Everything Typepad

Embedding Third Party Script To A Blog Post

Adding third-party scripts to a blog post can help enhance your content and Typepad allows you to add HTML and embedding in your post. You can add things like an image from Flickr, a pin from Pinterest, a tweet from Twitter, or a comment from Reddit.  When sharing any type of embedded HTML code in to a post, make sure you have switched to the HTML editor tab in the compose page:

Adding embedded script in the Rich Text editor will only display the actual code as text when you publish your post.  You know you're in the HTML editor as your content will appear as plain text:

When adding third party script to a blog post using the HTML editor, you may notice a couple of things.  First, you may not see your code in action in the Rich Text editor or in a Preview window.  This is normal and there's no need to worry. Some script is set up to only display once it is published.  An alternative to switching to the HTML editor is clicking the "Source code" button located between the Fullscreen and Restore buttons.

If you are adding embedded script to your blog post, we recommend not switching between the Rich Text and HTML editors when drafting your post.   Due to the nature of the coding, trying to view it in the Rich Text editor can strip some of the code so when it comes time to publish your post, it may not display properly. Just make sure you copy and paste the embed code entirely with all it's closing tags to ensure it will display properly.

Compose Tools: the Insert Menu

When we blog, we tend to find a groove in how we compose–our rhythm, if you will. That can often times lead to tunnel vision, seeing only what we are focused on, and know we need, blind to other tools that could be of use to us. In this post, we'll uncover the tools inside the Insert menu of the compose screen. There may just be a gem in there you'll find useful.

At the top of the compose screen, when in Rich Text mode, you will see several drop-down menus available.

The menu we're focusing on today is the Insert menu, the first shown at the top left of your Rich Text compose screen. Clicking on it, you'll find several tools you may already use (e.g. Insert Image).

As you can see, the majority of the tools listed in the Insert menu can be found in the toolbars with a corresponding icon. Those that are not on the toolbar, however, may just be something you've needed this whole time. Let's check them out.

Horizontal Line

The horizontal line option allows you to insert a line that separates content. This is great for adding bylines, designating certain areas for specific topics, and more.

Anchor

The anchor is, in short, a link to another location on the page. With the update we made to the compose editor a while ago, it's now extremely easy to insert an anchor link into your blog post or page. A video may illustrate better how simple it is, so take a look below.

Simply add your text, then place the cursor where you want your link to return a reader. Use the Insert menu to select the anchor option, then give the anchor a name. Next, place your cursor where you will insert the link that will lead readers to the anchor. Add text, highlight it, then select Insert Link (either from the menu or the toolbar; that's up to you). In the pop-up that appears, there will be an anchor dropdown menu. Use that to select the anchor you want the link to go to, then click OK. Well done!

Insert date/time

This is self explanatory, but we'll give explaining it a shot: the tool inserts the date and/or time in the format of your choice. That went really well. Good job, Team Typepad!

Nonbreaking space

The nonbreaking space, or non-breaking space if you can't stand to see that word not hyphenated, allows you to force an empty space to appear before or after text, an image, and so on. It looks like   in the code of your post or page. If you've ever tried to tap the space bar a few dozen times to increase the distance between two words or images, you know that those taps don't translate to actual space. That's where the nonbreaking space comes in.

So, did you learn something new? Figure out how you could ease the burden of some task you undertake in composing your posts? If so, tell us all about it in the comments section below!

Announcing Multiple Usernames and Password Protection for Individual Posts and Pages!

We've been working hard on a few new features that we think you're going to love and we're happy to announce that they've been released to our Beta Team members!

First of all, Beta Team members can now create unique usernames and passwords for visitors to access their site.  No more one username and password to view your site!  You can easily give each visitor their own username!  Just go to the Settings tab, enable password protection, and you'll see the option to add more usernames.

And once you've added all of your users, the best part is that now you can restrict access to individual posts and Pages on a per username basis!  This means that if you have a post that you want the usernames Justine and Mary to see, but not Steve, you can accomplish it easily with just a few check marks!

To do this, after the usernames have been created, simply go to the Compose page and write your post or Page.  You would then click Set Users in the right column on the Compose page.

Check the box to each user you wish to have access to the post or page before you publish.

Now after the post is saves, only the users that have been selected will be able to view this post!

You can read more about this feature in our Knowledge Base.  Don't forget that it's currently restricted to Beta Team members, so if you haven't already signed up, head over to your Account tab and join!

We love this feature and can't wait to hear your feedback.  If you have questions or want to let us know what you'd like to see to make the feature better, just open a help ticket and a Typepad Support team member will be happy to assist you!

Add new voices to your blog with guest authors

Many blogs, especially those run by individuals rather than organizations, have just one author and that works well in many cases. But sometimes you may find that a friend or colleague has a lot to offer your audience and you would like to bring them on board as an additional author.

The ability to invite additional authors to a blog is available on the Pro Unlimited account level and above.

To invite a new author to your blog, go to the Settings > Authors page. Enter the name and email address of the desired author. You can also personalize the message to be sent, or go with the default text. You'll want to select the right access level for the author. A Junior Author can write posts but not publish them, while a Guest Author can both write and publish posts to your blog. If you are on the Enterprise level or above, you will have the option to add at least one Blog Administrator to your blog who can help manage the design and settings and edit posts by any author (depending on your account level, you may not see the Blog Administrator option until the author has already been added to your blog).

