Nurse writers and bloggers like myself have the incredible opportunity to make a positive impact in the healthcare industry. Drawing upon our expertise and personal experiences as nurses, we utilize our writing skills to create content that is both informative and engaging.
Through articles, blog posts, and other forms of written media, nurse writers strive to reach diverse audiences and provide them with valuable insights. Topics may span across a wide range, covering everything from patient care and health education to nursing techniques, career guidance, and beyond.
Whether we contribute to medical journals, collaborate with healthcare organizations, or maintain our own blogs, our goal is to deliver accurate and compelling content that empowers readers. As nurse writers, we act as advocates, shedding light on crucial healthcare issues, debunking myths, and offering evidence-based information to promote health and wellness.
By bridging the gap between healthcare professionals and the general public, we strive to make medical concepts more accessible and inspire individuals to take control of their own well-being.
Benifits of Nurse Writing & Blogging
One benefit of becoming a nurse blogger or freelance writer is that each post or article can be written from a unique perspective, as nurses work in so many different specialties with diverse patient populations. Also, nurses have different skill sets and experiences that they can bring to their writing.
Nurse writers have so much to share from many perspectives: their experiences in the field, research, health and wellness education, current issues and hot topics, success stories from patients or colleagues, community engagement initiatives, and more. As such, nurse bloggers can bring a valuable voice to the global conversation about healthcare.
Why Become A Nurse Writer?
Becoming a nurse writer has been a transformative and fulfilling journey for me, and I’d love to share why it’s such a rewarding path to take. First and foremost, being a nurse writer allows me to combine my passion for nursing with my love for writing. It’s an incredible opportunity to channel my knowledge and experience as a nurse into creating content that can positively impact others. Through my writing, I hope to educate, inspire, and advocate for patients, fellow nurses, and the healthcare community as a whole.
Another reason why I chose to become a nurse writer is the ability to reach a broader audience. While providing care at the bedside is incredibly meaningful, my words as a writer have the potential to reach countless individuals beyond the confines of a hospital room. Whether it’s through an article, blog post, or social media, I can connect with people from all walks of life, providing them with valuable information, insights, and support.
Lastly, as a nurse writer, I have the privilege of being part of a vibrant community of like-minded professionals. I can collaborate with fellow writers, healthcare organizations, and experts in various fields to create impactful content that truly makes a difference. It’s a constant source of inspiration and growth, as I continue to learn and expand my horizons within the realm of healthcare communication.
Perks of being a nurse writer or healthcare blogger.
Benefits of Becoming a Nurse Writer or Blogger
There are so many benefits of becoming a nurse writer or blogger that I don’t even know where to start!
More Opportunity
First and foremost, entering the world of nurse writing opens doors to a variety of professional opportunities beyond traditional bedside nursing. It allows you to diversify your skill set and explore new avenues within the healthcare industry.
You can pursue freelance writing, become a published author, work with healthcare organizations, or even start your own media company. I started this blog – mothernurselove.com – in 2016. In 2019, after writing over 100 blog posts, I started pitching various healthcare and nursing websites. It took me a while to get my footing, but after about two years, I had a steady stream of clients offering me consistent work every month and created my freelance writing website, SarahJividen.com.
From there, I started a new company called Health Writing Solutions, LLC. At the time, I figured I would stick with freelance healthcare writing. But then I had the urge to write about environmental issues and started another website called HeavenlyGreenHome.com (it is still in its infancy as I write this).
My head is spinning just talking about all this. But the moral of this story is that there are so many directions you can go. At the end of 2022, I decided to consolidate my freelance writing company and websites to form one singular company that encompassed all of my writing endeavors. Now all the websites are under one company name – Sarah Jividen Media, LLC.
Influence and Impact
Through your writing, you have the power to influence and make a positive impact on the nursing profession and healthcare as a whole. Your words can inspire fellow nurses, educate the public, and advocate for important healthcare issues. By sharing your experiences and expertise, you contribute to the advancement of nursing knowledge and improve patient care.
Personal and Professional Growth
Writing regularly as a nurse writer or blogger helps you grow personally and professionally. It encourages self-reflection, deepens your understanding of nursing concepts, and enhances critical thinking skills. As you delve into various topics and engage with readers, you continuously expand your knowledge base and become a more well-rounded healthcare professional.
By consistently producing high-quality content, you establish yourself as an expert in the field of nursing. This can lead to increased recognition and opportunities for collaboration, speaking engagements, and even consulting work. A strong professional brand can open doors to exciting career prospects and help you stand out in the competitive healthcare industry.
