TypePad is a pretty simple tool to use, but there’s going to be a first time for everything. When I sit down with a client I make sure we go over the basics: how to post, how to assign categories, how to ping and so on.

Sometimes there’s a break between when we sit down together and when they get a chance to first post, so I’m putting together a series of short how-to videos that they–and you–can watch whenever you need.

The first one I put together is how to blog in TypePad. You can watch the shrunken version below or the large-as-life How to Create a TypePad Blog Post video. (7.8MB)

Some tips that may fall outside the typical "how to" video:

• Use a Keyword Rich Title. Remember that blogs are just like Web sites in that they can be indexed by the search engines. By using specific, relevant keywords in your title you’ll stand a better chance of ranking well for those keywords.
• Categories: Roll Your Own. You can change category names you create down the road, but not TypePad’s default categories. TypePad’s default categories are–by necessity–broad. Since you want to target a specific niche–say, Organic Recipes Tweens Will Eat–TypePad’s "Food and Drink" is too big an umbrella. If in six months you decide Organic Recipes for Children is more suited to your topic you can change it.
• Let it Breathe. Blogs are busy by nature. Create more open space by breaking up longer paragraphs, emphasizing important themes, use ellipses…or–if you prefer–dashes.

Watch the full-size version of How to Create a TypePad Blog Post.

Rich Brooks
Movie Mogul