How to add HTML to a Typepad TypeList

After my blog map posting this morning, several people have asked me how I was able to stick HTML in a Typepad TypeList. We’ve tried this several times before and were never successful until we brought in one of our top hackers this morning. Knowing that we shouldn’t need a hacker to help stick HTML on a blog, I figured I would go ahead and post instructions for how to do this (note: Typepad does have instructions, but they’re a bit confusing… and the way you do this is not very intuitive. This is probably something Typepad will fix in due time, I’m sure).

1. After logging in to Typepad, click the “TypeLists” tab at the top of the window.

2. On the right side, there is an area called “Create a new TypeList.”

a. In the first drop-down menu, select “Link.”
b. In the “List name” box, enter a name for your list.
c. Click the “Create new list” button.

3. On the following page, don’t forget to click the “Add this list to your weblog(s) or About Page” link. This is another issue I have with Typepad. I can’t figure out how to actually add the link to my blog if I forget this step – so don’t forget.

4. Next, click the “Add” button next to the URL box. DO NOT ADD A URL.

5. On the next page, click the “Add a new item” link. It’s near the top of the window, directly under the Manage tab.

6. In the pop-up window, add your HTML to the “Notes” box. Leave everything else blank and click the “Save Item” button.

7. Lastly (this is the one that I’m sure most everyone forgets about), click the “Configure” tab at the top of the page. On the Configure page, scroll all the way down to “Display notes” and click the “As text” radio button.

8. Click the “Save Changes” button. Your HTML should now display on your blog. If it doesn’t, make sure you didn’t skip any of the above steps.