TypePad for Dummies

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.

Comments

[ChristianB]

Happiness for Dummies!

[The Pet Blog Lady]

What a great idea! I am going to a Pet Bloggers conference in Ohio in a couple of week (www.Blogpaws.com) and I'll be sure to tell people about it. Love to win a copy in time to take it and show it off!

All Spam Dinner Parties for Dummies

[Morry Campbell]

Fly Fishing In Your Head for Dummies

[shannon]

Being Polite in Public for Dummies (w/ companion "do's and don'ts" dvd)

[Sasha]

How to wear heels and not show your pain For Dummies

[Account Deleted]

Decorating the Hole You are in for Dummies

[The Sweet Diabetic]

Navigating The World With Nine Toes For Dummies

[Stampin' Dymonz]

"How to Find the 'Any Key' on a Keyboard for Dummies"

[Gina Dalfonzo]

I would write "Dickens for Dummies"! My TypePad blog is about Charles Dickens, but a "For Dummies" book would be even better. It would be my chance to explain to the world that no, Dickens was NOT paid by the word, and yes, he wrote some other good quotations besides just "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." :-)

[Account Deleted]

Being a single mom with a 3-month-old baby for Dummies

or just

Being a single mom for Dummies

Someone needs to write that...

[Debbie]

"Starting Your Own Small Craft Business for Dummies"

[Barney Davey]

Surviving the Sixties...again

[Woody M. Collins]

"Ending Extreme Poverty and Saving Lives for Dummies"

[LandColt Trading]

Hmmmm...how about:

"How to Hold Yourself Accountable for your Actions for Dummies"

[Andrew B]

Managing your love - hate relationship with America for Dummies

[Melissa Hourigan]

How to pretend like you care - a guidebook for dealing with the egomaniac in your life.

Egomaniac Survival for Dummies

:) I feel like I have almost reached expert status for this one.

[Kathleen]

see above! LOL

[Account Deleted]

How to Design cool HTML5 websites for Dummies

[Account Deleted]

"How to Think for Yourself for dummies"

[Account Deleted]

Applying for SSDI for Dummies
Rubber Stamping for Dummies
Minimalism for Dummies
Living in Arizona for Dummies
Living with Chronic Pain for Dummies
I could go on but won't.

[Thatcher]

Hipster Bacon Worship for Dummies!

[brittbreu]

'Using Leftovers for Dummies' sounds yummy, no?

[kapgar]

How to Govern the State of Illinois for Dummies.

[Account Deleted]

Driving on the Highway for Dummies.

[Skye]

Chicken Soup for the Soul for Dummies.

[Karla Nathan]

Buying and Using Ephemera for Dummies.

[Obaitori]

Loving Kindness & How Not to Terrorise other Nations for Dummies.

[Girl About Town]

Gummies for Dummies: Your gums and you.

[Stephen Prendergast]

Understanding Political Double-speak for Dummies

[SelahV Today by Hariette Petersen]

Commenting on Blogs for Dummies

[Vicki Nelson]

How to Find the Comment Box for the Typepad for Dummies Post for Dummies

[Tony Alvino]

Video Game Reviewing for Dummies

Be a video game critic without coming off as biased or paid off by publishers.

[Vicki Nelson]

Being Happy for Dummies

[NCBTMB]

Test Taking for Dummies
Social Media for Dummies
Maintaining a Clean & Organized Desk for Dummies
Balancing Work Life and Family Life for Dummies

[Vicki Nelson]

Being Goofy for Dummies

[Vicki Nelson]

Laughing for No Reason for Dummies

[Diana Bogan]

Cloud Watching for Dummies

or

Identifying Stupid People for Dummies

[Mark Simmons]

Bike riding for dummies?

[Vicki Nelson]

Just Because It Feels Good for Dummies

[Vicki Nelson]

Happiness for Dummies

[Vicki Nelson]

Getting the Joke for Dummies

[Rebecca]

Ho about 'Global Warming for Dummies' we need that here in Australia!

