Back to Past Projects Overview
Before web content strategy was a career, before WordPress became a household name, and before “blog” was even a word—there was a guy learning HTML on Geocities. That guy was me.
This first chapter isn’t about polished work or big results. It’s about how I discovered the web as a place to create, explore, and maybe even help people along the way.
Bridging the Gap – First Web Site (mid-1990s)
One of my first personal projects was a site called Bridging the Gap, built on Geocities. The name reflected something I still care deeply about: helping people move from where they are to where they want to be—across gaps in knowledge, health, spiritual life, or just general overwhelm.
It was broad. Probably too broad. But it was heartfelt.
I used Geocities’ built-in editor, taught myself HTML from online tutorials, and experimented with images—even though digital photography wasn’t widely accessible yet. I remember one in particular: a quiet bridge over a small stream, maybe in an English village. That image still sticks with me.
I didn’t know what a content niche was. I didn’t have a target audience. But I had something to say—and a place to say it.
What I’d do differently today:
• Give the site a tighter focus
• Build it as a blog with email opt-ins and categories
• Possibly reuse the Bridging the Gap name for a series on growth, tech, or mindset
Internet Christian Resources – Second Web Site
Around the same time, I teamed up with a coworker who encouraged me during a difficult season. Together, we created a site (I believe it was called Internet Christian Resources) that curated spiritual content—almost like a newsletter hub before newsletters were standard.
He had an email list. We republished the content as web pages. It wasn’t paid work, but it gave me real experience outside of the basic tools I’d been using. I started editing HTML manually and thinking more strategically about content formats and distribution—even if I didn’t yet have those words for it.
What I’d do differently today:
• Convert it into a blog/podcast hybrid
• Use affiliate links for book recommendations
• Build a community around shared encouragement and insight
The Takeaway
These early projects weren’t flashy or high-traffic. But they mattered—because they were mine. They gave me space to practice, experiment, and discover what it meant to create something on the web.
They also planted the seeds for how I approach projects today:
• Start with purpose, not polish
• Keep learning as you go
• Don’t underestimate the power of small beginnings
Coming up next: Day 2 – Missed Chances and Quiet Contributions (American Leprosy Missions, Unity Presbyterian, and a church plant closer to home).
