So the Only Girlfriend of OR in SF asked me what is the difference between Blogger and Typepad, and why did I choose Typepad?
OG is quite technically literate but is not what you would call a technical hobbyist, like me. She is interested to the extent that technology is useful and productive, but not as an intellectual pursuit. Can you imagine?!!
Her question was driven by the fact that these names appear on her favorite blogs (eg, dooce). I found my way to an answer that I had not considered prior.
I did not recall exactly why I chose Typepad, but I do know that I tested Blogger and MSN Spaces as well. I must have found Typepad’s functionality a bit more usable and customizable. It costs me around $9 a month, while the others are free. I consider that a trivial cost for a better product.
In the midst of this answer, I realized that Blogger and Typepad are in entirely different businesses. Blogger, you may recall, is owned by Google. Why does Google give Blogger (and gmail and maps) to users for free? To control the content.
Google is an advertising company. Their advertising model has been so successful because they know a lot about the user and can target ads accordingly. Having millions of people publishing and viewing blogs within their network allows them to know *a lot* about your interests. It’s all very personal, the ads become more effective and their ad platform expands with every new blogger.
Six Apart (owner of Typepad, which is based on Movable Type) is a software company. They sell software, both as a package and as a service. They make money on licenses and monthly fees, not on advertising -- though I notice they have some ad services which I have yet to try. In the face of free alternatives from excellent companies, how long can Six Apart charge for software?
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