[Vicki Nelson]

Stopping Mid-Sentence for Dummies: The Guide to Authentic Relationships

[Arturo Sayegh]

How to TypePad without being a dummy for Dummies...

[Account Deleted]

"HOw to build a spaceship and travel to alien worlds for Dummies"

[Ray Eisenberg]

"Open-Heart Surgery for Dummies" - see inside back cover for CD and scalpel.

[Vicki Nelson]

Stopping Mid-Sentence for Dummies: Accommodating Our Learning Curves

[Kathy @ Bliss Beyond Naptime]

How to Leave a Comment on a Book Give Away Contest in under Ten Minutes for Dummies.

[Mr.Bigfoot]

Witty Facebook Status Updates For Dummies

[Miriam R Kaye]

"How to get on with your In-Laws for Dummies"

[Michael V Marcotte]

Rocket Science for Dummies

[Veronica Thomas]

How to use the office kitchen and clean up after yourself for Dummies

[Flexible Thoughts]

Gartenzwerge for Dummies

To help explain:
http://www.google.com/search?q=gartenzwerge&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

[Miriam R Kaye]

"How to be YOU for Dummies"

[Sarah]

oh no! I just came on to put Crash Testing For Dummies, and two posts from the bottom I saw yours lol, will have to think of something else now.

[Beth]

How to Understand your Wife for Dummies

[Charlie]

I would write a book called 'The art of Extraordinary living for ordinary people for dummies" In it I would cover easy concepts to get us to live life to the fullest, with more joy and fulfillment in the every day things we do.

[Health Is A Skill]

Nutrition for Dummies

[The Cafe Ninja]

Buying a Cafe For Dummies

[tosca zraikat]

Speeches that Rock for Dummies

[Keri-Ann]

I love reading all of these hilarious ideas. I was lucky enough to win & I can't wait to receive my copy. My typepad blog link is http://www.outnumberedmomma.com
The link listed above isn't working & as a new blogger & typepad user I'd love to have feedback from some pros (or dummies!) TY!

[Shahab]

"quit being dummy" for dummies

[Lavinia Weissman]

Health without doctors for dummies!

[Naomi]

Teach Yourself to Read for Dummies

[Claire Alcock]

Momma K - Congrats on winning this in our Facebook contest. I am so sorry about that link in the post. I have corrected it. I hope your copy arrives soon. We sent it last week. Let me know if it doesn't appear. Aren't these suggestions awesome!?

[Claire Alcock]

We'll have one of those TypePad HQ! Thanks Veronica

[Gene Urban - the Urban Team]

I'd write a book about managing the multitude of social media options based on goals, lifestyle, business type and anal retentivness. Natually, writing a TypePad hosted blog would be the basic "have to do" and then we'd put the rest of the social media options in their respective places.

[Kathleen Crellin]

How to Not make a fool of yourself while not figuring out how to enter TypePad contests and avoiding other potential embarassing moments on-line for dummies.

Help!!!! I need this book. Thank you, Kathy

[Neil J Lloyd]

I think men across the world who have naturally scruffy facial hair (like me) could benefit from "Beard Management for Dummies"

[Paul Clegg]

How about ... Running Competitions for Dummies and I am not being rude.

[Bookmarked Typepad]

"Retirement for Dummies" because it's not as easy as it sounds to retire from someone else driving you hard at a million miles an hour to driving yourself in a meaningful direction without getting totally lost!

[J K]

Knitwear design for dummies

[Jolie]

Witty Retorts for Dummies

[This Eclectic Life]

funny :)

[Issues Man]

I would write "Bi-partisan Politics for Dummies" -- because I know this book would sell well (at least in one particular market).

[Scrappinshannon]

mastering the remote control for dummies, iPod for dummies, getting rid of rodents for dummies, driving a stick for dummies, balancing your checkbook for dummies, winterizing your RV for dummies, using grocery coupons to save money for dummies.... how is that for some ideas!!!! Pick me, I really want to win this book!