Networking and Connections
Engaging in the nurse writing and blogging community provides opportunities for networking and building connections with other professionals in the field. You can connect with fellow nurse writers, healthcare influencers, and industry experts. These connections can lead to collaborations, mentorship, and support, as well as broaden your professional network.
In summary, becoming a nurse writer or blogger offers benefits such as setting your own schedule, creative control, improving writing skills and critical thinking, expanding professional opportunities, influencing and impacting the nursing profession, personal and professional growth, building a professional brand, and networking with like-minded professionals. It’s a fulfilling and enriching path that allows you to make a difference while pursuing your passion for nursing and writing.
Here are a few other benefits I personally love about this profession:
I can set my own work hours and schedule (although I still work a lot!)
I have complete creative control over the content I write for my own websites
I now have better writing chops: each time I write a new piece, I continue to develop my writing skills.
The writing process helps me stop and think deeper. I find myself having more definite opinions about nursing topics that matter. I have discovered thoughts and ideas about the nursing profession I didn’t even know I had.
Last Thoughts
Nurse bloggers and freelance writers are creative entrepreneurs. Many often also have full-time positions and do their writing/website design in the evenings or on weekends. There is no set schedule; you can decide to work or not work whenever you want. It is important to note, however, that successful bloggers and freelance writers must work incredibly hard to get their businesses up and running, often for years, before making any money.
Best of luck on your writing path!
If starting a nursing blog is something that you are interested in, check out the following links:
*This post may contain affiliate links/ Updated from original post on 3/2019
I came up with this list of 101 interesting blog post ideas for nurses so that I could prove a point: there are so many things that nurses can write about. And I barely even scratched the surface with this list!
Nurses are lifelong learners.
Nurses generally love learning. If we didn’t, we would have never made it through nursing school in the first place.
To keep our skills up to par and our licenses current, nurses frequently take continuing education courses. Many of us go a step further and become certified experts in our nursing specialties.
Most importantly, being a nurse requires learning about changes in the field of medicine and being open to new challenges during every shift. Healthcare is ever-changing, and it is increasingly important for nurses to stay fresh.
Nurses have a unique perspective that we can share with readers.
This is the coolest part about becoming a nurse blogger: each post about nursing can be written about from a completely different perspective. There are so many different specialties and diverse patient populations. And every nurse has different skill sets and experiences within their career that they can share. Furthermore, some nurses can bring unique backgrounds into the mix, as many become nurses as a second or even third career.
In other words, nurses can bring a lot of life experience into their writing. We have valuable information to share.
Becoming a nurse blogger has welcome benefits.
First, you’ll become a better writer. Each time you create a new piece, you improve and continue to develop your writing skills.
Second, you’ll become a better thinker. The blogging process helps you to stop and think deeper. You will find yourself having stronger opinions about nurse topics that matter. You will discover thoughts and ideas about nursing that you didn’t even know you had.
I want to see more nurses blogging.
Since I began blogging in 2017, I have read nearly every nurse blog I can find on the internet. I have seen some pretty creative nurse niches and have been inspired by what my fellow nurse peers are writing about.
I especially love reading about the amazing things nurses are doing in the face of adversaries. For example, when I was just getting started, I read about how nurses in Paradise, California, continued to care for hospitalized patients during the most devastating fire in modern history. At one point, some were outside, trying to fight flames. Now, if that isn’t blog-worthy, then nothing is.
101 Interesting Blog Post Ideas For Nurses To Write About
I put a lot of effort into thinking of new topics that I would be interested in reading (or writing) about as a nurse. Don’t be surprised if you see several of these topics on my blog over the next year.
So, without further ado, here it is: 101 interesting blog post ideas for nurses. (If there is anything you think I should add, please leave a comment, and I will add it to my next list!)
Advice for getting through the first year as a nurse
(You need to know by now – if your goal IS to monetize your blog, you must invest in a few courses to help move you forward. Otherwise, blogging is a lonely, frustrating island.)
If you are a nurse or other healthcare blogger, I highly recommend starting with this one. Creators Brittany Wilson and Kati Kleber are both published, award-winning authors who are also considered the Godmothers in nurse blogging. They are especially great because they go into more detail about patient privacy concerns and other considerations that healthcare bloggers need to be aware of.
Nurse Blogging and Writing Frequently Asked Questions
Do nurse bloggers make money?
