TypePad Featured Blogs

Equity Green

Green is the future – of business, of people, of our planet – and in Equity Green it’s the future of real estate as well. How green innovation influences community, investments, growth, and operating budgets are areas which are only now being explored in detail, and the author – a real estate tax advisor living in Salt Lake City – documents them with candor and insight, as you’ll read in posts on green construction, infrastructure, and trends. You’ll even discover the "new" green and how it all impacts areas such as construction, materials selection, design, economics, and more. Interesting reading recommendations from blogrolls to books add to the knowledge base, with subjects such as sustainable architecture helping readers find “equity in green real estate”.

Executive Conversations In Real Estate

Steven Groves is an Arizona-based entrepreneur with “expertise in technology, marketing, and social media”, skill sets that make his blog, Executive Conversations In Real Estate a natural “intersection of social media, Web 2.0, and Real Estate”. The site’s feature topics might be called “the other side of real estate” – that is, the viewpoint of executives and leaders, such as Michael Gerber and Saul Klein. Other posts detail how the successful agent will deal with rough times and how entrepreneurs are already using technology to seek out and find new business. You’ll also have the opportunity to join in webcasts, conference calls, and other messaging; both site and author point to a future in the field that is very different from just a few years ago.

St. Paul Real Estate

Greetings from the middle America (and we mean that almost literally) from Realtor Teresa Boardman and her blog, St. Paul Real Estate. The homeowner’s view from Minnesota is much like the rest of the country these days: challenging, to say the least. No matter where you may be living, if you’re considering buying or selling property, you’re probably facing many of the same issues that Teresa’s clients are, and her posts offer pertinent and valuable information for readers everywhere. Behind in your mortgage payments? You may be tempted to walk away. Better read this first. Considering a “fixer upper”? Consider this. What happened to the grocery store in your new neighborhood? You’ll find out here. There’s also time for a little fun, as her Friday posts can attest. As you might expect, the site is rich in St. Paul, MN listings, facts and figures, photos, and blog, creating a enticing peek into America’s heartland – and perhaps, a reflection of your own neighborhood.

Economist's View

Mark Thoma works at the Dept. of Economics at the University of Oregon, a position that powers his posts on his blog, Economist's View. Thoma turns his professional eye towards the economic state of business, the country, and the world today – a subject that has taken on increasing importance in this subprime/recession/election year. Gathering his own thoughts and those of others in his profession, Thoma provides his view on the economy and its effect on subjects such as politics, employment, renting vs. owning, and NAFTA. Written in clear, direct language, these are topics and situations that affect us all, and Thoma covers them in detail and provides a wealth of supplemental information with an extensive list of categories, books, blogs, and other reference materials written by experts in the field.

The Financial Philosopher

Kent Thune is the founder of a financial planning firm, and as such you might expect him to be like his profession: dedicated to facts and figures, growing profits, graphs and projections. And for a while he was. But thanks to an epiphany inspired by his four-year-old son, Kent has embarked on a new direction, which led him to create The Financial Philosopher his blog that seeks to “apply timeless wisdom and inspiration to investing, personal finance and the economy”. As Kent says, ”the study of philosophy promotes simplicity and moderation, helps realign our priorities; and … allows us to define wealth and happiness for ourselves”. Wise words, and Kent draws upon similar thoughts to post about The Five-Minute Retirement Plan (inspired by Martin Heidegger) Investing (Socrates), and Financial Planning (from The Little Prince’s Antoine de Saint-Exupery). There’s even a thought from homespun philosopher Will Rogers on exercising your brain. Thune’s ability to weave these thoughts (and many others) into the cut and dried world of finance provides some real words of wisdom for those who think that money is everything.

Michael Stein

Michael Stein is an Internet Strategist who empowers nonprofits to use the online medium for communications, fundraising, and advocacy. His blog, Internet Strategy for the Nonprofit Sector, is a wonderful resource for those working in that field. Its pages are filled with invaluable observations, tips, strategies, and more, all designed to maximize a nonprofit’s performance; as Michael says, TypePad is the "easiest and most powerful blogging platform I've used...it's been a lifesaver for me and lets me truly enjoy using the Web to connect with people". Recent posts have discussed how different technologies can make a difference in an organization’s reach and success, case studies that cover the use of popular online sites for advocacy and fundraising, and his thoughts on the value of email. Michael has authored three books on nonprofits and technology; his posts are both insightful and informative and nonprofits everywhere (and their employees) should find this fascinating and valuable reading.

