TypePad for Dummies
March 23, 2010
In 2008 we were approached by some TypePad bloggers about the possibility of writing a "For Dummies" book for TypePad. Naturally we said - YES! Absolutely. If they were prepared to take on the gargantuan task of capturing all the secrets of this little application onto the printed page then who were we to stop them? We were pleased to offer the technical (and moral) support.
To our delight Shannon Lowe and Melanie Nelson announced the arrival of the book on Amazon a few weeks ago. TypePad for Dummies is a comprehensive, up to the minute run through of all the great functionality TypePad offers.
The book also covers some of the practical blogging strategies that have served the authors so well, and some fine examples that will inspire even the most seasoned blogger. I enjoyed reading this book, and I confess to learning a trick or two myself.
So, if...
1) You are thinking about starting a blog
2) You know someone else who is starting a blog who might feel more comfortable with the instruction manual in their hand or
3) You have a nagging feeling your blog is not benefiting from everything TypePad has to offer
...then you can go here to buy this book.
Giveaway Time!
Alternatively, tell us what you would write your own "For Dummies" book about in the comments and we'll send our favorite responses a FREE COPY of TypePad for Dummies in the mail! We have 5 to give away.
Inspiration
Yes - if you spotted this contest on Facebook a few weeks - this is a re-run. It was so fun seeing everyone's ideas we decided to run it on Everything TypePad as well. Here are some of our favorites for inspiration
- Driving for Dummies from Isabel Ginsberg of xoisabel
- Cocktail Party Conversation for Dummies and the socially awkward from Karen Richter of the big 3 blog
- Being a Superstar Mom and Still Looking Hot for Dummies from Keri Ann Berga of OutNumberedmomma
- Building groovy sandcastles from Angela Walters.
We'll announce the winners on Friday.
How about Divorce for Dummies ...
Posted by: Karen Kurz | March 24, 2010 at 12:43 PM
How to market your blog, for Dummies :) If I don't win the book, I'll definitely buy it! Have been wishing for this book for a long time! Glad to see typepad supporting it -- hoping that means BETTER WIDGETS, capabilities and support for typepad bloggers!
Posted by: Stephanie, Principal Paper Addict | March 24, 2010 at 12:43 PM
"How to Write a Smart-but-Biting Response to Friends on Facebook with Whom You Don't Agree Politically and Then Erase It Because You Have Better Things to Do With Your Time Than Waste Energy on Those Idiots From College."
Sequel: "How to Do That Five Times in a Row, Convince Yourself You Still Haven't Wasted Your Time, and Then Go Eat a Donut to Let Off Some Steam."
Posted by: Megan Cooley | March 24, 2010 at 12:44 PM
How Not To Pull A Muscle At A Seafood Disco For Dummies...
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 12:44 PM
Don't Call Me Dummy For Dummies -- How Some of Us Prefer To Be Referred to As Challenged Or Can't Come Up With Any Clever Titles, Just Send Me a Danged Book, Already.
Posted by: Liz@ThisFullHouse | March 24, 2010 at 12:45 PM
"How to be a Lesbian WITHOUT Drama for Dummies"
Posted by: A Twitter User | March 24, 2010 at 12:45 PM
How Do You Get Someone To Pay 10 Dollars For A Book For Dummies...
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 12:46 PM
How to Navigate the Little League, Swim Team, Soccer Camp, Ballet Classes, Music Lessons, Hebrew School, and All the Other After School Stuff that Kids Do Nowadays for Dummies. (Boy, I wish I'd had this book ten years ago!)
Posted by: Mindy | March 24, 2010 at 12:46 PM
For those moving from the UK to the US, and then having children:
"Pacifiers for Dummies"
Posted by: Macroscope | March 24, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Why Faxes Don't Need Stamps For Dummies
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 12:47 PM
Existentialism, Quantum Physics, and Programming Your VCR for Dummies.
Posted by: kmkat | March 24, 2010 at 12:47 PM
Online Video for Dummies
Posted by: Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen | March 24, 2010 at 12:48 PM
How Not To Finish A Book Title For Dumm
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 12:48 PM
Match.com for Dummies. (Oh, yes it is.)
Posted by: Account Deleted | March 24, 2010 at 12:49 PM
How to Raise Teenagers Without Resorting to Violence for Dummies
Posted by: Lisa Guidarini | March 24, 2010 at 12:49 PM
Negotiating with customer service agents - for Dummies
How to get the customer service agent from a call centre to respond like a human being and say something that is not in their script or do something different from what they first suggested
Posted by: Chris Radford | March 24, 2010 at 12:49 PM
again and again, I meet parents of children who can cope better with computers than they can.
How do I tell my parents what a blog is for dummies!
