Think about all the health and wellness content you stumble upon: recipes, personal stories, workouts, and mental health! It means there's room for you to learn how to start a health blog, too.
But starting a health blog feel overwhelming at times. There are worries about not being an expert or having the right tech skills.
Don't sweat it! You can start a blog with no experience. You just need a simple guide like this one to start your health blog.
So, if you're amped to share your knowledge and connect with other health and wellness lovers, let's get started!
What's a health blog?
A health blog is an online space where people share their experiences, knowledge, and tips about health and wellness.
Here's something else you should know: Anyone can start a health blog. And there are tons of paths to take when starting a health blog.
Here are just a few options:
- Recipes & nutrition: Share healthy meals, delicious snacks, meal prep tips, or diet advice.
- Personal journeys: Talk about your health experiences, whether it's weight loss, chronic illness management, or pregnancy.
- Health & wellness: Cover everything from fitness routines to stress-busting techniques and self-care rituals.
- Fitness & exercise: Share workout plans, exercise tips, or motivational stories to get your readers moving.
- Mental health: Break the stigma and share your experiences with mental health, giving support and coping strategies.
- Professional expertise: If you're a health expert, your blog can be a reliable source of information and advice.
Why start a health blog?
Starting a health blog isn't just about sharing your latest recipes (although we love those too!).
It's a chance to connect with other people who are on a similar health journey as you! Imagine building and inspiring a community of like-minded people who share your passion for wellness. You can share ideas, show support, and celebrate each other's successes! 🙌
And you know what else? You get to be the expert. Share your knowledge and experiences to help others hit their health goals.
And let's not forget the perks for you!
Starting a health blog keeps you motivated and accountable on your wellness journey. It's also a great way to learn new things. And, with options like affiliate marketing and sponsored posts, you can even turn your blog into a profitable side hustle.
How to start a health blog in six simple steps
So you've decided to start a health blog, huh?
That's fantastic! I'll show you exactly how to do it, step by step!
Step 1: Choose a blog niche
Your niche is your health blog's specialty.
A focused blog attracts the right readers (your target audience) and makes you stand out from the crowd.
Here are some things to think about when choosing a niche:
- What excites you? Choose a topic you love learning about and sharing with others.
- What do you know? Use your professional background or personal experiences.
- Who needs your help? Is there a group of people you can support with your content?
- How can you help? Find problems you can solve in your blog posts.
Here's a relatable example: Love running and plant-based eating? Instead of covering both broadly, get specific. Focus on topics like plant-based recipes for runners or training tips for vegan athletes.
Quick tip: Search for your niche ideas online. Are there similar blogs? Can you give a unique perspective?
Your next step: Write down 3-5 potential niche ideas, and refine them later!
Step 2: Choose a domain name and web host
Your domain name is your blog's online address, and web hosting is like the house your blog lives in!
When you choose a domain name, it should be:
- Easy to remember: People need to be able to remember it and type it without typos.
- Relevant: Hints at your niche (e.g., runningnutritionist.com).
- .com is Best: The most common option, but .org or .net can work too.
Based on our chart, a good domain name is something like runningnutritionist.com.
A bad domain name would be longhealthylifestyleblog12345.com. It's long and easily forgettable.
Web host basics
Web hosts like BigScoots are great for most blogs, but especially beginners.
It specializes in WordPress blogs, so it's a great web hosts for food bloggers , lifestyle bloggers, and health bloggers like you!
Your next step: Brainstorm some domain name ideas. Then use a domain name checker to see if they're available!
Step 3: Install WordPress
WordPress is the most popular website builder in the world, and for good reason!
Here's why it's the perfect place to start a health blog:
- User-Friendly: Even without technical experience, you can create a beautiful blog.
- Flexible: Thousands of themes and plugins to create your blog's look and features.
- Great for SEO: WordPress blogs are easier for search engines to understand = better chances of ranking!
How to install: Most web hosts (like BigScoots) have easy, one-click WordPress install options. Not sure how? Your host's customer support can help!
Your next step: Follow your web host instructions to install WordPress.org. It's simpler than you think!
Step 4: Design the health and wellness blog of your dreams
Your blog's design creates the first impression for readers.
It should be clean, reflect your niche, and build trust in your brand!
Here's where to start:
- Colors: Choose 2-3 that fit your niche's vibe (ex: calming blues for mindfulness, greens for nutrition).
- Fonts: Pick easy-to-read options that match your style.
- Themes: These are like templates. They give your blog its structure. Search for free, health-focused WordPress themes to start. Foodie Pro is a great one for health-related food blogs.
Your next step: Explore WordPress themes, choose your color palette, then start customizing!