Cherry Flava

Let’s go down south – way down, in fact - to South Africa and to Cherry Flava, a blog dedicated to “hot new trends in business, marketing, and advertising”. And report they do, providing insightful comments infused with a refreshing non-Madison Avenue viewpoint on everything from airline PSAs, to Internet advertising to future Ecommerce trends. This robust site promises lots of entertaining – and thought provoking - reading; a full archive and category section, and videos on current promotions. Trend spotting is a global enterprise with billions of dollars at stake and for those looking for the next big thing, look here. (Planning a trip to Cape Town? Cherry Flava offers ”trend tours” designed to shift your thinking.)

MobiTV

Like to watch TV? Got your cell phone? Then you're all set to kick back and watch your favorite shows like The Office, Bionic Woman, sports, news and more! The innovators at MobiTV specialize in TV on the go and provide an uncensored glimpse into the fast-moving world of entertainment through their candid blog, Untethered.  Get the latest information on which phones make great watching and on the content you crave, find out about live events like a signing with Latin music star, Jenni Rivera.  MobiTV CEO Charlie Nooney is totally down to earth, as you’ll hear in his candid, refreshing interview.  Where’s the best place to watch MobiTV? For lots of people, anywhere they want: waiting in a line at the store, at work, and even —ahem—in the bathroom.

Rational Security

Ready for “ramblings from the information security/information survivability/risk management wildside”? It might be a mouthful, but the world of data protection (in all its forms), is of paramount interest to anyone running a business. Rational Security blogs about such subjects as how – and why - casual conversation in a public setting might be bad for business, offensive computing, and Malware. Blog owner Christofer Hoff writes in an engaging, tongue-in-cheek style and makes liberal use of industry anecdotes, information, and links – check it out for yourself!

Online Recruitment

Whether you’re just starting a career or looking to make a change, you probably know that one of the most effective and efficient ways to find and land a job is online. And if you don't know this, it’s time you checked out Online Recruitment for “news, views, and information about online recruitment and online marketing”. Blogger Mike Taylor has extensive experience in online recruitment, and offers his expertise in such posts as a simple way to get more people to view your website, the importance of first impressions, and how Apple (of all companies), may have missed the employment boat during its recent iPhone launch. This is definitely not your parents’ “help wanted” world, and Mike is ready to make it work for you!

The As Was Marketing Hall of Fame

In the pages of her blog, Debbie Levitt, President of As Was, invites you to change how you do business by "taking a good, long look in the mirror".  Debbie is an eBay and marketing expert who has been posting to her "As Was Marketing Hall of Fame" blog since April 2005. As indicated by her posts, Debbie is many things: part observational comedienne, amateur psychologist,  consumer advocate, consultant and advisor, and whistleblower. Debbie's often humorous blog asks businesses and people to laugh, comment, and more importantly, act.

Next Level Biz Tips

Smart business people know that the Internet can be a source of knowledge, community, and ultimately success. And in the pages of Next Level Biz Tips Denise Wakeman shows you how to "leverage the Internet and take your business to the next level". Denise specializes in tips and tactics for independent professionals and small businesses, such as how MobaTalk can add more audience interactivity to your site, the next trend in podcasting, and action steps to create your brand. Denise is a skilled and savvy Internet marketing strategist, and her observations will help you grow your business from just about any angle.

What’s Next in Marketing

Marketers are always looking for the next big thing - and if they're smart, they're paying attention to Mitch Caplan's What's Next in Marketing. Here you'll find opinions, statistics, stories and more from industry experts, columnists, and Mitch himself, ranging from what's next for big agencies, how smart agencies are winning the great digital talent hunt,and a look at the 21st century agency.  There are views into the future of mobile, music, and more, so hop on for a fascinating look into what's ahead for the business of selling.

