Posted by Fox on August 29, 2007 at 1:01 PM

Is a guide to signing up to TypePad's free trial really necessary? Well yes I think so. Not so much for people in the USA, you can sign up here , but for potential bloggers in the UK there most certainly is a need because of the significant differences between the TypePad and TypePad UK.

I have 4 TypePad Pro accounts for my blogging activities, but it was only 4 days ago that I discovered they had a UK version!

Main Differences:

• TypePad Billing:
  UK bloggers can pay in pounds sterling as oppossed to dollars. At today's currency exchange rate there's very little difference, but UK users paying in dollars can also find themselves paying a currency exchange fee to their bank.

• 30 Day Free Trial, Not a 14 Days Free Trial:
  UK bloggers get a 30 day free trial, not the 14 day free trial given to USA/International users of TypePad. I don't know why they're different.

• TypePad Domain:
  UK bloggers can choose to have their blog hosted using either typepad.com or typepad.co.uk.
  Regular readers will know that my No 1 blogging tip is to use your own domain name on your blog. The fact that you can choose to host your blog on typepad.co.uk should be of little consequence unless you're planning on ignoring my #1 tip :)

• Localisation:
  This is hardly worth mentioning, but TypePad have a piece of script you can include on your blog that will show a list of "Recently Update Blogs". Signing up via TypePad UK will have your blog ONLY showing recently updated UK blogs. Like I said... hardly worth mentioning. It certainly shouldn't be the reason for signing up via TypePad UK, because there's a TypePad hack here that achieves the very same result.

Payment Requirements

Both of TypePad's free trial require you to enter your credit/debit card details when you sign up. Once your TypePad free trial period is up you're automatically billed. Should you cancel prior to the end of the free trial, you WILL NOT be billed.

Which TypePad Free Trial?

TypePad offer 3 types of accounts and the free trial is available for all of them.

• TYPEPAD BASIC
  Perfect for beginners. Get a full-featured blog up and running quickly with simple yet powerful publishing tools.
  UK: £2.59/month or £25.90/year
  USA: $4.95/month or $49.50/year

• TYPEPAD PLUS
  Their most popular account. Build photo albums, maintain up to three blogs, customize your design, and use other advanced features.
  UK:  £4.59/month or £45.90/year
  USA: $8.95/month or $89.50/year

• TYPEPAD PRO
  The choice of serious bloggers. Expert control over HTML, archive types, guest authors, unlimited blogs and use your own domain name.
  UK: £7.59/month or £75.90/year
  USA: $14.95/month or $149.50/year

Important Considerations:

• You'll notice that the annual fee gives you 2 months free. So unless you're really strapped for cash, I'd recommend signing up for the annual payment plan.
• You can change your billing cycle and account type at anytime.
• Downgrading from TypePad Pro will lose you the ability to use your own domain name.

Where to Sign up for the TypePad Free Trial?

USA/International users can sign up here , while UK users should sign up here.