Step 5: Add the best plugins to your health and wellness blog
Think of WordPress plugins like power-ups for your blog! They add features to make your life easier and your content more engaging.
Want to get found on Google? How about sharing beautiful recipes? Even grow your Pinterest following? Well, there are plugins to help you do all of that and more.
WP Tasty
We have a suite of WordPress plugins for smart bloggers like you, made to help with your health and wellness blog.
- Tasty Recipes: Aka, the best WordPress recipe plugin! Create beautiful, SEO-friendly recipe cards. Showcase healthy ingredients and dietary info (vegan, gluten-free, etc.), and watch recipes climb those Google rankings.
- Tasty Pins: Say hello to standout Pinterest images! Make your healthy recipes, workout pins, and inspirational images shine.
- Tasty Links: My go-to WordPress link plugin. It makes managing internal and affiliate links a breeze! Share your favorite health products, fitness gear, and more, and make extra cash.
- Tasty Roundups: Create easy-to-browse listicles and roundups. Just like these: “10 Best Plant-Based Breakfasts”, “5 Yoga Poses for Stress Relief,” and so on.
All-in-One SEO (AIOSEO)
Want your health content to reach more people? AIOSEO is your key to getting found on Google.
This plugin helps you:
- Find the right keywords
- Optimize your posts
- Handle the tech stuff
Your Next Step: Install the must-have plugins and any extras that match your blogging goals.
Step 6: Create awesome content & share it
Before writing a blog post, start by brainstorming post ideas. Focus on solving your reader's problems, what you're an expert in.
Remember: You can find what people are searching for in your niche with keyword research tools like Semrush!
Go with a target keyword for each post. For example: plant-based breakfast ideas.
After that, you're ready to start your health and wellness blog writing.
To write your health blog post, go to your WordPress dashboard, click Posts, and then click Add New Post.
Make sure you use your keyword naturally in your title, headings, and content.
Link to both credible sources and your relevant posts to build authority.
Consistency is key for building loyal readers and ranking in search engines. So, set a realistic posting schedule. Even if it's just once a week to start, and stick to it!
Share your content
Don't just write – promote! Kick off an email marketing campaign. That way, you build an email list to connect with readers directly.
Share your posts on social media platforms. Network with other health bloggers for guest posts, cross-promotion, and to tap into a wider audience.
Wondering how to make money with your health blog? Here are a few common ways:
- Affiliate marketing: Recommend products and services you love and earn a commission.
- Sponsored content: Partner with brands aligned with your blog's mission.
- Your products: Create ebooks, courses, or memberships to offer your audience.
Your next step: Pick a topic and start writing!
Health blog examples & inspiration
Recipes and nutrition
This is about sharing your love of healthy food. We're talking everyday ingredients, exciting flavors, and finding a balance that works for YOU.
Think plant-based meals, athlete-friendly eats, and even the occasional treat.
Need inspiration? Check out Fit Foodie Finds. It's a beautiful, user-friendly site with tons of nutritious and delicious goodies.
Personal journeys
Do you find strength and support by reading about others' health experiences? This is your chance to pay it forward!
Imagine sharing your experience with chronic illness (just like A Chronic Voice), pregnancy, or weight loss in a blog.
It's the perfect way to start a health blog where people can connect, share, and feel less isolated with whatever they're going through.
Health and wellness
Always on the hunt for tips on healthy eating, stress-busting tricks, or just feeling your best?
Some health and wellness bloggers cover a bit of everything! Blogs like The Art of Healthy Living show how wellness can be fun and accessible.
Fitness and exercise
This is about finding joy in movement, sharing your passion, and building a community where everyone feels welcome!
Think fitness blog posts, workout plans, exercise tips, and that extra dose of “You got this!” motivation. Need a spark for fitness fun? Check out Keep It SimpElle!
Mental health
This is a space to break down the stigma around mental health. Plus share experiences and coping strategies, and give support to others.
It's about reminding people they're not alone.
Need help opening up and sharing your story? Blogs like The Anxiety Guy are dedicated to mental health advocacy.
Professional experts
Want to dive deeper into the science behind health and wellness? This is where you find credible blogs run by experts.
They give lots of educational content, practical tips, and tools. They're also known to have classes, memberships, or other programs to join.
These blogs get you to make evidence based decisions about your health. Get a taste of this with blogs like Nutrition Stripped!
Go start a health blog!
Sharing your love for a healthy lifestyle by starting a health blog makes a real difference in people's lives! And your own.
Yes, building a successful health blog takes work, but the rewards are worth it.
But don't go at it alone! Get our all access blogging bundle! WP Tasty is here to help you every step of the way.
Need a quick tutorial? Want to level up your content strategy? Our blog has you covered!
What are you waiting for? Share your unique voice and make a positive impact!