Brand to be Determined

How would you "affect change on a global basis"? In Brand to be Determined, "social software, human interactions, and public relations" all come together to answer that question. There are posts on such subjects as using RSS to better respond to crises, how small actions can have large consequences, and frank discussions on the PR industry from the people who know it best. Lots of great categories abound too, from Pop Culture to globalization, to Elvis (where  a cool "non-topic" tour awaits)!

Lea Woodward - Success Rocks!

Lea Woodward helps health and wellness practitioners "improve their business and marketing skills to better spread their message and help more people." Lea's a rather upbeat person, subtitling her pink-themed blog "Success Rocks!" Who can argue with that? Post categories include, Health and Well Being, Business, and Personal Life (she's a newlywed). In Daily Dose of Success, you'll find her take on goal cards and the best-selling self-help book, The Secret. Lea has also taken the time to record sound bytes on selling a service, compelling offers, and irresistible offers. So drop by and learn the 7 things she's learned on her entrepreneurial journey, so when success comes a-knockin', you too will be a-rockin'.

Selling to Big Companies

In Selling to Big Companies, sales strategist, business advisor, and book author Jill Konrath doles out advice on how to land that big-fish corporate account. When attempting to get that proverbial foot in the door, Jill counsels, keep in mind such pointers as how and when to use metaphors in sales; when (and when not to) tell a prospective client your honest opinion about a shortcoming in their operations; and a whole bunch of dos and don'ts for dealing with voicemail. Jill even sends you to other blogs and web sites about related topics, sort of like Macy’s sending customers to Gimbel’s. Come to think of it, that’s not such a bad strategy.

The Dieline

Sometimes a beautifully packaged product falls into the category of "nice house, nobody home." And sometimes just admiring the house is enough. The Dieline, founded by designer Andrew Gibbs, concerns itself with design trends and styles as they relate to packaging. Also maintained by graphic designers Jonathan Selikoff and Yael Miller, this blog features a supermarket’s-worth of creative ideas for connecting to the consumer via a product’s external covering. Witness the colorful funkiness of these limited-edition Mountain Dew bottles; the elegant wrapping of Green & Blacks Chocolate; the swanky latticed cover of the Starbucks Black Apron coffee line; or the metallic yet wholesome look of the Maddy’s Organic Baby Food package. And let's not forget the king of all branding: Coca Cola. Whether or not you like the actual products, it couldn't hurt to follow this Dieline dictate: "Think about the box."

Brickfish

No doubt we’ve all taken note of user-generated content (think YouTube) and user-driven rankings (Digg). But user-created online marketing campaigns? That’s what Brickfish is aiming for. In their own words: “Our platform enables consumers to engage with brands through user-generated content… Campaigns are designed to reward consumers for engaging with brands by creating content, reviewing, voting, viewing or propagating branded content to the web.” Brickfish users have already tested this concept by whipping up campaigns for music, fashion, and lifestyles, with some interesting results. So if you want to try your hand at branding sneakers, a new comic book, an old band, or some other product or event, run your idea up the flagpole at Brickfish. Someone - or a lot of people - just might salute it.

Oh Joy!

There’s something delightfully inviting about handmade and design-forward goods. Oh Joy! celebrates the grace and beauty of such items, gathering them from all over the country (but especially focusing on hometown Philadelphia finds). Joy Deangdeelert Cho knows all about great design; as founder of Oh Joy! Studio she specializes in designing for home accessories, textiles, branding and stationery (and what a stunning portfolio it is!). Joy’s online collection of gorgeous finds includes everything from food to clothes to home accessories; all guaranteed to empty your wallet (the TypePad team has admittedly been drooling over every. Single. Item). Take a browse through; you’ll most certainly have a joyful visit.

Ogilvie Communications

Ogilvie Communications from the UK has started maintaining a corporate blog, posting items of interest to its workers since the beginning of this year. Ogilvie uses TypePad to share company photos, note news about employees, and log tech tidbits germane to the telecommunications field, such as this report on the decreasing effectiveness of WEP encryption in defeating wireless hackers. Then of course there's their post on the pastime that's sweeping the British Isles -- spotting the Ogilvie company van on the motorway. Smashing!