Yes, nurse bloggers can make money through various methods such as advertising, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and selling their own products or services.
What do nurse bloggers do?
Nurse bloggers write about their experiences, provide tips and advice to other nurses or healthcare professionals, share their opinions on healthcare-related issues, and educate their readers about various health conditions or treatments.
How do I become a nursing blogger?
To become a nursing blogger, you need to have a passion for writing and sharing your experiences as a nurse or healthcare professional. Start by creating a blog and publishing your content regularly. You can also join online nursing communities, attend blogging conferences or webinars, and network with other nurse bloggers to learn from their experiences.
Is there a need for nurse writers?
Yes, there is a growing need for nurse writers who can provide valuable insights and information to healthcare professionals and the general public. With the increasing demand for healthcare-related content, nurse writers have a unique perspective to offer and can make a significant contribution to the field.
How do I start writing as a nurse?
To start writing as a nurse, you can begin by keeping a journal or blog where you write about your experiences and observations. You can also pitch your ideas to nursing or healthcare publications, start contributing to nursing blogs or forums, or volunteer to write for nursing associations or advocacy groups.
How to make 7 figures as a nurse?
Making seven figures as a nurse may be challenging, but it is possible through entrepreneurship, developing a unique product or service, or becoming a successful healthcare consultant. However, it is essential to have a solid business plan, develop excellent marketing skills, and continuously educate yourself on business and finance.
How can an RN make money from home?
There are various ways an RN can make money from home, such as telehealth nursing, medical transcription, case management, legal nurse consulting, freelance writing or editing, and starting a home-based healthcare business.
Can I be a nurse influencer?
Yes, you can be a nurse influencer by creating valuable content that resonates with your audience, building a strong social media presence, collaborating with other influencers, and developing partnerships with brands or companies in the healthcare industry.
How do I become a healthcare blogger?
To become a healthcare blogger, you can start by identifying your niche or area of expertise, creating a blog or website, and consistently publishing high-quality content that provides value to your readers. You can also join healthcare blogging communities, attend industry events or conferences, and network with other healthcare bloggers.
How do I monetize my healthcare blog?
To monetize your healthcare blog, you can explore various methods such as affiliate marketing, sponsored posts or partnerships, selling digital products or services, display advertising, or offering coaching or consulting services. It’s essential to focus on providing value to your readers while developing a strategy that aligns with your blog’s goals and values
What are the best blog writing ideas for nurses?
There are many different blog writing ideas for nurses that can help to showcase their experiences and expertise in the healthcare industry. Here are some of the best blog writing ideas for nurses:
Personal experiences as a nurse, including stories about patient care and interactions with healthcare professionals.
Tips for nursing students, including study tips, advice for passing exams, and advice for succeeding in clinical rotations.
News and updates about the healthcare industry, including new treatments, technologies, and policy changes.
Information about specific health conditions, including causes, symptoms, and treatment options.
Advice for healthcare professionals on improving patient care and reducing healthcare costs.
Career advice for nurses, including how to advance in the nursing profession and tips for finding a job.
Opinions on current healthcare issues, such as healthcare reform and nursing shortages.
Inspiration and motivational stories for nurses, including stories about overcoming challenges and inspiring patients.
Reviews of nursing textbooks, medical apps, and other nursing resources.
Tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance as a nurse, including self-care strategies and stress management techniques.
By focusing on these blog writing ideas, nurses can create content that is both informative and engaging, helping to establish themselves as experts in the healthcare industry and build a loyal following of readers.
Do you ever feel like you have something you need to share with the world? Maybe you have a few hidden talents or interests that you want to talk about. Or perhaps you feel burned out of your career and want a place to proactively vent your frustrations and find helpful solutions. Either way, you have ideas, and they need an outlet!
I get that. I’ve felt the same way for years.
Luckily we are in the age where we can express ourselves in many different ways through the interweb. And the technology just keeps getting better and faster. There has never been a better or easier time to utilize the internet for sharing valuable ideas.
I am a blogger and proud of it.
I follow many other website creators with whom I share the same interests. Mainly, other bloggers, nurses, and mothers I have a lot in common with and who I feel I can learn from. Over time I have found so many benefits of personal blogging, and I continue to find new ones as time goes by.
*Article contains affiliate links.
But first, let me tell you the story of how I discovered blogging.
