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TypePad Hosted Blog Service Review: Highly Recommended
TypePad is a very popular inexpensive hosted service used by this blog. Since there is no software to install or configure, you can have a basic blog up and running in ten minutes or so. Unlike some free options, there is support available (via email), which in general in very good. TypePad comes with a number of templates, or basic look-and-feels, so technical knowledge like HTML is not necessary
TypePad has a 30 day free trial, and then three inexpensive options:
- Basic Level: $4.95/month. This allows one blog, perfect for most people
- Plus Level: $8.95/month. Up to three blogs
- Pro Level: $14.95/month. Unlimited blogs, as well as multi-author blogs. This allows you to let other people to post to your blog. The Pro Level also allows you direct access to all HTML code so that blogs are fully customizable.
TypePad blogs are hosted at typepad.com and URLs have the default format blogname.typepad.com. The Plus and Pro Levels support domain forwarding (TypePad calls it "domain mapping"), so that your blog can appear to be hosted at your domain. For example bloggingforbusinessbook.com is actually hosted at teddemop.typepad.com.
So, why did I chose TypePad for BloggingforBusinessBook.com?
Well, it's got a great reputation, I wanted to start the blog
immediately (as in "I'm tired of writing the book, I think I'll start
the book blog NOW"), it's popular and I wanted experience it, and I
didn't want to spend the time or hassle to download and install blog
software like WordPress or Movable Type (which I'll review soon!)
There is a lot to like about TypePad! What don't I like? It hasn't been 100% reliable (has any hosted blogging platform been?) – no surprise given its rapid growth. The help files are good, but I wish there also was a manual – maybe a downloadable eBook. I also wish that it allowed me to host my blog anywhere I want instead of only at typepad.com, although the domain mapping is a nice feature.
A great resource for TypePad users is John T Unger's typepad hacks.
I found typepad to be limited and went with a web hosting service, dreamhost.
http://dreamhost.com/
Posted by: durante vita | 05 August 2006 at 11:51 PM
I'm guessing you're using WordPress on Dreamhost? I'll review WordPress soon - no question it is more flexible, as well as more complex.
WordPress is almost a religion - its users love it so much!
Posted by: T Demop, Blogging for Business | 06 August 2006 at 08:53 PM