Is it really just a question of semantics, or are there major differences between health blogging and health writing?
In my humble opinion, health writers and health bloggers ARE quite different.
Both “professions” involve writing about health, but there are intrinsic differences in the way the content is shaped and delivered.
Medical blogging can also be done for business purposes – to enhance a medical writer’s career or business.
5 major differences between health blogging and writing
1. Content
Blogging is a different type of writing to feature article writing and news writing/journalism.
It’s like a cross between a traditional opinion piece and a feature article.
Bloggers usually create personal content that draws on their own life experiences.
Whereas writers tend to report, research and interview others to create a story, and they leave themselves out of the equation.
2. Layout
Because health blogging is online only, a lot of importance needs to be placed on layout, formatting and linking in health blog posts.
Those things aren’t necessarily as important in news and features (although, if you’re writing online news and features they are).
3. Expertise
Health writers produce stories and collate quotes from health experts, while health bloggers ARE the experts.
Most if not all of the time in health blogs, the opinions and expert advice comes from the blogger – and this is integral to their success.
A lot of health bloggers aren’t perfect writers and don’t produce grammatically perfect content. Much of their content is not compliant.
But they tell great stories, and this is probably more important in the health blogging arena.
4. Personal details
Health bloggers often build their online presence by getting personal.
They inspire people through their own actions and experiences.
They share a lot of intimate details and stories in order to get their readers to relate to them.
The most successful health bloggers are almost always those who are comfortable sharing their most private experiences.
5. Background
Health bloggers don’t necessarily have a background in writing.
Their background is usually in their area of expertise: consider some of the finalists and winners in the Bupa Health Influencer Blog Awards 2013: Bushwalking Blog, Fit Mother Hubbard, The Wellness Project.
While these health bloggers are obviously excellent writers, perfect writing is not their main objective.
Their goal is to share personal health stories and inspire others through their own actions.
What does this mean for you?
If you’re trying to decide whether you want to be a health writer or a health blogger, check out some popular health blog lists.
Do you have what it takes to build your own unique health blog and put yourself out there, just like some of the most successful health bloggers?
Or do you prefer to write content that isn’t all about you?
Is health blogging a saturated market?
As I mentioned in my previous post on health writing niches, there has been an explosion of health blogs in the blogosphere lately.
It’s hard to imagine how such a saturated market can be sustainable. But with society’s obsession with health and the digital space, what we’re seeing now is probably just the tip of the iceberg.
Thanks for interesting article. Some times resume writing can be boring but you can always ask for a help here.
‘Health writers produce stories and collate quotes from experts, while health bloggers ARE the experts’ – that’s the point! Health blogs should be at the first place informative and bring us unique stories of what someone’s experienced. I agree with Michelle, health blogging is not about background in writing, it’s about inspiring others. When is goes to health, it’s too serious to waste your readers’ time.
There is a saying that you cannot have your cake and eat it also. But the saying is wrong. The correct saying is that you cannot eat your cake and have it also. But that is not the case with blogging and writing. Someone can do both. If they are a weak in a certain area they can work to strengthen that.
For example Arnold Schwarzenegger was asked what muscle was his specialty. He said he did not have one like many others do. The idea is for all of them to be ideal. But he did have one that was too small. That was his calf muscles. So he had to work them extra hard.
I write some articles (not most) that rely on personal experience. But one place that I write for will not allow the article to be all personal experience. But I also write about health with menstruation, PCOS and endometriosis. That does not involve personal experience except that I did help a women to cure her endometriosis. My favorite health blog is by Erica Robinson who is in her final year to become an N.D. Being a student she writes a lot from what she knows but also relies heavily on what she learns from others. She is a great writer. She loves writing.
Thanks for your comments Chuck! I agree there is no one way to it, no right or wrong formula. Thanks for sharing about Erica’s blog – I’ll be sure to check it out.