After the birth of my first child in 2015, I found that it was increasingly more difficult for me to read books at home, as I was busy caring for a new infant. To get myself out of the house and get some exercise into my life, I started taking my daughter for two or sometimes 3-hour walks around the neighborhood. It felt good to be out of the house again. But I still missed my reading.
It was at that time that I discovered podcasts. I loved them because I could put on my earphones and get lost in interesting conversations that were occurring among adults. I was hooked! Each morning from then on, I walked my new baby and listened to 3, 4, 5, or even more podcast episodes. It felt fantastic to have more mental stimulation again, and I loved every minute of my long daily walks.
One day I started researching some of my favorite podcasters online. I found out that almost all of them also had a blog that corresponded closely with their podcasts. Up until then, I didn’t even know that blogging was a “thing.”
Not long after that, I caught the blogging bug myself. I started researching anything and everything I could get my hands on about how to create a successful blog. And the rest is blog history.
9 Benefits Of Personal Blogging in 2019
Reason #1: Blogging gives you a voice
When you own a blog, you get to say, share, and teach anything and everything you want to. You OWN the platform.
Your job as a blogger is to cultivate and find your inner voice. You have a unique opportunity to build a tribe of listeners. If your goal is to relate to your audience and provide value, then you need to speak honestly and from the heart about topics that you consider yourself very good at. In other words, your blog NEEDS a voice.
In the beginning, you may find that you aren’t sure what you want to say. So just start writing. Your first ten posts might suck (don’t let that scare you, everyone’s do!). But that is how you learn and excel. Over time, practice does make perfect!
One of the most beautiful things I have discovered about having a blog is that it has made me a WAY better communicator. I take my blog writing seriously, and I genuinely strive to be a valuable resource.
Find your voice, and you will find your audience. If you are blogging correctly, you will effectively create a voice for your blog that will exclude most people. This is a good thing! Because you can’t write for everyone and you shouldn’t try to. As a result, you will create a more loyal following of people with whom you share similar interests.
My voice is all about the RN and mom lifestyle. What will your voice be?
Reason #2: Blogging helps you organize your thoughts on paper
I mentioned earlier that as a beginning blogger, it is quite possible that your first ten or more blog posts might not be your best work. But if you keep at it, it won’t stay that way. You get better with practice. Swiftly.
Blogging makes you a better writer and a better thinker. Blogging makes people better conversationalists about the topics they write about.
Writing makes you a more critical thinker. Because when you write, you have to communicate thoughtfully and articulately. It forces you to think of several different aspects of a specific topic. Therefore, you have the opportunity to become an expert and tribe leader within your chosen writing niche. Most people just don’t put that much thought into a subject when they don’t have to organize it for other people to read on paper.
When you think about it that way, you have the potential to become smarter than the non-blogger. So start writing!
Reason #3. Blogging connects you with like-minded people
I have found that there is another world of other nerdy mom and nurse bloggers out there, just like me. They work all day and then pull their computers out after the kids go to bed. And like me, they burn the midnight oil and create exciting content by focusing their consciousness on things they are already good at. In time they become experts within their niche.
But, blogging can get lonely when you are sitting alone at your computer for hours. Which is another reason why it is good to connect with other bloggers within your niche. Connecting with other bloggers has helped me in so many ways:
Sharing helpful content from my blogger peers and vice versa
Learning how to blog better and faster
Forming relationships with other bloggers
I love it when readers leave me comments on blog posts. And I love responding even more. It tells me that I created a dialog that is worth having and that people are reading my posts! Readers also give me new ideas about things I want to write about in the future!
Reason #4. Blogging opens a world of opportunities
One of my favorite parts of being a blogger is that people and companies reach out to me with opportunities, instead of me reaching out to them! It has taken me a lot of work and time to get to this point, and I expect the opportunities to continue to grow with time. I have companies asking if I will guest post on their site or if they can put advertising on my website. I get emails almost every day, asking me to promote products. It is a lot of fun!
(I am learning how to be very selective about who I work with, though. It is essential only to do the things that are worth your time and politely decline the rest. And to be honest, I just don’t have a lot of time to work with many people at this time.)
Here are a few other examples of opportunities blogging has given me in the last year:
Guest posting opportunities
Guest podcast opportunities
Free products
Job offers
Higher paying affiliate offers
Here is the best part – you can blog from anywhere in the world you want to as long as you have internet access. Any time of the day or night, you can blog. It offers the ultimate flexibility.