Cerdafied

Michael Cerda is the CEO and co-founder of Jangl, a service that enables you to substitute your phone number with a unique name that callers can use without ever knowing the real digits. A nifty idea, and Michael provides in Cerdafied a similar personal touch. Posts on the ups and down of running a start-up occasionally read like excerpts from a Douglas Coupland novel and should interest anyone involved in an early-stage enterprise. Topics include the decision to offshore or not; slaving away during crunch time before an impending release; the not-always-helpful board meetings; and grappling with privacy issues. Cerdafied will read well to both the entrepreneur and the entrepreneur-at-heart.

Conversation Agent

Conversation Agent is Valeria Maltoni's blog about communications and  marketing. A post titled, "Why I blog" provides a road map to her ideas on brand-building, marketing strategy, new media, and other topics ripe for conversation. This dialogue on storytelling in marketing typifies the kind of conceptual thinking highlighted here; a post on piracy exemplifies the practical side. Esoterica like this discussion on the function of the Campbell's annual report rounds out the coverage. Other entries fall into topics such as trends, leadership, and public relations. If you're looking to hang out and talk a little marketing, Conversation Agent's just the spot.

Thoughtopsy

What would you give to make your life easier? Not just your personal life, but your work life, too. Thankfully we don't have to put that on our to-do list. Thoughtopsy is doing the heavy searching for us. Geared toward everyday heroes in a web-centric world, the answers within this blog focus on simplicity, production, and are iced with new media resources that have the ability to make your work life better. You'll find posts that are clear and efficient in their direction and purpose. Only five months new, Seth Godin and Guy Kawasaki fans will immediately feel at home here. Thoughtopsy's ability to extract essential marketing media nuggets and appoint them as life enhancers worth paying attention to will transform readers into revered thought leaders in no time.

bigWebApps

BigWebApps makes software for businesses and educational organizations, and they also maintain a pretty cool blog. Anyone who uses their products will want to consult the bigWebDesk for the latest developments. But browse the rest of the site, and you'll also find a plethora of observations about the business world, customer service, and technology. A hyper-honest post titled, "When You Fail at What You Do" relates one bigWepApper’s sense of inadequacy at mishandling a client. Another describes a bad experience with a particular airline. Then there’s the commentary on a school district ban on iPods; a post on Ferrari making hard drives as an example of the ascent of design in manufacturing; and an all-too familiar rant about cell phones. (We’d say “this is not your father’s business blog,” but your father may not even have a business blog, let alone a computer.) A fine business blogging/personal experience crossover. Check it out.

B2B Lead Generation Blog

Brian Carroll knows how to get leads for your online business. CEO of InTouch, Inc. and author of Lead Generation for the Complex Sale, his B2B Lead Generation Blog is chock-a-block with tips and strategies for marketers. Winner of the 2006 Best Blog award from Marketing Sherpa, Brian covers topics like email marketing, lead management, word-of-mouth, and becoming a thought leader. If you feel lost jumping right in, get your feet wet with Brian's free e-book, Start with a Lead: Eight Critical Success Factors for Lead Generation Results. Entrepreneurs can thank Brian for not hiding his secrets under his cape; he recommends more than 35 blogs and a comprehensive list of books. Want to take Brian with you? Check out his new podcast.

David McMillan Consulting

David McMillan is the global guru of the hotel industry. He makes owning and operating a hotel seem less stressful and complicated than tourists expect it to be. Like a top chef, he takes strategic planning, management performance, and product value and simmers them into a nice port reduction sauce that tastes great and allows more time for finding a top-notch golf course. David McMillan Consulting speaks directly to hotel and resort developers, operators, and owners. As CEO of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association in 2005 and 2006, McMillan has met and talked with more specialists than can fill up a Hilton or Hyatt. If this is your business, tap into his wisdom and rethink your game plan. Are you on track? Learn from his case studies. McMillan's list of notable people he's met is a fun read and is a great ice-breaker should you call him up for services.

