MHM#06 Is blogging worth it?

Writing a blog article can often feel like a time-consuming, tedious task. I frequently get asked questions such as "Is it worth it?" and "Does it actually make any difference?"

The answer is yes; it is absolutely worth it and it does make a difference.

Here are 5 reasons you should write blog articles

1) Blog articles help build credibility and position you as an expert and authority on the topics you specialise in. 

2) Blogging helps improve your website's search engine rankings. Google favours websites that regularly add new, unique, high-quality, in-depth content. Google even has a policy that explicitly states their algorithm prioritises person-centered content. Google also looks at how long someone spends on your website. By adding blog articles that address a challenge or a topic your ideal client is interested in, Google will see that your website visitors are sticking around for a while and assume they're doing so because they find the content useful. This is a positive signal to Google and will help improve your ranking. 

3) Blogging helps you connect with your ideal client. By understanding the challenges and aspirations of your ideal client, you can tailor your blog content to meet their specific needs and build stronger relationships with them.

Suppose you're writing blog articles on topics that address your ideal clients, their pain points, the challenges they're experiencing, and their goals and aspirations. This means they will land on your website, read your blog articles, and go, wow, they really understand what life is like for me and feel like you get them, which builds trust. This leads nicely to reason number 4…

4) Blogging generates new client appointments. Building credibility and trust increases confidence that you're the right therapist for them. If a prospective client feels like you will truly get them based on what they've read, it's reassuring that they're making the right decision to book an appointment with you. Remember, prospective clients consider multiple therapists before booking an appointment; the more your website and written words resonate with them, the more likely they'll believe you're the right therapist for them. 

5) Blogging helps you build your professional brand. By sharing your unique perspective and experiences, you can establish yourself as a thought leader and grow your professional network. 

Some other things to consider when it comes to blogging:

How long should blog articles be?

The length of your blog article doesn't matter - it used to matter, as once upon a time, Google's algorithm considered word count. These days, Google doesn't care how many words you use; what Google does care about is making sure the content is person-centered and providing value to your audience, which is your ideal client. So write however many words that you need to write to make sure the ideal client you're hoping reads it, walks away feeling like they've learned everything they need to on the topic, they've got a much better understanding of the topic, it was really helpful and like they probably don't need to go anywhere else because they've learned everything they need to know.

What about old blog articles?

If you've been writing blog articles for many years, that's awesome! But it will mean you have many articles that Google views as old content, which can hurt your ranking. Put a process in place to gradually review and update these blog articles. 

How often should I write blog articles?

When it comes to highly valuable content - the more, the better. But consistency is also important so your audience knows that a new article is published every week, fortnight, or month. If you're new to blogging, create a realistic and sustainable schedule. You can always increase in the future.

Using AI to write blog articles

AI is a great tool for topic suggestions and rough drafts, but if you're getting AI to write your blog article be aware of the impacts on engagement and SEO. I've written a detailed article on this here.