Rodrigo A. Sepúlveda Schulz: Stuff I'd like on Typepad

28 March 2005

Stuff I'd like on Typepad

Following my series on what I'd like on different Internet services (LinkedIn, Gmail), here are some random thoughts on little features I would really like on Typepad; I had an opportunity to express some of them over dinner a while ago to Barak, SixApart's CEO, but here goes an updated list:

I would really like <PREVIOUS & NEXT> buttons on the general view of a blog. When you are reading a blog for the first time, or getting an update on a page, there's no way ot continue reading once you get to the bottom of the page. I use 2 tricks today: either click on the differents months in the archives (you then get a view for the whole month, and when you're done, choose another month), or click on a single post, and navigate through posts which do have the <prev & next> buttons.

Same comment for book lists for example: once you reach the max number of books displayed (as configured in the backoffice), they do not appear any more on the blog (normal), but there is no way for readers to see others (<prev and next> would make sense right ?)

I really still cannot figure out on how to easily follow a conversation going on in the comments section of a post. Ideally it would be great to subscribe to a post, and get updates on the comments as an RSS feed. Even more ideally, would be to have a 2 layer RSS feed: one for the main flow, and one that develops underneath each post. Maybe some RSS readers know how to do this, I don't, and it would be great it SixApart could innovate in this space (hey... Trackbacks is one of their innovations, right?)

I'd like Typepad to include updated modules in the Typelist section:

It's complicated to add HTML to a page at the moment (create a List typelist, but the code in the comment, check 'treat this as text' in the configure section) and REQUIRES that you zput a title to the list (you can always put a space, but managing each HTML block becomes clumsy, and creates unnecessary space on your page).
we already have links to Amazon.com for books: it would be great to create 2 other types: Music (for CDs) and Film (for DVDs). It would really simplify our life, and make it easier for people to make money on their blog).
standard modules that we all use in Typepad (Google Search, Statcounter or SiteMeter, Creative Commons license, etc.) should become standard blocks (exactly like the aboutme, syndicate this blog, etc.) in the backoffice, and be customizable by clients. I guess SixApart just needs to tweak some APIs to the other services, and update its templates. Loic tells us it's possible here.

Real management of different blogs with a pro account: today, if you manage more than say 4-5 blogs, you get really confused in the back office with all the typelists that get included or not in each blog. Moreover, it is not possible to use 2 pictures/logos, 2 about me, 2 photo album lists, etc. unless you really tweak your HTML code in the templates. It would be great though.

I'd like a way to configure the RPC mechanisms in the back office. It is not possible today (to my understanding) to add more pinging sites for each post, unless you do it manually each time in the trackback box. I therefore use pingomatic to update my ranking on search engines.

Finally, I would like Typepad to make it easier for bloggers to make money with their site: negotiate deals with other online merchants such as Fnac.com in France, ebay, etc. It can't be that difficult. Cashback start-up cashtore.Fr has signed for instance more than 70 partners in less than a year with a handful of people. Throw some quick API integration, and you get many deals (think about TradeDoubler, DoubleClick, FirstCoffee, etc.) that can help promote blogs. Also, make it easier to post contextual GoogleAdsense blocks in each post, or at the top of the page, ot every other post, etc. instead of just a piece of code somewhere.

Don't get me wrong: Typepad is a great tool and has improved greatly: the new WYSIWYG interface is very helpful, trackback, pings, etc. are great. But once you get to the limits of a system, enthusiastic clients always want more.

Update on 6/4/05: I've found another blogger wishing more stuff on Typepad :)

28 March 2005 in Weblogs | Permalink

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I would really like <PREVIOUS & NEXT> buttons on the general view of a blog. When you are reading a blog for the first time, or getting an update on a page, there's no way ot continue reading once you get to the bottom of the page. I use 2 tricks today: either click on the differents months in the archives (you then get a view for the whole month, and when you're done, choose another month), or click on a single post, and navigate through posts which do have the <prev & next> buttons.

Same comment for book lists for example: once you reach the max number of books displayed (as configured in the backoffice), they do not appear any more on the blog (normal), but there is no way for readers to see others (<prev and next> would make sense right ?)

I really still cannot figure out on how to easily follow a conversation going on in the comments section of a post. Ideally it would be great to subscribe to a post, and get updates on the comments as an RSS feed. Even more ideally, would be to have a 2 layer RSS feed: one for the main flow, and one that develops underneath each post. Maybe some RSS readers know how to do this, I don't, and it would be great it SixApart could innovate in this space (hey... Trackbacks is one of their innovations, right?)

I'd like Typepad to include updated modules in the Typelist section:

It's complicated to add HTML to a page at the moment (create a List typelist, but the code in the comment, check 'treat this as text' in the configure section) and REQUIRES that you zput a title to the list (you can always put a space, but managing each HTML block becomes clumsy, and creates unnecessary space on your page).
we already have links to Amazon.com for books: it would be great to create 2 other types: Music (for CDs) and Film (for DVDs). It would really simplify our life, and make it easier for people to make money on their blog).
standard modules that we all use in Typepad (Google Search, Statcounter or SiteMeter, Creative Commons license, etc.) should become standard blocks (exactly like the aboutme, syndicate this blog, etc.) in the backoffice, and be customizable by clients. I guess SixApart just needs to tweak some APIs to the other services, and update its templates. Loic tells us it's possible here.

Real management of different blogs with a pro account: today, if you manage more than say 4-5 blogs, you get really confused in the back office with all the typelists that get included or not in each blog. Moreover, it is not possible to use 2 pictures/logos, 2 about me, 2 photo album lists, etc. unless you really tweak your HTML code in the templates. It would be great though.

I'd like a way to configure the RPC mechanisms in the back office. It is not possible today (to my understanding) to add more pinging sites for each post, unless you do it manually each time in the trackback box. I therefore use pingomatic to update my ranking on search engines.

Finally, I would like Typepad to make it easier for bloggers to make money with their site: negotiate deals with other online merchants such as Fnac.com in France, ebay, etc. It can't be that difficult. Cashback start-up cashtore.Fr has signed for instance more than 70 partners in less than a year with a handful of people. Throw some quick API integration, and you get many deals (think about TradeDoubler, DoubleClick, FirstCoffee, etc.) that can help promote blogs. Also, make it easier to post contextual GoogleAdsense blocks in each post, or at the top of the page, ot every other post, etc. instead of just a piece of code somewhere.