Do Dietitians Need to Blog Every Week? The Truth About Blogging Frequency

You’re sitting there, staring at your computer screen, wondering if you really need to churn out another blog post this week. Your to-do list is longer than the line at Starbucks on a Monday morning, and the thought of coming up with yet another “5 Ways to Love Your Body” post makes you want to scream into your pillow.

I get it. I’ve been there. Heck, I’m still there sometimes. (Like right now, as I’m writing this post while my cat, Finnick, gives me the stink eye for not paying attention to him. Sorry, buddy, mama’s gotta work!)

So: Do you really need to blog every week?

The Short Answer: Nope!

gasp Did a website designer just tell you that you don’t need to blog every week? Yup, I sure did. And I’m not taking it back.

The Longer Answer: It Depends (Because Doesn’t It Always?)

Now, before you close this tab and go celebrate your newfound freedom, let’s dive a little deeper. While you don’t need to blog every week, there are some pretty compelling reasons why you might want to. And there are also some perfectly valid reasons why you might decide to blog less frequently.

The Case for Weekly Blogging

1. SEO Love: Search engines are like that needy friend who always wants to hang out. The more often you post, the more often search engines crawl your site, which can boost your rankings. It’s like feeding a very hungry, very algorithmic monster.
2. Consistent Audience Engagement: Regular posts keep your audience coming back for more. It’s make you like that reliable friend who always shows up with snacks. People appreciate that.
3. More Content = More Opportunities: Each blog post is a new chance to rank for different keywords, attract new readers, and showcase your expertise.
4. Faster Results: If you’re trying to build up your blog quickly, more frequent posts can help you get there faster. It’s the difference between taking a leisurely stroll and sprinting towards your goals.

The Case Against Weekly Blogging

1. Quality Over Quantity: If blogging weekly means you’re churning out mediocre content, it’s not worth it. One killer post a month is better than four “meh” posts a week.
2. Time is Money, Honey: If blogging is taking time away from client work or other important business tasks, it might not be the best use of your resources.
3. Burnout is Real: Trust me, I’ve been there. Trying to force creativity on a schedule can lead to burnout fast.
4. Your Audience Might Not Keep Up: If your ideal clients are busy professionals (and let’s face it, whose aren’t?), they might not have time to read a new post from you every week anyway.

So, What’s a Non-Diet Dietitian to Do?

Here’s my totally professional, expert advice: Do what works for you and your business. (Groundbreaking, I know. Someone give me a Nobel Prize.)

But seriously, here are some things to consider:

1. What’s Your Goal?
   Are you trying to boost SEO? Establish yourself as an expert? Provide value to existing clients? Your blogging frequency should align with your goals.
2. What Can You Realistically Commit To?
   Be honest with yourself. If weekly blogging makes you want to throw your computer out the window, it’s not sustainable. (Also, computers are expensive. Don’t do that.)
3. What Does Your Audience Want?
   Ask them! Send out a survey or poll your social media followers. They might surprise you with their preferences.
4. What’s Your Season of Business?
   Just starting out? You might benefit from more frequent posting to build up your content library. Established practice? You might be able to scale back.

My Personal Blogging Philosophy

Want to know what I do? I aim for consistency over frequency. I’d rather commit to blogging twice a month and actually stick to it, than promise weekly posts and end up ghosting my own blog. (We’ve all been there, right?)

I also batch my content. I’ll have days where I’m feeling super inspired (usually after my third cup of coffee), and I’ll write several posts at once. Then I schedule them out over the next few weeks or months. It’s like meal prepping, but for your blog.

And you know what? Some months I nail it. Other months… well, let’s just say life happens. Like that time Oliver (my dog, for those who don’t know) decided my laptop charger looked delicious. But you know what? The internet didn’t implode because I missed a post. My business didn’t crumble. Life went on, and I got back on track when I could.

The Bottom Line

Blogging is a tool, not a rule.

Use it in a way that serves you and your business. If that means weekly posts, great! If that means monthly posts, also great! If that means hiring someone to do it for you while you focus on other aspects of your business, fan-freaking-tastic!

The most important thing is that you’re providing value to your audience and not driving yourself crazy in the process. Because let’s face it, a stressed-out, burnt-out dietitian isn’t going to be much help to anyone.

So, take a deep breath. Reevaluate your blogging strategy. And remember, it’s okay to change things up if what you’re doing isn’t working. Your blog, your rules.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go appease my cat before he stages a full-scale rebellion. Wish me luck!

P.S. If you’re struggling with your blogging strategy or just want someone to commiserate with about the joys of trying to type with a cat on your keyboard, hit me up. I’m always here for a good chat (and cat pictures, obviously).

Courtney Vickery, MS, RD, LD CEO

Courtney has 15+ years of experience putting together and designing marketing materials, WordPress websites, customer experiences, and workflows that help you save time and money. She developed these skills during her years as a Director of Corporate Health Services, Group Fitness Program Manager, Lead Wellness Dietitian, fitness and yoga instructor, and her own nutrition private practice, Vickery Wellness.

She also taught undergraduate courses at the University of Georgia where she graduated with the following degrees:

• MS/DI Foods & Nutrition
• BS Dietetics
• BA Political Science