The blog on writing a blog.

Where do I begin when writing a blog?

AMT are on the lookout for new contributors to the blog and would love to hear from you, our members. We know that there is a wealth of information, stories and experiences out there that your fellow members would find valuable so we want to give you the platform to contribute to your industry association publication. Writing a blog article can seem daunting at first, especially if you haven’t written in this format before. So this blog is a blog about how to write a blog for AMT.

Where do I begin when writing a blog?

1. Plan Your Ideas

When it comes to writing a blog, the best place to start is to map out your ideas. It can be helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• What topic would I like to write about?
• Who is my audience? Will you write for members, the public or industry?
• What is the purpose of my blog? Is it to inform, inspire or educate?

To help with the ideas, here are some themes for the blog that you can choose from:

• Industry News: Is there something new happening in the industry? Do you have a story relating to a recent announcement or update? Are you doing something unique to raise the profile of Massage Therapy?
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Massage Therapists: Identify a question that your fellow massage therapists commonly ask and write a blog to share your knowledge on that topic
• FAQs for General Public: Identify a question often asked by the public about Massage Therapy and provide knowledge on this topic.
• Career Pathways: Share your personal story of how you came to work with a specific population, modality or area of expertise. Include types of training you undertook to get you where you are today.
• Client Case Studies: Using de-identified information, showcase your application of massage therapy for a client or group of clients.

Once you have an idea of what you would like to write, reach out to AMT at blog@amt.org.au to submit your ideas before getting started. We will make sure that your idea aligns with the blog purpose and help you with any guidance needed in the process.

2. Structure Your Blog

When writing your blog, it’s important to structure it well to make it easy to read and engage with your audience.

• Use Headings to break up the content: As I have done in this blog, break down your content to help readers scan and easily consume your content.
• Keep your content informative and educational: Your writing should aim to educate readers and provide them with useful information about massage therapy. Avoid using promotional language and focus on providing insights, tips, and advice that readers can use.
• Use clear and concise language: Your content should be easy to read and understand. If you are writing for the public, avoid jargon or technical terms that might be confusing to readers.
• Include credible sources: If you make any claims or reference research in your writing, be sure to include credible sources to back up your assertions.
• Word count: As a guide, aim for a blog length of 800-1200 words.

By following these guidelines, you can create high-quality, informative content that resonates with the massage therapy industry audience of your choosing.

3. Utilising AI for Writing Your Blog

With the rise of the use of ChatGPT and other AI based writing tools, it is important that you consider one important rule – Check your facts!

AI tools are predictors of text based on an input of information. They often share a disclaimer when they are asked health related questions to ensure that you review and check that the information is factual.

Consider using these tools as a means for developing structure to your blog or for ideas but always put in your own words, experience and insight to make the blog your own. What makes a great blog is hearing your insight and personality too.

4. Benefits of Writing for the AMT Blog

Writing a blog can bring many benefits to you, your peers and the industry, including:

• Full Author Credit, Biography, Photo and Links to social media/website
• Write a PD Reflection and receive CPD points for what you learnt during the process
• Give back to your industry by sharing information and experience
• Content for you to share on your own social media platforms
• Raise your profile within the Massage Industry and credibility within your own network

5. Promoting Your Blog

After your blog has been published, it’s time to share your work. Based on your audience, AMT will distribute your blog through the appropriate communication channels, such as the AMT Facebook Group, Newsletter and Social Media pages. You are encouraged to share your content too. Put it in your own newsletters, social media or share with someone you think would find the content valuable.

Still feeling unsure?

Another great way to create a blog is via an interview format. If you have a story or idea but are not confident in writing the article, speak to us about sending you interview questions that can be used to create a great story.

Let’s get started

AMT are excited for this opportunity to hear from you so please be brave, step forward and share your ideas. We are looking to sharing your stories, knowledge and experience with the AMT community.

About the author

Melissa Woodward is a RMT and Women’s Health Coach. She’s on a mission to support women to heal their relationship with food, exercise and their bodies. Melissa has a very strong social media presence and regularly blogs on her “Fearless Health” website.