Why I Blog, And Why You Should Too
To stay in touch. A big part of the joy of blogging for me is the simple social aspect. I have a lot of friends and acquaintances—personal and professional—all over the world, and I would never be able to keep in touch with all of them individually in a consistent way. So I use this site to share my thoughts, offer updates on what I’m doing and to stay connected.
It’s in the nature of dentistry that you will also form a lot of relationships with people you only see once in awhile—sometimes just a couple of times a year for a short visit. Maintaining a blog is a great way to maintain a presence in their minds when you can’t be in touch in person.
To stimulate new thinking. Many of my posts here are about sharing those “a-ha” moments in a way that will jumpstart the curiosity of readers and encourage them to further explore a line of thought. I don’t try to cover a topic in comprehensive detail—this isn’t the place for that. I aim to introduce ideas that dentists can share with their teams or each other, ideas that stimulate thinking and discussion.
For a dentist writing a blog for an audience of patients, you should follow the same strategy. No need for detailed clinical reporting; just find those nuggets of interest and try to present them in a brief and compelling way. You can’t provide all the information you want people to have in a blog, and you shouldn’t try. Sometimes you just need to plant the seed and let the reader’s mind take it from there.
To get people to engage at a deeper level. I have had a number of people remark that they feel they have come to know me through these posts and they make reading these entries part of their daily routine. And when people feel that they know you, they are more inclined to want to engage with you at a deeper level. I’m always delighted when people who are regular readers end up going deeper with us at Spear and exploring more about what we have to offer because they are stimulated by what our contributors discuss here. The blog is way to develop trust and create interest for those who want to go further. You have to earn that level of engagement by making your content meaningful.
In the same way, readers who make it a habit to follow your blog, get to know you better that way, and are interested in the way you present ideas online. These people are naturally going to be more inclined to participate more fully as patients. They are more likely to come in asking the right questions and they are more likely to trust your recommendations.
The digital age has made it easier than ever to get your message out. So if you haven’t launched a blog yet, I encourage you to get started. Who knows, you may get hooked on it the way I have.
Are you blogging right now? If so, please share the link to your blog in the comments. I’d love to see what you’re writing about.
Great post Imtiaz– You have given your readers wonderful food for thought. Blogging is the ultimate form of social media. Many people do not consider blogs social media like Facebook and Twitter but it is. When you hit the “publish” button you are sharing your ideas with the world…your patients, your social world. I have been blogging for a while— I write two blogs for dentists—TAOofDentistry.com for those interested in the philosophical side of dentistry (TAO stands for trust appreciation and ownership – the 3 attributes of who I accept into my world), and CasePresenter.com for those who want to share ideas about communication and case presentation. I truly welcome all dentists who are interested–and look forward to the discussions. I wrote a post today on CasePresenter.com about “reporting dental news to patients without making judgements—something that took me years to learn—and apply.
Thanks for this opportunity to talk about my blogs.
Barry Polansky
Very True, Imtiaz!
As human beings, we are walking-talking viewpoints that are based on narratives which in most cases are strung together loosely. One, who takes the time to weave these narratives artfully, creates an unmatched place for themselves. Imtiaz, I think you do it so well because it comes naturally to you and quite obviously you have tirelessly pursued perfecting this art form.
One can create a beautiful string of beads using imagination. Practice is the key.
One reason I blog is to have my ideas and thoughts somewhere where I can access them at anytime and anywhere. I’m not great at memorizing details but am pretty good at problem solving so one way I try to maximize my mental efforts is just to rely on my blog to memorize details for me. So I have several blogs but many of them are very specific, like http://implantsupportedprosthesis.blogspot.com/, and not really meant for anyone else but me. Many of them are a type of treatment specific so if I have a case coming up I go back and re-read that and use it as my checklist to ensure I;m not forgetting any details.
I really enjoy your Blog Imtiaz and all the contributors for Spear. It keeps my mind fresh, it keeps things in perspective, and allows me to engage every day. This consistent engagement has definitely strengthened my walk/journey towards reaching my potential in dentistry and life.
I also enjoy sharing my thoughts as well so that i have the oppurtunity to positively impact another reader. The days of practicing in a “bubble” should be long gone, even for solo practioners. This blog, the Spear continuum, and the digital platform is the road map to success for any dentist. Thanks for all you guys do for us!
John