Posted by: Sascha Schmidt | March 24, 2010 at 12:50 PM
Losing 50 pounds while still eating chocolate and fries - for Dummies.
Posted by: Gila (11m2) | March 24, 2010 at 12:51 PM
Or an Espresso even...
Posted by: Account Deleted | March 24, 2010 at 12:51 PM
Why Three Is Not As Good As Four Dummies
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 12:53 PM
How NOT to leave your online social media networking profiles on at work for Dummies. OY VEY. enough said.
Posted by: Rachel Carlson | March 24, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Beginner's Mind for Blogging: Enlightenment and Prosperity at your Fingertips
Posted by: NPeden | March 24, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage for Dummies
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Crash testing for dummies
Posted by: Aesthete | March 24, 2010 at 12:56 PM
Love it ;-)
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 12:56 PM
Stylin' Gray Hair for Dummies.
Posted by: Elizabeth Buckley, Ph.D. | March 24, 2010 at 12:57 PM
There are some pretty good titles going on here. This is mine: Driving for Dummies: How to Traverse Everything From the Amazon to the Urban Jungle!
Posted by: Melissa Burford | March 24, 2010 at 12:58 PM
"Building a Web Site for Your Church for Dummies"
Posted by: Rodale | March 24, 2010 at 12:58 PM
maximum multitasking for dummies!
Posted by: Account Deleted | March 24, 2010 at 12:58 PM
The idiots guide for dummies
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 12:59 PM
Breathing for dummies...
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 01:00 PM
Why 93% of statistics are made up for Dummies
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 01:02 PM
Geek Culture For Dummies
Sample chapters include:
Geek, Nerd, or Dork: take the test!
Real life Geeks
Understanding all the In-jokes on "The Big Bang Theory"
Deciphering obscure T-shirts: What does it REALLY say?
Yes, there are Geek Girls
Types of Geeks
Posted by: Sunfell | March 24, 2010 at 01:02 PM
Commuting for Dummies. I have commuted 100 miles a day for the past seven years and commuting is much different from normal driving.
Posted by: Michelle L. LeBlanc | March 24, 2010 at 01:02 PM
Scamming Days Off of Work for Dummies -- I'd confess my expertise here, but I don't want to get fired.
Posted by: Michelle L. LeBlanc | March 24, 2010 at 01:04 PM
How to Go Green without Breaking the Bank for Dummies.
Posted by: Account Deleted | March 24, 2010 at 01:04 PM
Texting while driving (is) for DUMMIES!
Posted by: queenjane | March 24, 2010 at 01:04 PM
"Dummies for Dummies - A guide to pacifier choice for babies."
Posted by: Account Deleted | March 24, 2010 at 01:05 PM
I would love to have a "Guidebook for Everything You Never Knew You Never Knew for Dummies!"
Posted by: Account Deleted | March 24, 2010 at 01:05 PM
"Self Esteem for Dummies"
Posted by: Lisa | March 24, 2010 at 01:06 PM
sǝıɯɯnp ɹoɟ uʍop ǝpısdn ƃuıʇıɹʍ
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 01:06 PM
How to Choose a Public Magnet School for Dummies.
Posted by: Eliza | March 24, 2010 at 01:07 PM
Speling for Dumies
Posted by: Account Deleted | March 24, 2010 at 01:08 PM
I purchased Typepad for Dummies and I am soooo! happy I did. Typepad is very personalized with their help ticket system and have answered each time I filed a ticket. I also wanted to have a additonal resourse for my questions. Typed for Dummies Book is an excellent source for Beginner Bloggers.
Posted by: Tonya | March 24, 2010 at 01:08 PM
Practical Jokes for Dummnies
Posted by: Guthrie Sayen | March 24, 2010 at 01:10 PM
"how to photograph food in restaurants and still convince them you are not a professional food critic, when you are, for dummies"
Or, alternatively,
"how to cook nearly anything over a wood fire and have most of it still be edible for Dummies"
Posted by: lex | March 24, 2010 at 01:10 PM
I would like to see a "Home Office for Dummies" book.
Posted by: Ronald Rubin | March 24, 2010 at 01:10 PM
It sounds like a great idea, but how will you get them to read the book if they don't even read the bills they pass?
Posted by: Mockazine | March 24, 2010 at 01:11 PM
How to Be Yourself for Dummies
Posted by: Ribsy the Whippet | March 24, 2010 at 01:11 PM
"Singing in the Rain for Dummies."
