I am a web designer, not a writer. But something about sharing my experiences, about helping people navigate a city as vibrant and complex as London, pulled me into blogging. It started as an experiment, a side project. I never thought it would become something I cherished, something that felt like an extension of my own journey.
I built a blog, Londongaze.co.uk, to guide travelers through London’s intricate streets, its hidden corners, its buzzing life. Every article, every tip, every recommendation was something I put together with care. Sure, I used AI to help me structure my thoughts, to refine what I wanted to say, but the stories, the insights, the soul of it all—those were mine.
I curated around 70 articles, each one a reflection of my love for this city. Slowly, people started to find my blog. Visitors came, some pages ranked on Google, and I thought: maybe now is the time to apply for Google AdSense.
And then—rejection.
Google didn’t accept my application. They said I was using AI too heavily. They placed me into all sorts of categories that disqualified me. The irony? Google itself is driven by AI. If you search for anything today, Google’s own AI shapes what you see, deciding which information rises to the top. But if a small creator like me dares to use AI as a tool, suddenly, it’s a problem.
Hypocrisy? Absolutely. But more than that, it’s a wake-up call.
This rejection could have been the end of my blogging journey. It could have made me give up. But did I?
A big NO.
Because here’s the thing—blogging was never just about the money for me. Sure, earning from it would be great, but that’s not why I started. I love London. I love sharing what I know. I love the idea that someone out there—maybe a first-time traveler, maybe a curious wanderer—is finding my words useful, maybe even comforting.
So I keep going. I keep writing. Not for Google. Not for AdSense. But for the people who stumble upon Londongaze.co.uk looking for something real.
London isn’t just a city; it’s an experience. It’s the soft glow of the Thames at sunset, the unexpected quiet of a side street in Notting Hill, the electric energy of Soho on a Friday night. It’s the stories of the people who’ve walked its streets before us and the ones who are making their mark now.
If my blog can capture even a fraction of that magic, if it can help even one traveler feel more at home in a foreign city, then it’s worth it.
So, to anyone who’s been told that they can’t, that they don’t fit into some arbitrary set of rules—keep going. Do what you love. Let passion, not approval, be your guide.
Because in the end, it’s not about algorithms. It’s about people. And people? They’re always searching for something real.