Building a Website Similar to freevikings.com (Including Paid High-Quality Content)
freevikings.com is a simple, text-heavy site with a small number of in-depth articles (around 6-7 visible pieces), mixing free and password-protected content on topics like geopolitics, economics, business/technology explanations, finance, and cultural critiques. The articles are well-researched, structured (with lists, tables, subsections), and long-form (1,000-3,000+ words each), emphasizing analytical depth over volume.
Since you’re assuming everything is paid for—including professional development and high-quality outsourced content—costs rise significantly due to hiring expert writers for researched nonfiction in complex niches (e.g., economics/geopolitics). Here’s a realistic 2025 breakdown:
Cost Breakdown
| Component | Low-End Estimate | Mid-Range Estimate | High-End Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domain Name | $10–20/year | $10–20/year | $10–20/year | Standard via Namecheap/GoDaddy. |
| Hosting | $100–300/year (shared/VPS) | $300–600/year (managed VPS) | $600–1,200/year (premium managed) | Sufficient for low-traffic site; e.g., Ghost(Pro) or similar starts ~$100–500/year. |
| Website Build/Design | $1,000–3,000 (freelancer, WordPress/Ghost theme) | $3,000–8,000 (custom design) | $8,000–15,000 (agency-level custom) | Includes simple password protection (native in Ghost or plugins). No complex features needed. |
| Password Protection Setup | Included in build | Included | Included | Basic per-page passwords or membership tier. |
| Initial Content (10 high-quality long-form articles) | $5,000–10,000 | $10,000–20,000 | $20,000–40,000+ | Core expense: $500–4,000 per article for expert-researched nonfiction (e.g., $0.50–$1.50/word or $1,000–3,000 flat for in-depth pieces in economics/geopolitics). Assumes 2,000–3,000 words each. |
| Additional Content Creation (ongoing, e.g., 12 articles/year) | $6,000–12,000/year | $12,000–24,000/year | $24,000–50,000+/year | To maintain/grow the site; high rates for specialized, data-driven writing. |
| Editing/Proofreading | $500–2,000 initial | $2,000–5,000 initial | $5,000+ initial | Optional but recommended for quality. |
| SSL, Maintenance, Tools | $100–500/year | $500–1,000/year | $1,000–2,000/year | Backups, updates, basic SEO tools. |
Total Estimated Cost
- Launch a basic similar site (10 articles, professional build): $7,000–15,000 initial (low-end, freelancer-heavy), then $2,000–5,000/year ongoing (hosting + minimal new content).
- Professional mid-range version (matching depth/quality): $15,000–35,000 initial, then $10,000–30,000/year if adding regular content.
- Premium/high-volume build (20+ articles, custom design, ongoing expert content): $40,000–100,000+ initial/year one, scaling up with more content.
The biggest variable is content: High-quality, researched long-form in niches like geopolitics or economics commands premium rates ($500–$3,000+ per piece from experienced freelancers on platforms like Upwork or specialist networks). The site’s value lies almost entirely in this depth—if you skimp here, it won’t match the original’s appeal.
For a closer match without full subscriptions (like the password model), platforms like Ghost are ideal (simple setup, native paid tiers if you expand later, ~$100–500/year hosted). Start small: Hire 5–10 articles to test, then scale. Get quotes from freelancers specializing in nonfiction/economics for accurate budgeting.