I'm excited about using a new TypePad CMS to create a blog. TypePad has always been a top recommendation for a simple to use blogging tool. I'll be sharing our best blog tips for using a hosted blog right here.  So please add to my ideas with any recommendation you feel will help people start their first blog.

This is the fastest blog I have ever setup - Nice work Typepad!

There are several reasons that it makes sense to use a hosted blog platform.

• Leave the blog software setup to the technology experts
• No need to worry about security and having someone hack your site
• Quick setup or design re-configuration later
• More capabilities and compatibility with other blog tools and social platforms
• Ability for the blog platform to help promote your new blog and receive feedback and new readers
• Simple administration interface

Blog Startup in 5 Quick Steps - How to start a blog in 5 minutes... Really!

1. Go to Typepad.com

2. Register for a free 14 day trial (note: your billing information is required)

3. Pick your username and password (plus your subdomain blog url)

4. Choose a blog design (your blog theme)

5. Start your first blog post, preview, and save!

You'll want to do many more things to get things to optimize your new blog, but you'll be happy to have started your first blog and can start thinking about how to write about the topic you selected for your blog.

It might take you several weeks to fill in the additional columns and about page information but you've now got the blog ball rolling.

I'm excited to try new features and continue adding to our typepad blog.  Please chime in and tell me about your blog startup experiences.  I'd like to hear about other ideas you have for new blogs and other recommendations to hel get noticed with a new blog online.