Reason #5 Blogging helps others find information
My #1 goal is to provide value to readers. When people turn to Google to find niche-specific information, I want to be the first website they see (as long as it is genuinely answering a question or solving an issue that they are looking for). There are several ways that bloggers can provide value when discussing a particular topic:
Create a “How To” post
Make a checklist post. Lists automatically provide structure to your blog post and de-stress your reader.
Write a research-based blog post. As an RN, I live in a world where everything needs to be evidenced-based. If it’s not, then it may not be relevant or valuable. I often link back to Pub Med studies to give my posts more credibility.
Write an interview post. People love reading about people’s lives.
Reason #6. Blogging is an enormous challenge
To say that learning how to blog is a “challenge” would be an understatement. There are so many moving parts to managing a blog that it sometimes makes my head spin. But the harder it gets, the more I want to learn and grow as a blogger.
Blogging forces you to think in ways you haven’t considered before. Without challenge, there is no growth.
There are many benefits of personal blogging
Reason #7. Blogging can become a business
There are bloggers out there who make money. As a nurse, it seems that we are making less money each year, yet the cost of living continues to grow higher. For that reason, many nurses I know have a side hustle to supplement their income. That is one of the many reasons why I started blogging after my first daughter was born.
Blogging can be a hobby, a side hustle, or a full-time family business. But it takes a ton of effort, research, training, and determination to get it started and build momentum. I always say that blogging is a marathon, not a sprint (especially if you already work and have babies to take care of).
Reason #8. Blogging is fun
When I’m not blogging, I’m usually thinking about blogging, because I get such immense joy from it. I get frustrated when I have to stop blogging and go to bed so I can get some sleep!
Reason #9. Blogging gives you freedom
Blogging gives me the freedom to write and share information about anything I desire. Since I have a self-hosted website, I own my site. It is mine, and I can do with it whatever I please. When I am frustrated and burned out at work, this knowledge gives me a sense of peace. It has become an outlet that has ultimately helped me become a better nurse, writer, and thinker.
I also have the freedom to create my website however I desire, with my favorite colors and fonts.
Professional bloggers have the freedom to work anywhere they want in the world, so long as they have internet access. I know bloggers who work while on vacation, some even blog about their vacation!
Are you ready to start blogging? You can find more information about how to get starting on my blogging resource page!
This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.
Starting a blog can be overwhelming, especially when you already work full time, are a parent to small children and have a to-do list that never seems to end. To make matters worse there is almost too much information on the internet about how to start a blog.
Where do I start? Who should I trust? How do I prevent myself from becoming overwhelmed with information?
And most importantly, how do I even find the time to start a blog when my schedule is already crazy busy?
The thing about blogging is that it is a marathon, NOT a sprint. It is also not a get rich fast (or maybe ever) scheme. It is a TON of work. So, if you are not considering it as a long term project then quite frankly I would strongly consider whether you want to start a blog in the first place.
But you are still reading this so I’m going to assume you really do want to start a blog . And I’m so glad. Because I love blogging and I love talking about blogging even more!
Here are a 5 important things to consider BEFORE starting a blog:
1. Find your niche
For me, this one was easy. I am very passionate about two things: nursing and motherhood. (And, well, my husband & other loved ones too, but for the sake of having a blog, you need to find YOUR specific niche that you can passionately write about).
Someone once told me this: “Before you start a blog you must find your niche. Then, take your niche and niche it down even more.” In essence, you need to get really super specific.
For example, if I just called myself a “nurse blogger” that doesn’t say very much about who I am or what my niche is about (except, of course, that I am one of 2.2 million other nurses in the US). It also doesn’t tell you anything about how I might be able to add any value to a reader. It’s just too vague.
Instead I am a “nurse mom lifestyle blogger who helps other nurses take better care of themselves with an emphasis on self-care.” I like to think of myself as a nurse advocate. That sounds a little better, doesn’t it?
It seems counter-intuitive that niche-ing down helps bloggers perform better but it really does. It increases your engagement with a very specific group and you have the opportunity to be an expert in a small area. You just can’t be everything to everyone, and you can’t be an expert at everything.
2. What will your name be?
Many bloggers want their name to reflect their niche. I’ll use myself as an example again: my blog name is Mother Nurse Love and my niche is nurse moms and self love. Pretty self explanatory.
But it doesn’t have to be that way if you don’t want it to. Your name can be anything you want it to be (although it might be a little more interesting if you are able to have a little story behind it!).