Posted by: Michael John Ray | March 24, 2010 at 01:12 PM
How to Enjoy Long Road Trips with Young Children for Dummies
Posted by: Kim | March 24, 2010 at 01:12 PM
In some parts of the country, you could market, "Keeping your pecker in your pants for adult Dummies"
Posted by: Mockazine | March 24, 2010 at 01:14 PM
Photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence studies of stoichiometric and oxygen-deficient ZnO films for Dummies
Posted by: Ed. | March 24, 2010 at 01:16 PM
How to be the President For Dummies - USA market
How to be the Prime Minister For Dummies - UK market
Posted by: Sarah | March 24, 2010 at 01:20 PM
Driving Without Texting For Dummies. (Oh, wait, they're all Dummies!)
Posted by: Lynn Dye | March 24, 2010 at 01:20 PM
Rain Dancing for Dummies
Sometimes we really need rain here in the Plains.
Posted by: Julie | March 24, 2010 at 01:20 PM
"Plain Old Common Sense for Dummies". It should be a best seller, so many people seem to be lacking it these days.
I actually saw "Sex for Dummies" in a bookstore once. Wonder how that one sold?
Posted by: Melinda | March 24, 2010 at 01:22 PM
WordPress For Dummies, Pocket Edition - Switch To TypePad
Posted by: btn | March 24, 2010 at 01:25 PM
GoalSetting For Dummies
Getting the maximum from your life
Posted by: Nidia | March 24, 2010 at 01:26 PM
How to share but not over-share on the Internet for Dummies.
(Geared towards a younger audience it could also be titled: How not to let what you put on your blog/Facebook page ruin your future employment and relationship options for Dummies.)
Posted by: Laurel | March 24, 2010 at 01:26 PM
"How to be GREEN for Dummies" A step by step guide to saving your corner of the planet whether or not you believe that global warming is actually happening.
Posted by: Dawn Hunt | March 24, 2010 at 01:27 PM
Neurobiology for Dummies
Posted by: Victoria | March 24, 2010 at 01:28 PM
TGIF for Dummies
Posted by: Wayne Senville, Editor, Planning Comm'rs Journal | March 24, 2010 at 01:29 PM
Dummies Guide to Hiring Freelancers! (hint .. hint!)
Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth Durgin | March 24, 2010 at 01:30 PM
Creating an Ethical Business for Dummies
Posted by: Richard L. Brandt | March 24, 2010 at 01:35 PM
"Airport & Airplane Etiquette for Dummies" Being rude doesn't get you there faster - the check-in clerk does not fly the plane, actual instances where you can speed up your arrival and get in shape at the same time (avoid walking side walks at the arrival end), how to prepare for going through security (yes they still want you to remove belts, put change and other metallic items in the tray, take out your computer... try doing that a little in advance and the person behind you will smile), on the plane ask if you can help someone struggling to stuff their suitcase two feet above their heads.
Posted by: Morag | March 24, 2010 at 01:36 PM
How to be in reality for Dummies.
Posted by: I M Perfect | March 24, 2010 at 01:36 PM
I would start with: "Driving WITHOUT a cell phone" for Dummies.
Then I would write: "Asking SMART questions" for Dummies.
If the books take off, maybe: "At home plastic surgery" for Dummies to kick off a series of do it yourself, at-home medical procedures like heart surgery, brain surgery, transplants, and vasectomies.
Posted by: Mockazine | March 24, 2010 at 01:39 PM
You should probably start with a smaller volume, like:
"The US Constitution" for Dummies.
Posted by: Mockazine | March 24, 2010 at 01:40 PM
"Weight Watchers" for Dummies....their point system drives me crazy!
Posted by: Angie | March 24, 2010 at 01:43 PM
How to Speak & Understand Sarcasm For Dummies
Posted by: Sunny Smith | March 24, 2010 at 01:46 PM
"Don't Wit Me Down When I Need You For Dummies," - Your guide to the perfect comeback each and every time!
Posted by: Sandi M | March 24, 2010 at 01:46 PM
"Getting Raw for Dummies: How to change over to a mostly raw, organic and sustainable food diet without risking divorce or family revolt"
I've started my own journey to better health over the past six months. I've lost over 20 pounds, feel a lot better and my hair and finger nails look like I'm 20 years old again!
The only problem with "switching to raw" is I'm married with three teenage kids and I'm the primary meal preparer. There's plenty of books that show how to go raw if you live alone - but I don't live alone. I've had to read a great many books to piece together what I've learned so far.
A single book that includes all the basics like what I've learned in Michael Polan's "Omnivore's Dilemma" and Paul Nison's "Raw Food Formula for Health" would be great if written by someone who's a real person with a real family (where the family is fine going healthy so long as it means they can still eat whatever they want).
Posted by: Dan Baldwin | March 24, 2010 at 01:49 PM
"How to Identify, Prepare & Eat Unprocessed Vegetables for Dummies" because apparently too few people know how to do this anymore and, well, that's just sad.
