The Internet is filled with millions of bloggers all catering to their own specific interests. Getting started in the blogosphere is a great way to meet like-minded people and learn new things.

Those who have health and wellness as their passion can share their knowledge and experience online today. Here is our guide to success for anyone looking to build and maintain a health blog.

Understand What It Means To Be a Health Blogger

Health bloggers must position themselves as a reputable authority on the topic of health and wellness. Writing about health is a different experience than casually writing about anything else online.

1. Distinguish Regular Articles From Blogs

In contrast to informative articles, blog posts should be more personal. They should combine the writer’s opinions with medical facts to some extent. By talking to the reader directly, a health blog effectively shares both tips and advice, usually from the first-person perspective.

2. Know Whether You Need Qualifications

Many would be surprised to know that a university degree in health or writing is not necessarily a requirement for professional blogging. Creating the right content and attracting an audience can be done with the right skill sets alone.

The exception would be business writing, in which some organizations will require professional education in their job postings.

Keep Focus

Trying to cover too many topics at once results in a shallow and unfocused blog. The best way to achieve success is to build up a niche audience in the field of health.

3. Find a Niche

A niche is a specific subset of the health field. A blog that focuses on one niche can set itself apart from the vast ocean of other health-related blogs out there. Some examples of niches include, but are not limited to:

• Weight loss
• Cooking and recipes
• Exercising and training
• Healthy living

Narrowing down the niche is highly recommended as well. For instance, a blogger who writes about exercise may choose to focus on outdoor running specifically, which gives more personality to his website.

Doing research on Google gives insights into how popular specific niches are. Ideally, a niche should be in high demand while having few blogs currently covering topics for it.

4. Search For a Specific Audience

Aiming for a target demographic that’s too general is a common mistake. Health bloggers need to ask themselves who they want to appeal to the most before they start writing.

Writers who work for healthcare brands, lifestyle websites, fashion magazines, or other organizations will already have a target audience in mind.

Generate Compelling Content

At the heart of any blog is the content. While design and concept matter too, the content will make or break the chance of success.

5. Do Research

A health blog should have fresh, modern content that answers all the burning questions most people have in the field of health. A dedicated blog writer should follow the news regarding health closely and be able to generate personal opinions for each story.

6. Write Engaging Posts

Compelling content needs to be well-researched and be entertaining. Being able to translate complicated medical information into readable, authoritative content is key. Writers can choose between professional or casual tones depending on the target audience.

7. Build Credibility

Health and wellness is serious business. Health writers must maintain responsibility for what they put out, especially when it comes to divisive topics. Credibility comes in the form of professionalism, such as stating facts objectively without excessive emotion.

Writing about health often involves explaining complicated ideas, some of which may contradict established beliefs. Taking criticism in a positive way is another aspect of credibility.

8. Learn From Others

It’s worth reading other health blogs to understand current standards and practices from other successful writers. Freelancers writing for client companies should always ask for example articles to get a feel for the style.

Deal With the Technical Side

The choice of a domain and hosting provider lays the foundation for any website. Let’s dive into the technical aspects of web design. 

9. Buy a Domain

Some blogging platforms like WordPress allow users to register domain names for an extra fee. These names are worth the money thanks to the branding opportunity. They should reflect the content of the blog accurately and ideally contain a keyword related to health.

10. Choose a Hosting Provider

Speaking of WordPress, it’s an example of a hosting provider. Services like this can get writers started on the right foot by providing pre-made templates, add-ons, and other functionalities out of the box.

Squarespace is another example that has a special focus on ease of use and drag-and-drop editing. It may take some searching before one can find the perfect platform.

Marketability

No matter how excellent the writing is, a website won’t gain traction if it isn’t noticed by the public. There are many ways to boost the chances that a blog will reach its intended audience.

11. Ensure Design Consistency

Globalgraphics Web Design, a Toronto web design company, recommends using a template to ensure the design is consistent throughout. Using too many different layouts will confuse readers and make it harder to engage with the content.

12. Stick To a Schedule

One way that search engines decide on-site rankings is to check how often a site updates itself. A consistent update schedule helps raise awareness but also requires the writer to think of new ideas regularly.

13. Social Media Marketing

In addition to knowledge of health topics, a health blogger must understand social media marketing. Promoting the site on Instagram, Twitter, and other networks is essential to finding new readers.

Financial Considerations

While some health bloggers treat their work as a hobby, others might be looking to make a living off their passion. For the latter group, working with financials is part of the job.

14. Know Where the Money Comes From

Health bloggers generate revenue in several ways:

• • Advertising, generally through Google AdSense or sponsored posts

• Affiliate marketing, where writers link to product pages and receive commissions for resulting sales

• Direct selling, as many health writers create eBooks and other resources to sell health-related products

15. Consider Freelancing

While personal blogs typically do not pay well, one can be useful to add to a resume in case freelancing becomes an option. Freelancers in health writing may write blog posts for healthcare brands and magazines.