It is, however, important to put a lot of consideration into your name for the following reasons:
Your blog name is going to be with you for a long time. You will be known for it.
It is difficult (but not impossible) to change it later on down the line.
Bloggers generally use their blog names for their social media handles as well. Again, this just makes it harder for you to re-brand in the future (so start with the right name!)
Just make sure your name is not offensive or is sending a message that does not reflect you well.
(In the book The Nurses Guide To Blogging, co-author Kati Klieber, talks about how when she first started out her blogging name was Nurse Eye Roll. While many RN’s can relate to Nurse Eye Roll as a funny title, when she started getting more popular in the blogging world she became concerned that her blog name was sending the wrong message to brands and followers. She ultimately had to do a complete re-brand and changed her name to FreshRN. She is now more popular than ever the nurse blogging community, but I’m sure it was a huge pain in the butt at the time.)
A word of advice: I strongly suggest that you figure out what your blog name will be BEFORE setting up a WordPress blog with Bluehost.
3. What is your end goal with your blog?
Do you want a hobby blog? Or are you trying to start a side hustle/business? You don’t have to make this decision right away, but it’s something to keep in mind, especially if you are planning on growing an email list and monetizing your blog at some point.
First things first though. You need to starting writing blog posts. A lot of them. And they need to be good.
By now you have probably heard the phrase “content is king.” Well, frankly, it is. And if your end goal is to have a growing, thriving blog, then your writing and your voice need to be honed in nicely.
After you have a functioning website up and running then it might be a good time to start expanding your reach.
If your end goal is lots of website traffic you need to start with Pinterest AND focus on Search Engine Optimization
Pinterest will get you page views faster – but great SEO will rank you higher in Google searches and is great for the long haul. Right now I focus on both to grow my website traffic.
You may not know this, but Pinterest is NOT a social media platform. Its a visual search engine. It has changed tremendously over the last year and continues to have algorithm updates almost weekly (or so it seems!) Mastering Pinterest takes a lot of work and if you want more traffic sooner then you need to invest in a course.
Here is a great resource for you understand and better utilize Pinterest: a blogger colleague of mine, Megan Johnson, created Pinterest Ninja to help people increase their blog pages views by the thousands. I did the course when I was on maternity leave and have been able to increase my page views from 0 to 500-1000/day within a few months. Seriously, read some of her reviews.
Know this- if your goal IS to monetize your blog you will need to invest in a few courses to help move you forward. Otherwise, blogging is a lonely, frustrating island.)
4. How much time will you be able to dedicate?
Most adults have a full time job and/or kids that they need to manage before they can put work time into blogging. So as much as we intend to dive right into writing 7 posts a week, for many of us that is just not realistic.
I am a mother of 2 very small children, a nurse working 12 hour shifts, a wife and a homemaker. So, like most other working women bloggers, I’m super freaking busy 99% of the time. However, through practicing hyper-vigilant time management and forgoing a little shut eye at night I am managing to squeeze 5-10 hours into my blog every week. And I am still able to produce some decent and valuable content on a fairly consistent basis.
Eventually, my children with be in school and at that time I will be able to dedicate more time to content creation and website management. But for now I am still making an impact and earning a little money every day.
Try making a tentative blogging schedule for yourself and stick to it. Like I mentioned before, blogging is a marathon, not a sprint and it takes time to grow. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying or trying to sell you something.
5. Are you OK with being vulnerable?
When I first started blogging it took me a week to write my first posts. The reason it took me so long was that I kept going back and censoring my post from its original content. Mostly I was afraid of offending someone. I kept thinking “what if they leave a negative comment on my site?
It took me a few months to stop being so hard on myself. After all, this is my blog, I own it, and therefore I am allowed to talk about whatever I want. If someone has something negative to say, so what? Besides, aren’t I trying to start a dialog for nurse moms?
(A blogging collage once shared some encouraging words: she said “you’ll know when your really doing well with your blog when you get a nasty comment on your site. That’s when the trolls start to find you.” Wise words.)
Vulnerability can be powerful for a new blogger. Once you decide that you are going to be authentic with your writing you actually gain momentum with your messaging. You allow your writing to be more creative and natural. It’s an inspired feeling and your readers will appreciate getting to know you better.
(A few final thoughts to mention before hitting publish: Are you hurting anyone or belittling a person or community? Words are powerful so use them to create positivity and to help find solutions to problems. Create value. Spread the love.)
Here are a few more posts you may be interested in reading!