Posted by: Finola's LIttle Blog | March 24, 2010 at 01:49 PM
Merging into Traffic for Dummies
Posted by: Sarah | March 24, 2010 at 01:49 PM
Technology for Dummies over 50 who need the new techno-brain their kids got.
Posted by: Created Reflections | March 24, 2010 at 01:50 PM
Collector Car Auctions for Dummies (have 13,000 words towards this project, with an archive of over 20 years of photos)
Posted by: Terry Parkhurst | March 24, 2010 at 01:50 PM
Where was this book two years and 12 blogs ago!!! I want a free copy. I love Typepad and continue to sell my clients on using Typepad... How about "Divorcing in South Carolina - Your Better Off Moving to Georgia for Dummies.
Posted by: Celeste | March 24, 2010 at 01:55 PM
Not sure if you've already received some of these, or if they already exist:
"Motherhood for Dummies"
"iPhone for Dummies"
"Facebook for Dummies"
"Using and Integrating Social Media for Dummies aka Post it Once for Dummies"
Posted by: Krista Kaulfus | March 24, 2010 at 01:57 PM
"Getting the Most Out of Your Public Library" for Dummies with chapters like: Ask a Librarian (That's what they're here for) ; Storytime, or, Getting Your Child Ready to Read 101 ; The Web Library, or Getting your Child's Project Research Done from Home--in Your Jammies ; It's not Just Books, or, DVDs, CDs, and Wiis, Oh My!
Posted by: Melissa in SC | March 24, 2010 at 01:58 PM
"How a two year old can navigate the iPhone better than me for Dummies"
Posted by: Melody Park-Shin | March 24, 2010 at 01:58 PM
awesome!
Posted by: julia | March 24, 2010 at 02:01 PM
How to Talk to a Man and Get Results Without Being a Nag for Dummies
Posted by: Terrie Hall | March 24, 2010 at 02:02 PM
I would write "50-plus and fabulous for dummies." If it's true that age is only a number, why can't tech-savvy, enterprising, energetic people over 50 find great jobs. Then I'd write "Marketing to the 50+ generation ... Why the group with the most disposable income is the most ignored by marketers." Yeah, that's what I'd do.
Posted by: Michelle Yard | March 24, 2010 at 02:02 PM
Twitter addiction for Dummies
Facebook addiction for Dummies
Posted by: Melody Park-Shin | March 24, 2010 at 02:05 PM
"PHP Is For Dummies"
Posted by: Chipsalz | March 24, 2010 at 02:05 PM
"Locating and using your turn signal for Dummies"
Posted by: julia | March 24, 2010 at 02:08 PM
How to deal with insane inlaws and make them think you like them for dummies
Posted by: Michelle | March 24, 2010 at 02:10 PM
How to shamelessy win giveaways for Dummies
Of course I'd have to actually win the contest before I can start writing it.
Posted by: Jeff Ebbing | March 24, 2010 at 02:13 PM
"Managing Like a Mom" for Dummies: running your life or business like a women, a.k.a. the art of multi-tasking, team management and creativity for success
Posted by: Karen McMillan,ACC, | YINpreneur | March 24, 2010 at 02:14 PM
Getting to know our global family face-to-face!
Posted by: Kurt Hein | March 24, 2010 at 02:15 PM
Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road For Dummies
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 02:19 PM
Why Too Many People All Stirring The Soup May Cause A Problem For Dummies
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 02:19 PM
"Haute and Spicy Roadkill Epicurean Cooking for Dummies"
Posted by: Sweet Spirit Productions | March 24, 2010 at 02:22 PM
my book would be: How to deal with Idiots for Dummies since there seem to be so many around these days.
I need the book Typepad for Dummies because I'm so very frustrated with the new version that I'm thinking of stopping my blog.
Posted by: Robin | March 24, 2010 at 02:23 PM
Why the severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the ability to reach it for Dummies
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 02:24 PM
Why life is definitely too short to argue for dummies...
Posted by: The Diet Guy | March 24, 2010 at 02:24 PM
I'd write "Dying for Dummies." There's so much the public doesn't know...like how you can get a great deal on a coffin at Costco. Or rent one for the day of the funeral service, then be cremated in a cardboard box. There'd be a chapter entitled "You Don't Have to Be a Member of the Mob to Swim with the Fishes" to explore the many ways and geography of being buried at sea. Where to find the best make up artists. How much to tip. So much to know.
Posted by: Account Deleted | March 24, 2010 at 02:30 PM
"Rocket Science for Dummies"
Posted by: lisa mitchell | March 24, 2010 at 02:31 PM
"Re-Launching Your Career After Staying Home" for Dummies!
Posted by: ann kent | March 24, 2010 at 02:35 PM