeks to create a better firearms culture, perpetually under attack.

The subscription model isn’t about abandoning the 9-5 grind; it’s about striking a balance. It will empower me to focus on generating more content, bringing in freelance writers to diversify our coverage, and delving deeper into industry-related matters. The goal is simple—to provide you, the reader, with even more engaging, diverse, and accessible content on the website and across social media platforms.

In 2024, The Loadout Blog is evolving. Advertising and a subscription-based future beckons, promising a richer, more vibrant tapestry of content. As we embark on this exciting chapter, I invite you to join us, to be a part of a community dedicated to fostering a firearms culture that stands resilient against challenges. I’m currently awaiting approval from SubscribeStar, and as soon as that information is available to me, I will make it known to the audience. The journey has just begun, and the best is yet to come.

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