You need to know by now – if your goal IS to monetize your blog you must invest in a few courses to help move you forward. Otherwise, blogging is a lonely, frustrating island.
Nurse Blogging 101: Healthcare Media Academy – If you are a nurse or other healthcare blogger, I highly recommend starting with this one. Creators Brittany Wilson and Kati Kleber are both published, award-winning authors who are also considered the Godmothers in nurse blogging. They are especially great because they go into more detail about patient privacy concerns and other considerations that healthcare bloggers need to be aware of.
Pinterest Ninja: If you want to understand how Pinterest can grow blog traffic you need this Pinterest Ninja Course. A blogger colleague of mine, Megan Johnson, created Pinterest Ninja to help people increase their blog pages views by the thousands. I did the course when I was on maternity leave and I was able to increase my blog traffic exponentially in just over one month. Seriously, read some of her reviews. Her course is invaluable.
(This post may contain affiliate links. You can find my disclosure page here.)
My blog sells something every single day on Amazon.
Just this morning I rolled out of bed to find that I had already made $42 while I was sleeping. The best part is that it is completely passive income for me. (I am still smiling about it as I write this).
I am only making between about $3 to $45 from Amazon on my (relatively) new blog each day. Its not much… yet. But still, it is passive income and it’s consistent. Which means that I am making money no matter what I am doing that day.
(Note: I dabble in several different affiliate marketing programs, but for the purpose of this post I want to focus on how Amazon is a great affiliate for brand new bloggers to start making passive income on their blogs. Amazon affiliates is how I started with affiliate marketing and I encourage other new bloggers to use it at well because I think its the easiest ones for new bloggers. Once you get started with Amazon and start making consistent money there are a TON of other great affiliate programs out there as well.)
What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular ways people can make money online. It is a strategy that bloggers can use to earn a commission by promoting other people’s products. For example, if I find a product or service I like, I can promote it to my readers and earn a small commission for the referral.
Of course, bloggers still need to create killer content and only recommend products or services that they actually like and use themselves. In order to be successful it’s best to keep it “non-salesy,” genuine and relevant to the purpose of your post. Otherwise it can be a real turn-off.
Affiliate marketing can be a triple win for the blogger, reader and company selling a product (in this case, Amazon). Each party benefits from the blogger making a useful suggestion about a product or service because a need is being filled for all three:
The seller sells a product, earning a profit
A reader gets value by purchasing something they need
The blogger earns a small commission for their helpful referral.
From this viewpoint, bloggers have a great opportunity not only to provide great content but to also add additional value to both readers and the companies they work as affiliates for.
Why Amazon is a great affiliate for new bloggers:
Amazon affiliates is one of the largest and easiest affiliate programs to use.
If it exists, you can find it on Amazon.
Just as an example, lets say you have a passion for writing about Madagascar hissing cockroaches and you would like to recommend some to your readers. Well guess what? You are in luck because you can buy them on Amazon! So you insert your Amazon affiliate link and viola! You just helped your reader find exactly what they were looking for!
You can pretty much find anything and everything on Amazon. So it makes it really easy for new affiliate marketers to find products easily that fit nicely within their niche. This is a great reason why Amazon is a great affiliate for new bloggers who are trying to monetize their websites for the first time.
(On another note, the key phrase ‘Madagascar hissing cockroaches for sale’ actually gets 480 searches on Amazon every single month. So, there actually is a need for this particular niche and a potential to make affiliate money from it. Just saying).
Amazon affiliate cookies have site-wide coverage, and is not just limited to the product you are promoting.
When you make a referral to Amazon, you only have a 24 hour window to actually make a sale. But the good news is that you will get the commission from ALL the products the customer purchased from the store.
So say, for example, your reader decided not to purchase your recommended product after all… But, they did decide to purchase a $2700 Microsoft laptop computer instead. You get a commission from the sale of the $2700 computer! (I know someone who had a similar thing happen to them as an Amazon Affiliate, so it does happen!)
Shipping is free for Amazon Prime members
Everyone I know is a member of Amazon Prime and gets to take advantage of the free shipping. In fact, almost everything I order is from Amazon because I don’t pay an additional fee to have it sent to me. People are more likely to buy something if they don’t have to pay an additional fee for shipping.
The Amazon return policy is so simple
I feel good about recommending products from Amazon because whenever I need to return something, its so super easy. That way if one of my readers ends up not liking a product that they ordered I know they can send it back no problem. I would never want someone to keep a product that I recommended if they didn’t end up liking it, or just regretting the purchase.
