Please Blog Responsibly: Writing Like an Expert…When You Aren’t One

In the health blog world, we share plenty of information with one another. We talk about last night’s meal, this morning’s workout, or last weekend’s shenanigans.  And we also like to give advice.

Lots and lots of advice.

From “Try this easy recipe!” to “Do this workout if you want your ass kicked!” we’ve all  stumbled across little nuggets of wisdom that other bloggers are doling out. And that’s fine, because blogging is a fun, informal way to pass along interesting finds and strategies that help us stay healthy. However, when you’re not an expert, you probably shouldn’t pass on information as if you were – especially when it comes to nutrition and fitness.

A few things to consider when passing along information on these health topics:

Are you a professional or an expert on the topic you’re discussing?  If you aren’t, are you providing that disclaimer? As a certified personal trainer, I get a little irked when people make up workouts and tell people to try them out with no disclaimer.  That upper body routine you did last week that made your arms feel like Jell-o sounds great, but it might not be good for all of your readers to try out, especially if they’re injured or not as advanced as you are. I understand that your readers have brains and can usually make judgment calls for themselves, but if they do happen to be a fitness newbie, they might not actually realize how difficult your exercises are, or how doing that shoulder press you described could do some major damage if performed improperly. Just because a workout was good for you, doesn’t mean the same for all of your readers. You can post your routines, but when you do, make sure you mention that you are no expert in the field, and that this was just what got YOU sweaty and sore.

Who was your source? Are you telling your readers where you got your information? Another thing that should be avoided is passing on tips  you’ve read in magazines or heard from friends who aren’t qualified either. Your friend who looks great and gives you training tips, but isn’t actually a certified fitness professional, should not be who you’re citing as a resource. She might look super fit, but she could still be doing something incorrectly. “Self” and “Shape” shouldn’t be your main source either, since a lot of fitness mags dumb down their information so that the average reader can understand, meaning that sometimes they’re not the most technically reliable.

If you don’t know or understand something, look it up! And while we’re at it, let’s make sure it’s a reliable source.  While you should still let readers know you aren’t an expert, this is no excuse to pass along half-researched information. Do your background checks, and your credibility will remain intact — even without that professional status.

So many times, I hear or read people saying things about the killer workout that burned a ton of calories or really reshaped X part of her body, when, in fact, she’s wrong on both counts. I’m not claiming to have all of the answers, but if you don’t have it on good authority that your workout is doing what you say it does, then don’t pass on iffy information.  For me, this applies to nutrition.  Although I know what has worked for me in the past, I don’t give advice on food choices besides the basics that I learned with my PT certification. I can tell you roughly how much you should eat (and how to determine that number), as well as how many calories are in each of the nutrients, but am I going to give you a detailed meal plan?  Absolutely not.  Why? Because I’m not qualified to do so.

So when posting a fitness routine or advice, consider this information. You’ll keep the blogosphere’s trust, retain your readership, and be a better blogger for it.

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Tagged as: Heather, Please Blog Responsibly