Why I blog (it’s for you . . . and me)

If you don’t like to blog, don’t have time to blog, or have a huge resistance to blogging—you are not alone! And by “blogging” I mean publishing valuable content on a regular basis, whether it’s written or recorded (e.g., vlogs, podcasts, etc. also count.) Maybe you feel pressure to blog, do it only because you feel you have to, or avoid it as much as you can. Maybe you outsource the whole. damn. thing.

Or, maybe, you love blogging too? (If so, I’d love to know!)

Many of my colleagues and clients have amazing businesses helping people eat better, exercise more, incorporate more mindfulness into their days, sleep better, learn how to cook, have more energy, eat more intuitively, eliminate foods they’re intolerant to, and generally become healthier. They are great at coaching, motivating, and inspiring their clients and patients and prefer the dynamic of working with people 1:1 or in groups, rather than sitting on a computer reading and writing all day.

I admit I’m a bit of an “oddball” health pro (nutritionist, to be exact) who considers myself to be an avid content creator or “blogger.”

This article is not going to scold you for not blogging, nor or extoll the virtues of blogging. Nope!

It’s not going to tell you how important blogging is, nor how beneficial it can be for your business. Nope!

It’s not even going to show you how to make blogging as painless as possible. (Nope!)

It’s just about why the heck I bother so much.

Here’s why I blog . . .

Let me count the ways.

1 – I love getting my message out there

I have a message. You have a message. We want the world to be healthier, amirite? Regularly publishing content (via blogging) is simply a way to get that message out there and start making waves and having an impact.

Blogging is a way to share my thoughts, information, and vision with thousands of people whom I don’t even know. It’s so flexible too! You can turn your blog (or vlog or podcast) into whatever you want, from sharing personal stories and “public journalling,” all the way to being a well-oiled strategic marketing machine for your business.

When I blog on my site (here) I do “me.” I express me. I send out my message and see who that attracts. That’s one of the beauties of blogging—you get to be you and provide as much (or as little) information and value to your readers as you want to. Plus, it’s not carved in stone! You can always update your posts to make them even better than they were when they were first published. (HINT: This is an update of a post I originally wrote a few years ago.)

When I’m really enthusiastic about a topic, I’ll sometimes make a video instead of writing. It can be hard to truly express my emotion in writing, although many people do far more beautifully than I do. #ScienceBrain

Blogging (and vlogging and podcasting) is definitely a way to get my message out there and see what happens.

If you’re a health pro and you struggle with feeling vulnerable about getting your message out there, I created some successful blog tips just for you. 😉

Blogging (and vlogging) is a way to get your message out there and see what happens. #Blogging #ContentMarketing Click To Tweet

2 – I love showing the world what I can do for them

It’s not just about my message. My blog is a reflection of my work. I consider blogs to be “virtual business cards.”

My blog is a bit more casual and informal than what I write for my clients (I’ve never used “WTF” in work for a client). But, my blog showcases a few things:

• Writing skills
• Commitment to quality
• That I understand health research and can translate it into easy-to-read articles that are engaging, informative, and accurate
• Consistency and reliability—that I won’t “ghost” you once you’ve bought a product or paid your deposit for my services.

BTW, if you ever catch a typo or error on my blog or anything I’ve created, please let me know. It happens, especially when you edit your own work in a short timeframe. I’ll be honest, more than once have I finished one of my blog posts and quickly edited and published on a Friday night with a beer or glass of wine in my hand. 😉

NOTE: I put my client work first, so I sometimes don’t have a lot of time to get my own post done and delivered with such perfection.

My blog is a reflection of my work. It's my 'virtual business card.' #Blog #BusinessCard Click To Tweet

3 – I love researching and writing

I really loved school. Both college and university. I loved learning, reading, and writing. #NerdAlert

Blogging allows me to continue doing what I love and have been practising for decades now—research and writing.

I started blogging in 2013. At that time (and ever since) I’ve had to learn and practise writing for real everyday people. My very first blog posts were essentially technical papers. 😬 That’s because, before blogging, I wrote for professors, scientists, or regulators. It took me a few years of learning and practising copywriting to really get the feel for being informal and speaking English (and not “science-ese”).

All of the freelance writing and editing I do for clients is research-based health information. Having my own blog allows me to mix up topics. Sometimes write about health, other times I write about blogging, content marketing, SEO, or even learnings from events I attended.

The important thing is to try to always provide value to my readers. I use my blog to advertise my skills and knowledge 24/7 and to build that “know, like, and trust” factor with you. 🙂

Blogging isn't always a formal educational or marketing piece. Sometimes it's simply, 'Hey, look what I just learned. Whad'ya think?' #Blogging Click To Tweet

4 – I love opening up discussions

Being a health writer and blogger can sometimes be a lonely place. It’s easy to hide away from the world (in PJ’s) for days on end. (I’m not the only one, right?) So, when I blog, I think of it as a “discussion opener.”

I love knowing that you read what I write, and I want to know how helpful it is and what your thoughts are about it. I’m not here to proselytize—I honestly just want to share information and am always, ALWAYS open to a discussion and feedback.

• Do you agree with my post?
• Did I miss something?
• What else are you interested in?

I love having conversations with you. Yes, you! Feel free to comment or email me and let me know what you think about blogging. 🙂

Blogging is a 'discussion opener' with your audience. #Blog #Blogging Click To Tweet

5 – I love providing value

I put a lot into my blog posts because the internet is a big place. People search for every topic online. I want to be the most valuable answer to their questions on health research and content marketing.

When I write a new blog post, I think about making sure the value I provide is at least equivalent (if not more) than the time it takes someone to read it. I want to be of service. I love doing something that’s in my zone of genius that can help a client or someone in my community. I love having content that people come back to week after week because you know you’ll get value from the time spent here.

The value a blog post provides should be at least equivalent (if not more) than the time it takes someone to read it. #BloggingTips Click To Tweet

6 – I love challenging myself to grow

Blogging is partly “esoteric” touching on emotions, connecting with people, starting conversations, and teaching something.

It’s also very measurable. I can see day-to-day week-to-week and month-to-month how many people visit my posts, where they came from, and which posts are the most popular. It’s a challenge to try to beat my best-ranking blog posts.

It’s also a challenge to stick to a weekly schedule and create something that I will be proud of. Especially because I tend to spend 6+ hours on just about every single post including research, writing, editing, formatting, creating images, and scheduling shares in my newsletter and on social media.

There are definitely weeks when I have a lot of client work, like doing health blog audits, coaching, or freelance writing or editing and I can’t spend the time I’d like to on my blog posts. Sometimes I do what I can and publish what I have—even if not complete—making it part 1 of 2, or repurpose something I’ve already created instead of skipping altogether.

Blogging can challenge you to grow your writing and marketing skills, time management skills, as well as your business at the same time. #Blogging Click To Tweet

 

Conclusion

There are lots of reasons why I blog.

Not only does it help get my message out there and allow me to do what I love doing, but it also helps me start discussions with you. I also love that it is a way I can provide value to you and that blogging challenges me to become a better writer, marketer, time manager, and business person, too.

 

Signing off and toasting: To adding some joy into blogging.

Over to you

Do you have a blog? Want one? Love/hate it? Why?

Have you seen benefits of regularly publishing content (via a blog, vlog, or podcast) for yourself as a person or as a business owner? What benefits?

I’d love to know in the comments below! 🙂

Originally published July 2018; updated with more awesomeness May 2019 and December 2021.