The invited author will receive an email message with a link to sign up for Typepad and accept the author invitation.

Once the author has accepted the invitation, you will see them listed along with yourself at Settings > Authors. From the listing on this page, you can change the access level for any additional authors, or remove them from your blog if they are no longer contributing.

The Settings > Authors page also allows you to turn on author archives for your blog. Each author archive will display all of the posts written by that author. You can also choose to display the author's profile photo and one-line bio in the sidebar of the author archive page.

Have you invited additional authors to your blog? Share your experiences and tips in the comments!

Domain Mapping Made Easy with Typepad

When you browse the Internet, there are a lot of sites to visit and sites to go to.  One of the easiest ways to remember a site you want to revisit is when it has a short and simple or catchy URL.

Your Typepad blog has its own URL associated with Typepad (like example.typepad.com), but it might be kind of long for your readers to remember.  Wouldn't www.example.com be even easier for them?

You can use your own domain with Typepad through a process called domain mapping.  To make this process even simpler, you can order your domain from within Account > Domain Mapping and follow just a few simple steps.  Voila!  Your domain is now mapped, and you readers can find your blog at the custom domain you chose!

You can read more about registering your domain with Typepad in our Knowledge Base.

As always, the Typepad support team is here to answer any questions, so if you'd like to know more, just reach out to us!

Can I Display Recent Comments On My Blog?

We love getting comments! Sometimes we love them so much, we want to show them off right on the front page of our blog.  We have received requests asking if there is a way to display comments under blog posts as part of the front page of the blog.   There is a reason why you don't see this more with blogs, because it is not recommended.  It may appear fine if a blog post has up to 5 comments, but the more comments a blog post receives, the longer it will take your blog to load.   There are other options to show off your wonderful comments.

If you are using Typepad, Typepad Connect, or Disqus comments, you can easily display your most recent comments in your sidebar by going to Design > Content, select "Recent Comments" from the Modules box and click the "Add this module" button: 

If you use Disqus for your comments, there is a separate option which displays more of the comment along with the the commenters thumbnail image. We have a quick and easy way to add a similar feature to your sidebar which involves adding a small piece of code to your sidebar.   In this case, you would go to Design > Content > Embed Your Own HTML and paste the following code:

<div id="RecentComments" class="dsq-widget">
 <h2>Recent Comments</h2>
 <script type="text/javascript" src="http://example.disqus.com/recent_comments_widget.js?num_items=5&hide_mods=0&hide_avatars=0&avatar_size=32&excerpt_length=100"></script>
</div>

Replace "example.disqus.com" with your Disqus URL (ie: everythingtypepad.disqus.com). You can also change the number of comments display.  This code is set up to display 5 recent comments (num_items=5).

Because this a module and not a Typelist, a title for this module will not display unless you include it in the code like the example we provided:

 <h2>Recent Comments</h2>

Here is an example of how Disqus Recent Comments will appear in your sidebar using this code:

Displaying comments on your blog invites other visitors to leave comments in your posts and is a good way to share previous posts on your front page.

Typepad on Pinterest: B'sue Boutiques Jewelry Making Outside The Box

Did you know Typepad is on Pinterest? It's true! We love pinning and repinning great content from Typepad blogs in every genre, and we're always looking for great, inspirational content. Are you on Pinterest? Drop your link in the comments, and don't forget to follow Typepad right here! If you're not on Pinterest yet, check it out - it's a great way to promote your blog and connect with others!

Want some inspiration? Check out our featured pinner, B'sue Boutiques Jewelry Making Outside the Box.

Brenda Sue, or B'Sue, has been making jewelry for 27 years, first as an antique dealer starting with found vintage pieces and then using find unique components to make a unique accessory.  She shares her knowledge now in teaching others how to create their own jewelry pieces. 

FOLLOW: Blog | Pinterest

Want to promote your Pinterest account on your Typepad blog? Just go to Blogs > Content and add the Pinterest Widget to your Sidebar via the center menu. While you're there, make your blog posts "pinable" by adding the Pin It button to your post footers.

Want even more? Learn how to promote your blog on Pinterest and follow Typepad at www.pinterest.com/typepad.

Let's talk add-ons!

There are areas in your Typepad account that you may not remember, or even know, exist. Do you know where you can consider enabling Disqus comments, setting up Google Analytics, using Typekit for custom fonts, or connecting to a Bit.ly account?

In your Settings, there is an Add-On section, which is where you can find more than a few areas in which to boost different areas of your blog. Let's learn more about them at Blog > Settings > Add-Ons!

Disqus Comments

Typepad offers an option to integrate Disqus comments into your blog. This offers greater options for you and your readers for commenting. Learn more.

Google Analytics

A comprehensive, in-depth look at your blog's traffic, Google Analytics is a feature you should make full use of; and it's pretty easy to setup! Learn more.

Typekit Fonts

Typekit is a font provider that allows you to set custom fonts for your entire blog. All you need to know is the CSS class or ID for the area you wish to apply the font, and then integrate that font library into your blog in the Add-ons section. Learn more.

Bit.ly Link Shortener

Using a link shortening service is a great way to fit your content into 140 characters, and Typepad makes it easy to integrate your existing Bitly account. With the integration comes the additional statistics that Bitly tracks for the shortened URLs. Learn more.

And that's that! Are there other services you wish you could integrate into Typepad in an easy way? We'd love to hear what those are, and why they're important to you.