Thanks to a study conducted by Envision Solutions who is a health care marketing communications consultant, it appears as though blogs about health are doing quite well. According to the study, just about half of all American adults have written a health related topic on a blog while 60% of those individuals write primarily on health related topics. The study also shows that an estimated thirteen million Americans posted at least one health related item to a blog between February and August of 2008.
While one-third of the respondents said they were blogging to educate others about a condition or malady, 21% of them said they blogged primarily for marketing purposes, such as a doctor who looked to increase business for his or her practice, or a health care consultant wishing to demonstrate expertise in a subject or health policy.
If you’re interested in seeing more numbers, Mediapost.com has an excellent post detailing the results from this study.
One thing about this study which I found to be rather interesting was that, only 15% of readers believed bloggers’ statements should be taken at face value. This was a decrease from 23% in 2006 which is a good sign meaning confidence is growing amongst health blog readers.
I’m not subscribed to any health related blogs in my feed reader but then again, I’m not dealing with a particular health issue, neither are my immediate relatives. But if I were, I would certainly be blogging about it while trying to inform others of the condition and treatments. Thanks to blogs and new media, we can read, see, and hear first hand experiences from those who are going through treatments or who are part of medical breakthroughs.
Are you subscribed to any health related blogs? Have you thought about starting one yourself? What do you think of this recent survey?
24 thoughts on “Health Blogging Is A Healthy Niche”
Healthcare blogs helped me a lot with my health problems. Often you can find out more from the online community than your GP.
Very true however you can spot someone who is just writing a blog. I am a medical researcher and write expert level articles on the topic of diabetes, and blood sugar. Through trial and error I have found that I can’t even out source any of my projects to writers. My new website http://www.bloodsugartips.com is my most informative articles all in one place. And still there had to be a specific seo plan for the site that was way over my head. All in all I think there are experts in their field and we all need to help each other
I am a physicist, and run my own clinic. Marketing was a part that generally doctors are unaware of. I made one website which I though would help me ameliorate my business and also to provide information regarding the health issues, but it doesn’t make a great difference as it was far not found on search engines. Then, I came across a website designing and marketing company named as medicalwebexperts.com, with whom I had a contract for advertising and optimizing my website to make it google-friendly. The main problem with my website was found to be improper website coding, which resisted my website to be listed in top most search. The company did well in reconstructing my website, making it popular using SEO techniques. They also added the functionalities like education to patients, patient portals to keep track of their health, discussion board to allow every patient to express their opinions and experiences, which might help other patients. Such facilities helped my patients to interact with each other, making their life better to live. The benefits were then slowly coming into action. The trust factor and the soft corner for the doctors seemed to emerge in patients. And that was the greatest achievement for me. Website helped me getting a good sum of patients at my doorstep. Web marketing really helped my business work, making my investments in SEO worthy.
I hope that some of my expertise in managing medical practices will translate to better service in health care…. A blog in a list with health niche and they are amazing to read…
I can see several successful health blogs, there are thousands which still survive without success but I know that sooner or later they would be successful. I have noticed that a vast majority of internet users search Google and other search engines for very complex medical terms. So I think this niche still has a scope.
It would be interested, as many others are, in what new business venture you are going to launch a healthy blog..I came across more health related article, but it is something fruitful to me…keep posting…
Cheers!!!
It would be interested, as many others are, in what new business venture you are going to launch a healthy blog..I came across more health related article, but it is something fruitful to me…keep posting…
Cheers!!!
I was scarcely getting traffic. Perhaps I will try a health blog.Health care blogging offers some unique challenges and opportunities. Depending on the kind of blogging, confidentiality is perhaps the most critical of all industries.
Starting a health blog will really help people lead a informed healthier life .
Starting a health blog will really help people lead a informed healthier life .
Starting a health blog will really help people lead a informed healthier life .
Health blog attracts the younger generation. This site is really amazing to read.I am new to this blog. This blog makes me to get better knowledge about the health.
To be very true, I have hundreds of blog in a list with health niche and they are amazing to read. I am quite informative and more conscious about health now because I always read a lot of stuff on that. Perhaps it is the most concerning niche of the day.
Some topics like cancer diseases need to have attention. I am glad more medical professional and paramedics are interested to blog about their own expertise.
I get a lot of information from health blogs and write alternative health articles like this one: Cancer Diet For High Risk People
I think this health blog will get very successful.
I’m new to blogging, but I can see how there is value here. Many people are emotionally vested in their heath and are looking for answers to their questions – wherever they can find them. As far as monetization goes, there are certainly many affiliate programs out there users can tap into to make money off their blog…if only enough to pay for the domain and the hosting.
Health blogs have helped me for the last 5 years. I have found that moderation is key.
Will do Phil.
By the way, have you been able to notice just how big of a niche natural healing is? What about sites pertaining to herbal supplements which are not run my internet marketers? I think natural healing or alternative medicines is a popular medical topic these days.
I’m an RN and started blogging a few months ago. Although it’s a personal website, I try to aim my posts toward the health care industry.
Since I started blogging, I’ve networked with other nurses and doctors who are interested in using social media to advance the professions.
Health care blogging offers some unique challenges and opportunities. Depending on the kind of blogging, confidentiality is perhaps the most critical of all industries. I’d like to see more health care professionals start good blogs; there are so many issues confronting the industry that need a more public face. Blogging is a great platform for that.
I’m glad there’s an increase in the confidence readers place in health care blogs. After all, our profession depends on trust.
If you come across more health care related blogs, would you mind contacting me (email is on my site)? I’d be interested to see how this niche grows: it could become one of the largest.
I’m on the same boat. I don’t have any illnesses that is affecting me so there’s no need for me to follow a health blog. The only thing that even comes close is something I found through stumbleupon. skrewtips.com
They don’t update as often but that’s just as good. I don’t want my newsreader to be overwhelemed with a lot of health posts.
Even though my blog is not geared to the consumer of health services per se, I hope that some of my expertise in managing medical practices will translate to better service in healthcare. It’s exciting to be a part of the generation where patients are informed and have an arsenal of information at their disposal. This makes for better medicine, better outcomes, and a better healthcare system. I like working in a field where patients have a choice and can make a difference when they vote with their feet.
Now if we could just figure out the dollars and cents…
I was looking to start up a new blog. I recently has one with just reviews on it, but I was scarcely getting traffic. Perhaps I will try a health blog. Thanks for the information.
I’ve enjoyed the close-knit health blogging community over the last year. Just wish my diet was going better!
Dr. Gabe Mirkin publishes an excellent health blog, it has been my favorite for years.
I started my own health blog several months ago and offer health related content primarily on nutrition, weight loss issues and high-content articles on how easy it is to take care of your health and make better health-related diet and nutrition choices. http://www.VoiceOfHealth.com gets you there… free newsletter advising when new posts are made, and nothing to buy on the blog.
I think health blogs are great becasue good ones help raise awareness of the importance of taking care of yourself BEFORE you find yourself in a crisis situation… but a word of warning, never let any health advice from any source take the place of you medical doctors advice… use health-blog advice to raise your awareness, but rely one your MD if you ever get sick enough to need a doctor.
Russell J. Martino, Ph.D.
http://www.VoiceOfHealth.com
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