Why I'm Building Free Tools Instead of Publishing 100 AI-Written Articles

Mr. AM — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:04:44 +0000

The internet has changed dramatically over the last few years.

With AI tools becoming more powerful every day, creating content is easier than ever.

But there's a problem.

When everyone can publish unlimited articles, content alone becomes less valuable.

As someone working on growing a website, I recently decided to test a different approach.

Instead of publishing endless articles, I started focusing on building free tools.

Here's why.

The Content Saturation Problem

Search for almost any topic:

SEO tips
Blogging advice
Productivity hacks
AI tutorials

You'll find thousands of nearly identical articles.

Many are useful.

Many are AI-generated.

Most struggle to stand out.

The barrier to creating content is now extremely low.

What Users Actually Want

Most users don't visit websites because they love reading.

They visit because they need help solving a problem.

For example:

A user searching for:

"How do I count words in my article?"

Doesn't necessarily want a detailed explanation.

They want a word counter.

Immediately.

This is where tools become powerful.

Why Free Tools Make Sense

A good tool can:

Solve a real problem
Generate recurring traffic
Improve user retention
Earn natural backlinks

Unlike articles that become outdated, many tools remain useful for years.

My New Approach

Instead of asking:

What content should I create?

I ask:

What problem should I solve?

This mindset shift changes everything.

Every tool becomes an asset.

Every solved problem becomes an opportunity to help users.

The Future of SEO

I don't believe SEO is disappearing.

I believe SEO is becoming more competitive.

Generic content is easier to create than ever.

Unique value is harder to replicate.

That's why I think successful websites will increasingly focus on:

Original research
Interactive tools
Practical resources
Community building

Key Takeaways

If you're trying to grow a website today:

Don't rely only on articles.
Build things people can use.
Focus on solving problems.
Create value before expecting traffic.
Think long-term.

Conclusion

Content still matters.

But usefulness matters more.

That's why I'm investing more time into building tools and resources rather than chasing content volume alone.

The goal isn't simply to publish.

The goal is to help.

And in the long run, I believe that's what wins.

Connect

I'm building free online tools and sharing lessons about SEO, AI, blogging, and website growth.

Website: Nixra.net

What are you building right now? Let me know in the comments.

DEV Community: Mr. AM

Why I'm Building Free Tools Instead of Publishing 100 AI-Written Articles