Tags are keywords or terms assigned to a piece of content to describe a topic or theme. They are essential for organizing content, enhancing the user experience, and improving the SEO of your website.
Understanding tags
Tags are not hierarchical and are often used to highlight the specific details of content. For instance, a blog post tagged with "SEO," "Content Marketing," and "Google Analytics" indicates the topics covered in the post. Unlike categories, tags are more flexible and can be used to describe micro-details of the content, offering a granular approach to content organization.
How tags work
When a new tag is added, it creates a distinct tag page that aggregates all content associated with that specific tag. For example, if a tag named "SEO" is added to multiple blog posts, clicking on the "SEO" tag will lead users to a page displaying all posts tagged with "SEO."
Tags vs categories
While both tags and categories are instrumental in organizing content, they have distinct roles:
- Categories: Used for broad grouping of post topics and are hierarchical. They are usually phrases, often are required, and represent general topics.
For example: A "Music" category with subcategories like "Jazz" and "Rock."
- Tags: More specific, describing detailed aspects of content. Fully optional, with no hierarchy, usually short keywords.
For instance: A post in the "Jazz" category might have tags like "Bebop," "Live performance," and "Miles Davis."
SEO and tagging best practices
Proper use of tags can enhance SEO, but it's crucial to avoid over-tagging and creating overly specific tags. Each tag should be broad enough to cover multiple content pieces yet specific enough to be meaningful.
Tip: The goal is to strike a balance between the tag’s usefulness and uniqueness. Avoid tags that are too specific or too broad, and ensure each tag adds value to content discoverability.
Avoiding common tagging mistakes
- Overly specific tags: Avoid creating tags that are too specific and only applicable to a small number of content pieces.
A tag that applies to only one or two pieces of content doesn’t enhance discoverability or SEO. - Duplicate function tags: Ensure each tag has a unique function.
If multiple tags serve the same purpose, it can lead to duplicate content issues, which is not favorable for SEO.
Managing tags
- Adding and editing tags: Learn how to add and edit tags to organize your content effectively. Read more.
- Deleting tags: Understand the steps to delete tags when they are no longer needed. Read more.
- Adding tags to products: Discover how to associate products with specific tags to enhance product discovery. Read more.
- Removing tags from products: Find out how to remove tags from products for better content management. Read more.