I am developing an online health community that connects people to health resources (healthy people, products, places, and professionals) in their home town.
It has afforded me the great opportunity to work with some incredibly bright and courageous people who are committed to helping Cincinnati get healthy. It also is allowing me to see this world of social media and engaging directly with people from a very different perspective.
The question came up today of, so “what” do I do and “how” do I do it? I developed the 5 points below to answer that question.
I’d love to have your thoughts on “what” and “how” you do it!
(A little background)
Difference between a status update and a blog post
Status update: is a place for you to tell the world what you want them to know. People expect this space to be personal and even self-serving.
Blog post: is for your readers. Should be information that your readers will find valuable
An important “rule” is to think about yourself as a reader and determine if you read this, would it be meaningful and valuable to you. Be careful to not create posts that seem like commercials as this will turn off readers.
Building readership, a community, a following requires building trust. If people feel like someone is trying to sell them or pitch products and services, they will not be comfortable and will engage.
5 Suggested Points to Cover in a Healthcare Blog Post
1. Choose a topic that relates to your product or service and would be of value to the community.
Examples:
- 3 Great Tips to Reduce Stress
- Preparing Your Mind and Body for Spring
- What is an Integrative Health Coach and How Can One Help Me?
2. Body (address the topic with some content) example: list the 3 great tips for reducing stress, why they are great, and how to do them.
3. Engage the reader:
Ask a question and request some feedback... "How do you reduce stress?" "When do you feel most stressed and how do you cope.” We'd love to hear what works for you or what you have seen work for others....
4. Conclude:
Be very strategic about what you want people to do (your call to action). Sometimes it can be “contact me/ visit my site and schedule an appointment”, but not all the time. People will appreciate that you care about them and don’t always need something in return. Example: start applying these stress relieving tips today for a longer healthier life! Make sure that you include some way of reaching you in your closing so that people who are interested in finding you can.
5. Little disclaimer at the very end. (wouldn’t be healthcare without it right – and I am not an attorney and this is not legal adviceJ) This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or disorder. Please contact me directly (website) to schedule an appointment for your medical service or your personal health care provider for medical attention. (You get the idea).
Author and activist Tarek Fatah in hospital in Toronto. (Natasha Fatah/CBC)