Mortarblog

A name like "Mortarblog" sounds a bit ominous. But this blog, brought to you by the good people at Mortar Advertising Agency in San Francisco, is anything but (unless you consider great advertising information to be ominous). Nearly daily, Mortarblog brings you all that’s good, bad, and downright outrageous in the world of advertising, marketing, and public relations. Informative and sometimes a little bit snarky, Mortarblog presents the best in guerilla marketing and case studies, with a few deep thoughts sprinkled throughout to make you go, “Hmmm.” (Oh, and Sanjaya. Because the people want more Sanjaya.) It all comes together to create an entertaining resource for anyone who’s interested in the business of advertising.

write technology

Have you considered outsourcing? Michelle Lentz and Kevin Gerl have more than a decade of experience specializing in instructional design, technical writing, editing, and programming. Their blog, write technology, gives us a bird's-eye view into the Web 2.0 and general technology news buzzing about the blogosphere. Get tips on visual communication, presenting styles, and the real-world applications they use in their lives. Write technology is geek friendly, but the cartoon clips make it easy for the rest of us non-tech heads to understand the advice. Freelancers trying to make a living through their virtual offices will enjoy examples of how a business can market itself online and connect with both current and future clients.

The T-Cozy

There's something relaxing and civilized about sitting down to enjoy an afternoon cup of tea. The T-Cozy, a blog run by the owners of the T-Party Antiques and Tea Room in Connecticut, brings you news about all things tea as well as the inside scoop on running a shop. Filled with tantalizing tidbits including how to make the perfect tea sandwich and an analysis of the best teapot, it makes you feel warm and cozy just reading it (not to mention hungry). Don’t forget to take a look at their sister blog, Kitsch Encounter, where you can find sweet, vintage items for sale. If you appreciate the tradition of teatime, this blog is just your cup of tea.

Branding Strategy Insider

Expert brand marketing consultants Brad VanAuken and Derrick Daye (along with this month's guest author, Jack Trout), go above and beyond the call of blogging to share insider information from their corner of the business world. Branding Strategy Insider is more informative and inspirational than any seminar or workshop in Hawaii. How do you know if your brand is good enough? What is your position and do you have enough brand equity? Don't worry if you don't have it all figured out just yet, there are plenty of ideas here to get you started, including a 16-step process for building winning brands. Buying Brad's best-selling book Brand Aid is not a prerequisite to be a regular on the site, but with all the strategy they're sharing on the blog, it would be shocking if business owners of all sizes didn't rush out and buy the book for their directors. Get tips on how to be both a leader and a trend-setter now.

Retail Design Diva

The Retail Design Diva blog gives the avid shopper a place to put up her Manolo-clad feet and revel in the consumer experience. Hosted by DDI Magazine and GlobalShop, Retail Design Diva is a fascinating read about the art and science of retail design. From upscale Neiman Marcus to modest J.C. Penney, no store is safe from the scrutiny of the Diva; even something as innocuous as mall curfews and dressing room mirrors fall under her discriminating eye. If retail design is among your interests, be sure to take a look at the articles about branding, visual merchandising, and retail technology. And if retail design is your career (or dream job), there’s a section just for you. The blog invites feedback and conversation, and encourages praise and venting equally. Because, hey, every diva should have her day.

Adeologue

Adeologue offers practical ideas for students, recent grads, and those just starting out in professional life but dreaming big. Blogger Aditya Kothadiya, a USC grad with an MS in Electrical Engineering, now works as a chip design engineer at Altera but still finds time to share plenty of perspective and tips for those negotiating the post-grad job and career hunt. Categories include book reviews, startup and entrepreneurship resources, and technology. Look for such helpful posts as how to write an effective cover letter and how to write professional email (keep it brief, use caps sparingly, and think before you send!). And while you're pondering your future in the work-world, take a break to check out the ever-popular funny quotes. Nice work, Aditya.

Decker Marketing

If you're running your own business or in charge of somebody else's, you'll find a lot to mull over at Decker Marketing. Sam Decker has spent his whole career as a marketing consultant - most recently for Dell - and has lots to say on topics such as blogging and marketing, online checkout (tidbit: there's a  60-70% "abandonment rate" by customers who have reached the point of putting merchandise in their electronic shopping cart), and the overuse of cliches in corporate culture. ( "Shake the 8-ball," fine. But "goat rodeo"?) Categories include eBusiness, marketing, and plain old "life." So keep on sellin', Sam. We're listening.