[Jamie Pappas]

My book would be "Cube Farm Etiquette for Dummies" since most of us unlucky folks are subjected to them every day!

Yes folks - we can hear that snort, slurp, burp, hock, spit, and any other bodily function you pretend wasn't you.

Same with the cell phone ringer that goes off while you're not at your desk.

Oh, yeah - and the speaker phone...and the...

I think you get it...

[Anita Hamilton]

Title: "First Time Mommy Madness for Dummies"

Subtitle: "How to survive your first child while staying sane enough to master the skill of tequila shots in between explosive diarrhea full body diaper changes"

That would be mine and I have so many stories i could tell....oh god....I'd need another shot just to start writing them lol.

[Jamie Pappas]

And perhaps after that one is published, I'll move on to "Your Mother Doesn't Work Here for Dummies"

For those folks who seems to forget that nobody's sweeping up behind them in conference rooms, kitchens, restrooms, and any other common areas at work!

[Harriet Wakelam]

Good excuses for persuading the family you need more computer time...for dummies

[H. Mark Delman]

An oxymoron if there ever was one.

[H. Mark Delman]

Here's my submission for the ultimate in serialized books...

"Chicken Soup for Dummies", a book which brings hope, courage and inspiration to those who are generally to stupid to know they need it.

[Scrapbook Central]

Could not decide between Grandparenting for Dummies (being a first timer this past year, and it was a little more of an emotional minefield than I thought) and Cell phone etiquette - lots of chapter options- how to turn your phone to silent/off when in a restaurant/conference/meetings, convesation loudness when on public transport, Driving while talking or messaging. There is some much to cover in this edition, it may have to be done in two parts!

[Mountain Musings]

I'd love to know how to make pictures in a blog post on Typepad be the sharpest, clearest, most beautiful ever! I use a great camera, my daughter is a photographer, and still the pictures seem lacking...not quite the pizazz that I want. I'm wondering if the Dummies book would cover EXACTLY the steps to take to insure clear photos. Thanks!

[Rita Schwab]

"Computer Solitare for Dummy"

[Rita Schwab]

Okay, I didn't mean to be quite so literal - I would plan to spell Solitaire correctly -

"Computer Solitaire for Dummy" !!

[Joe Peters]

Tokyo for Dummies

[Nicole Viars]

"Training Your Spouse for Dummies" she writes while her husband is doing laundry and she is tapping away on the keyboard trying to win a book for dummies

[Eyecatchers & Wind In The Willow]

May be a litte bit corny but here goes "How to "fully utilize" all those airline/hotel/restaurant "freebies" (ie. toothepaste, combs, shampoo, soap) when you get back home" for Dummies"

['eye see' Linda]

"How to chew your food when in public for dummies" Er, no lip smakin', mouth closed please, no sucking the stuck food from your teeth with your tongue, ..... and you know who you are !! ;)

[talkingcure]

Freud's cigar for dummies ...

[talkingcure]

Me too!

[talkingcure]

Fathering for dummies ...

[talkingcure]

Euphemisms for dummies ...

[Stampin' Up!]

Leaving "comments" for dummies! I just put a five day contest on my blog and it amazes me how many of my customers can't figure out the correct place to leave a comment or how to leave a comment!!!! Also "subscribing to a blog" for dummies...they can't figure out how to put their email address in the subscribe box either - LOL!

[Account Deleted]

"How To Write a Dummies Book for Dummies" But I need help. Please send book.

[Maile Keone]

Dating for Women over 40: CougarTown for Dummies

[Hannah]

How about..Garage Saling for Dummies--Help For Those Hosting and Hunting?

[Vicki O'Dell...TheCreativeGoddess]

"Parenting Teenagers without Hurting Someone for Dummies"

[Rubyru]

The mummies guide to me time and no guilt!!
I wish!