TypePad

Before the days of Wordpress there was TypePad. Launched in 2003, the blogging platform gained popularity thanks to its use as a website framework by celebrities like Paris Hilton. Other CMS environments have stolen some of TypePad's thunder, but the software is still being updated and made available. It does however seem a bit dated in some respects. The first step to using TypePad begins with creating an account. There is a 14-day free trial available, but users will still be required to put in their billing information. At the end of the 14 days, the credit card on file will be charged for the software. A basic account costs $8.95 per month. This tier level will be suitable for the modest blogger, but those who make a larger number of posts will likely want more. Other accounts are available at a higher price. Once a user logs in to their account, an intuitive dashboard is provided to assist them with blog creation. One of the great things about this platform is that it was designed with the beginner in mind. The features that are used most often are very easy to find. These include a photo uploading utility, a tab for creating quick posts, and one-click sharing to various social media platforms. It is possible for the first time blogger to create a functional site in a few hours at most. The software offers a number of templates that users may find useful. It takes only minutes to choose a design and begin blogging. The post editor is full of enhanced features that allow the blogger to craft posts that are professional in appearance. It is possible to view posts in WYSIWYG or HTML format. One helpful aspect is that a checklist is provided to keep new bloggers focused and on-task. As parts of the blog are completed, the user checks them off and moves on to the next item.