Jeff Ascough Wedding Photojournalist

Jeff Ascough has been named one of the ten best wedding photographers in the world. Says who? Says American Photo, that’s who. With more than 1000 professional photography assignments under his belt, Jeff's been a professional for almost two decades (but he's quick to point out he started very young). His four-month-old archive is not an ego tool or a virtual business card; his blog serves as an altruistic tutorial worth its image size in advice and inspiration. Touting the viewpoint that wedding photographers are more aptly described as wedding photojournalists, Jeff shows new and working wedding photographers how to capture a moment that tells a story, rather than simply making sure everyone is in the picture with their heads intact. You can also learn about the tools of the trade including equipment and philosophy, buy Jeff's Photoshop "Actions", and keep on top of his teaching seminars. New brides hiring photographers for their own weddings might want to show off this site as an example of what they're looking for. If you're really into wedding photojournalism, check out Jeff in the documentary, "Masters of Wedding Photography."

Amazon Associates

If you have a website and are already recommending books, movies, or anything else Amazon.com carries, you could be making a little extra money through the Amazon Associates program. Amazon Associates helps members generate revenue via their websites through referrals. To help their Associates succeed, Amazon has launched the official Amazon Associates blog. Several times a week, this informative blog offers up tips, tricks and other information to make the Associates program as effective (and profitable!) as it can possibly be for its members. From how to refine search results links to featured Associates to new Amazon Associate services, you’ll have everything you need to start or refine your Associates program.

A to Z

Anne Louise and Zoe are British designers who share a love of textiles. They love the colors (sorry... "colours") and textures that go into creating beautiful fabrics and hand-crafted goods. Because their 9-to-5 jobs don't necessarily allow them to experiment with textiles as much as they'd like, they started the A to Z blog (derived from their initials) to share their beautiful creations with the world. Full of delightful handmade cards, prints, and handbags they've crafted themselves as well as resources and artists that inspire them, their blog is punctuated with stunning photography that really shows off their beautiful handiwork. Of course, you're free to simply admire their wares, but they also have a store for when you fall in love with that special item. And you should count on falling in love.

Bitemarks

Bite Communications is a world-renowned public relations agency committed to building brands and squelching the status quo with the "tenacity of a mule." The employees of Bite (affectionately called "Biters") needed an outlet to express their numerous and varied opinions, and turned to TypePad to host the appropriately named Bitemarks blog. Chock-full of tidbits from the world of public relations and social media, Bitemarks explores and waxes philosophical about a wide range of communications, marketing and media -- and sometimes indulges in a little bit of soapbox venting. Written in an engaging, conversational style and thoroughly entertaining, Bitemarks is a blog you can really sink your teeth into.

Juxtapose Photography

No poses. Never say "cheese." No clichés. Kate at Juxtapose Photography steals moments during a one- to three-hour adventure that reveals a person's individuality. Her blog, with the same name as her business, shows off some of her work and is updated regularly. "Life is chock full of adjectives and adverbs. I prefer to capture them ALL in our photo shoots," said Kate. It's obvious that she has a way with children and is able to bring out their true personality, and the testimonials on her main website attest to it. She loves working with teenagers, and does bridal portraits and couples as well. Occasionally the blog will point to a special sale or proud posts with photos of her own child and friends, but mostly Kate updates her fans on what she's working on. Warning: viewers might be inclined to pick up the phone and ask if  Kate leaves Texas for out-of-state assignments.

Fermentation

Tom Wark is a communications specialist in the wine industry, providing strategy for wineries and wine-related firms. So it's no surprise that Tom is passionate about the wine world. But it's the fact that he's an obsessed media junkie that makes him a vintage blogger. Fermentation is a must-read for anyone in the wine business. This is not the place to go if you're looking for someone to tell you what bottle of red you should serve at your dinner party Friday night, but perusing any of 130+ "Wine Blogs You Need To Read" in the right nav bar might give you some ideas. Tom makes good use of his categories. Those interested in the business side of the wine world can go directly to Wine Business and Public Relations and Wine, while those interested in sipping this blog can get a more digestible range of topics from 10 Things and Wine Education. Tom has 17 years of experience under his belt and has been blogging on Fermentation since 2004. Read the whole thing and you could train a sommelier afterward -- or start your own label.

