It was overdue. My website was functional, but it never really felt like “me.” Too much dependency, too little clarity – and that despite being only a few weeks old. So I decided to start over: away from a US-based platform (Squarespace.com), towards a fully self-managed solution focused on independence, privacy, and minimalist design – now live at evspeicher.eu.
Why make the switch at all?
I had three main goals:
- Full control over my content and data
- A calm, focused user experience
- A digital space that feels like my channel – and is based where I am: in Europe
Squarespace was convenient, but it was also closed, US-centric, and only partly customizable. I realized: if I stand for digital autonomy – then my website should reflect that.
What’s different now
- Hosting: The new website is hosted with Infomaniak in Switzerland – a European provider with a strong focus on sustainability and privacy. Feel free to check out their statement on that here.
- System: I’m using WordPress – yes, technically a US-origin open-source project, but widely adopted, highly customizable, and completely self-hosted in my setup.
- Analytics: I use Slimstat Analytics – a locally installed tool that keeps all data internal. Every visit is fully anonymized and stored on my own server.
No Google Analytics. No tracking. No data sharing.
For comparison: with Google Analytics, virtually all visitor data leaves your server, gets shared with Alphabet, and is used to train their AI. With Slimstat, the data stays where it belongs.
Less distraction – more focus on what matters
No gimmicks, no detours – just clear structure by content, topic, and function. That was the goal behind the redesign.
The design is deliberately minimalist: neutral colors, plenty of whitespace, no icons or emojis in text, minimal visual noise. The site isn’t meant to entertain – it’s meant to inform and provide orientation.
Some technical details:
- A small cookie banner is necessary – mainly to remember the selected language and to optionally deactivate Slimstat Analytics.
- Slimstat remains privacy-first and local: Visitors can choose whether they want to be counted or not.
- One major improvement: The website is now fully available in English – 1:1, as you can see here in this blog post 🙂
Over the coming weeks, I’ll gradually introduce new features that weren’t technically feasible before.
The focus will always remain on clarity, control, and speed.
Yes, I’m aware of the contradiction
Of course I still use YouTube. It’s a near-monopoly I rely on as a content creator – simply because there’s no real alternative. I edit my videos with Final Cut Pro on a MacBook. I post on LinkedIn, link to Amazon, and use Bluesky. My video gear comes from DJI and Fuji. So yes – many of my tools come from the US or Asia.
That’s not a contradiction. It’s the global digital reality we all live in – one built on strong dependencies with American tech giants. I try to make conscious choices about what I use – not dogmatically, but mindfully.
This website rebuild was one step toward greater digital autonomy, not a complete withdrawal.
At the same time, I remain a clear advocate of an open, global digital space – one where it’s not about where something comes from, but what it stands for: sustainability, fairness, quality.
Sadly, that principle is increasingly hard to follow unless you’re willing to make extreme compromises.
I feel part of a generation that once believed all of this was possible – that digital technology would overcome borders, not create new ones.
That hope is currently being brought down to earth. Which makes it all the more important for me to constantly reflect on my position – and consciously decide where I connect, what I use, and what I support. Step by step.
So what’s next?
This site isn’t a replacement for my channels – but it is a step toward digital resilience. It is:
- independent
- privacy-conscious by design
- based in Europe
- hosted by a provider that values sustainability and environmental responsibility
- and technically built to grow with me
Maybe I’ll start sharing more content here in the future – the kind that doesn’t fit into a YouTube algorithm. Maybe tools, thoughts, or ideas like this one.
Maybe it seems out of line with what I usually do – but maybe it’s necessary to start sharing from the sidelines of my main focus.
Conclusion
Digital independence begins with small decisions. A piece of hosting you own. A system that doesn’t sell you.
To me, that’s not a contradiction – it’s the path you can take as an individual or small business, without losing yourself in the process.
If you’d like to discuss this with me – feel free to send me a message and until then stay full of energy!