Just remember to keep it genuine as an affiliate marketer:
Only promote products related to topics that you already write about in your niche. And you must actually use and like the product/service yourself. Otherwise it comes off as inauthentic and disingenuous.
Here is a helpful tip for new bloggers who want to start monetizing their blogs: If you started using Amazon Affiliates after you started your blog, then go back to your top 20-30 posts and add affiliate links where they fit in.
For more resources visit my Start A Blog resource page!
This post discusses how to start a WordPress blog on Bluehost and contains affiliate links. You can find my disclosure page here.
So you have something to say, do you? Why not start a blog?
Starting a blog has been one of the most exciting and challenging things I have ever done in my adult life. Its how I share my ideas and try to provide value to other nurse moms.
The idea to start a blog popped into my head when my daughter was about 6 months old. I was at the hospital, working another long, arduous 12 hour shift and I thought — there have got to be other ways that I can provide value as a nurse that don’t make me feel so horrible by the end of the day. (Mind you, I had just had a new baby who hadn’t quite mastered sleeping through the night, so I was probably a bit dramatic).
Problem was, I had no experience with blogging and didn’t consider myself particularity “tecky” at the time. But, I made it through college twice (first, for a BA in Journalism and then again for a BS in Nursing) and I thought that with enough effort, I might be able to figure it out.
I set out on a mission to create a blog where I could use my nursing degree to share self care ideas with other nurses who are also moms. And I’ve been enjoying this ride ever since.
I want to make it super easy for others like me to start a blog. So if you are an aspiring blogger like I once was, continue reading to see how easy it is to set up a blog of your own.
Give yourself about 60 minutes to set up your blog.
Put the kids to bed, kiss your spouse goodnight, and find a spot to get to work.
Have a credit card ready (you need to pay for hosting)
Have a website name already chosen
Your are going to need to consider your niche and come up with a name. Think about the message you want to share and how you think you can provide value to readers.
For example, my niche is Nurse Moms and my blog name is Mother Nurse Love. My name is pretty straightforward, although you can choose any name you want (it doesn’t have to have anything to do with your niche if you want).
What is hosting and why is it important?
The first thing you are going to do is set up hosting for your blog. A blog host is the company that provides the space on its servers and equipment to store your blog. There are free options out there but I would not use them for the following reasons:
Free blogs appear less professional
You would have to have the “blogger” or “wordpress” in your domain name.
Your have less control over your blog when you use free hosting. CSS functions and theme selections are limited, and you have little control over expanding your websites capabilities.
Free platforms often limit advertising options, which makes it harder to make money if the future if you plan to monetize your blog.
If you just want to explore the blogging world for fun and have no interest in making any profit or ever ranking in google, then by all means, get a free blog. But if that is not your cup of tea, I would strongly consider using Bluehost.
Good pricing- you can start your blog for as low as $3.95 a month (its a great deal!)
Free domain
24/7 support
30 day money back guarantee
Step-By-Step Instructions To Set Up Your Blog
I divided the following sections into two parts: Bluehost and WordPress. This guide instructs you on the exact way to set up your blog with screenshots to make it easy. Once you complete part 1 (Bluehost) the site will lead you directly into part 2 (WordPress). Its super easy!
Go to Bluehost and hit the “Get Started Now” button
Click the package you want
Sign up for a domain name- Your domain name is your address on the internet, otherwise know as your URL. (For example, my domain name is mothernurselove.com)
Enter your account information
Enter your package information
Give your payment information
Choose a password
Congratulations! You finished part 1! You will will taken to a screen to set up your WordPress blog. (See those steps below)
#8. Congratulations! You are almost there! Now you need to ‘log in’ so you can set up your WordPress blog.
Part 2: WordPress
Now its time to set up your WordPress Blog. This part is actually much easier than it sounds. Bluehost pretty much does all the work for you. Just continue on the same screen you are on now and follow these steps.
Bluehost will ask you you pick a theme. You can change it later if you want (I changed mine later and it was not a big deal).
Click ‘Start Building.’
Choose ‘Business’ or ‘Personal’
Launch your site
Log into WordPress and start blogging away, new blogger!
1. Pick a theme that inspires you
2. Click ‘Start Building’ to begin setting up your WordPress blog
3. Choose business or personal account
4. Launch your site
5. Log into WordPress and start blogging away, new blogger!
Perks of being a nurse writer or healthcare blogger.