StarPrompt

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Whether you're a small business or a sole proprietor, you can use TypePad as your entire web site. It will cost your less per month than a single Fancy Coffee Drink™ and you'll be able to modify your message in an instant without calling a third-party web developer or agency. Take, for example, the excellent StarPrompt Teleprompting Services, which offers these fine features: contact information, snazzy branding, client photos, lists of past clients and recent jobs, a sign-up form for a newsletter, an ad for additional services, a live feed of entertainment news, and perhaps most importantly -- a sense that there are real (and really entertaining) people behind the rented teleprompter. Honestly, it's a beautiful example of getting a lot of crucial information on one screen where the most important people can see it. I guess it's no surprise that pros like StarPrompt make it work, but we think TypePad makes it easy enough for anyone to pull off. High five!

Bella Web Design

Based near Atlanta, Georgia, Bella Web Design is a small business that offers a a big menu of services -- from writing and editing to search-engine optimization to the eponymous web design their name promises. That said, every firm that helps businesses succeed online needs to "walk the walk" by successfully promoting themselves. For Bella, a big part of that self-promotion is their TypePad blog, which shares the lessons that working on the Web has taught CEO Desiree Scales and her team. The blog posts are a candid look at what it's like to work with clients big and small, delightful and difficult, and even to work redesigning their own site. If you are a potential client, here is a crystal clear picture of the team you'll be working with to make your web site more successful. If you're a entrepreneur in the design world or the Georgia business community, here's a colleague you'll may very well want to get to know. Stop in and say "hello!"

Business of Video

Streaming media is hot, but Dan Rayburn knew that well before it got there. He co-managed the Macintosh New York Music Festival in 1995, a five-night event which some call the first large-scale Webcast on the Internet. Since then he has founded and sold Live On Line, one of the first streaming media production companies. Fast-forward to his current position as Executive Vice President of StreamingMedia.com. Business of Video is Dan's new blog that aims to share his wealth of knowledge on this sizzling subject. Get into the nitty gritty legal aspects of user generated video, tap the pulse of mobile video, or catch the news on content distribution. Download the RSS feed and you'll feel like you've registered to a continuous workshop about business trends in the online video industry. It doesn't matter if you're just jumping in, or if you're already a veteran -- Dan's books and plentiful resources will catch you up.

ThreeMinds

Organic, one of the big names in digital marketing, was recently honored by Advertising Age as one of the top ten interactive agencies. With that kind of pedigree to protect, they could be selfish and keep all of their keen insight to themselves. But no -- they graciously share their wisdom with the rest of us on their blog, ThreeMinds. Focusing on the exceptional (and near-exceptional) experiences in digital media, ThreeMinds is a bounty of innovative ideas and campaigns. More than just a catalog of media, ThreeMinds offers thoughtful analyses to engage and educate the reader. From the latest YouTube happenings to wistful remembrances on video game culture, ThreeMinds takes you through it all. We suspect there are more than three minds' worth of good stuff in here.

Owen Bloggers

U.S. News & World Report ranked Vanderbilt University's Owen School of Management among the top 50 of America's Best Graduate Schools. Owen Bloggers is a student-run blog with more than a dozen writers shedding some light on the lives of current MBA and MSF students. Now prospective students can see what life is like in grad school at Vanderbilt.Topics range from balancing academic life and marriage, all the way to the students' 2007 trip to China. Tyler has been bombarded with questions from employers and friends as to why he chose Owen Graduate School of Management and has written a series of posts about why he chose a health care MBA, why Owen, and his opinion about the finer things in Nashville. There are also plenty of posts that crossover into mainstream life from a student's perspective -- and you won't want to miss Sharran's 42 Reasons Normal People Can Switch to Macs.

Behind the Curtains

Pure Contemporary's Behind the Curtains is an amazing resource for anyone who a.) is making design decisions for their own living space or those of discerning customers, or b.) loves to window-shop and fantasize about a living amidst beautifully designed objects. Not only do the minds behind Pure Contemporary, "the contemporary design magazine for luxurious living," appreciate the best of 21st-century design, they've done a wonderful job of customizing the look and feel of their TypePad blog to both reflect their aesthetic and intergrate seamlessly with their main website. We particularly love their recent posts on Ron Arad lounge chairs, recent finds that feature the color blue, and Jaclo's mind-bending "canopy of rain" showerhead. For quirky finds, emerging trends, and potential objects of design lust, look no further than Behind the Curtains.