TypePad Hacks Client Spotlight

Here's a few examples of client projects from the last year, most of which were modifications to existing blogs to add features unavailable in TypePad's standard template sets. In the examples below, I did very little of the graphic design for the sites… I prefer to focus on the templates, usability, function etc. If you're looking for someone to design the layout of a blog, I can recommend some good folks.

For custom code, consulting or training drop me a line from the Hacks For Hire page. I provide one initial consultation at no charge to discuss the scope of the project. Once we've talked, I'll provide an itemized estimate for time and costs. The best way to get started on custom projects is to email me with a list of what you're looking for, a phone number where you can be reached, and the best time to call. I find that it's often easiest to discuss a project by phone at first to minimize the back and forth of email

 

	Greenlight Search Blog involved some interesting new hacks I developed especially for their project… the coolest of which is a module that displays a different intro at the top of each category archive. Custom templates to display different intro text on each category archive Added author name and photos to title block Added author photos and styles to comments Icons for sidebar headlines Subscribe block for sidebar Typekey/comments formatting FeedBurner integration RSS autodiscovery Customized post footers Syndication/bookmark tool bar for post footers Set Archives to display excerpts rather than full posts Optimized page titles for search Set up contact form
	Do You Know Any Secrets is a highly customized blog built to promote a new children's book to potential publishers. The client wanted a blog which consisting entirely of user-generated content generated by comments on the main index page. To my knowledge, this had never been done before… and it worked beautifully to achieve the client's goals. A couple months after launch I got the following email: You're a star. And.. I guess in a different way - so am I as I had confirmation today that my book - the one featuring 'Do You Know Any Secrets.com' has found a publisher!!! It's penguin - who through their 'Puffin' brand are one of the world's premiere children's publishers. They've offered me a three book deal!!! It's dream come true territory. Customized index template to create the first all-comments blog on TypePad. Set up a one-click archiving/pagination system to archive comments when they grow too lengthy for the page to load quickly. Created a comments-only RSS feed, connected it to FeedBurner and set it for autodiscovery. Customized wording and display of Recent Comments list for sidebar Customized post footer to function as a navigation tool linking to the most recent "secret" and the comment form Customized the comment form added cocomment integration
	The JamBaz Blog was built to promote a new widget-based game which pays cash rewards to players who most accurately rate the strength of selected stock offerings. My work with Jambaz was about 50/50 consulting and coding. Consulting on design, strategy, services, blogging and "stickiness." Recreated existing templates to modify layout and ported over existing custom code and CSS. Inserted Flash header. Custom CSS for positioning and margins. Set up FeedBurner  and FeedFlare. Custom templates to edit the position, order and content for footers, FeedFlare and Technorati tags. Drop down menu for date based archives. Optimized page titles for search. Set Archives to display excerpts rather than full posts
	The Agatha & Louise blog was a collaboration with Flyte New Media. They designed the client's online store and blog… I did the custom templates and CSS to make the blog match their design. Templates and extensively modified CSS to match design of client's existing store Custom banner template with image and border area Top navigation menu Custom CSS to add image to sidebar headers Optimized page titles for search. FeedBurner and Feedflare Background image behind blog Domain mapping Search field Installed stats packages Restored blog templates from my own back-ups when site was mysteriously deleted
	France Beckons was built from scratch and included the following, as well as consulting and client changes. Comprehensive set-up for blog settings Consulting on using TypePad, business blogging and Web 2.0 in general Drop-down  navigation menu Domain mapping Optimized page titles for search Custom contact page with secure email form Custom about page Custom Amazon aStore page Page footer Installed stats packages Search field Integrate FeedBurner and FeedFlare Integrate Technorati RSS autodiscovery Display excerpts on archive pages Drop down menus for archives image formating Copy editing Css and positioning for Technorati tags and feedflare
	Celebrity Baby Scoop contracted me to install a navigation menu and to integrate multiple blogs into a seamless whole. To save on expense, I created sample templates for the client to copy and edit themselves. Lisa was happy with the work and has hired me since to do other small hacks as they come up. Custom navigation menu Consulting and coding to develop multiple blogs that function as a single site but allow more tageted advertising Custom templates to place ad space above banner image Drop down menus for archives