Categories and Tags

Introduction  

What is the importance of tags and categories in WordPress? As website and blog owners, it is important to know how organized and easy flowing categories and tags can be for your viewers. Nowadays, people want answers “now for now.” They want to see what they are looking for right away. Viewers don’t want to go through complications just to find one thing that they are looking for. Website and blog owners often overlook this fact, and don’t realize that they can actually minimize the amount of traffic by not simplifying the navigation experience for viewers. Tags and categories cut through the annoying hassle for viewers and makes navigation simpler and enjoyable for them.

What are categories and tags?

Although both categories and tags are essential to a website for the viewer usability, it is important that the difference between the two are understood. Categories can be viewed from the plural sense (more than one). Tags can be viewed in the single sense. Both, categories and tags direct traffic and simplify searches, making usability easy for website searchers and viewers. According to Categories vs. Tags, an article by Liz Jostes, categories are allowed for a broad grouping of post topics. In other words, when a word is typed in, and it is the title of the category, it can bring you to any thing that is listed in a category. Categories are much broader. Tags are much more specific. When a tag is typed in, it takes you to exactly what you are looking for. Tags describe one’s post in much more detail.

What are good practices to follow when you use categories and tags?

When using categories and tags, it is important to know exactly when to use them. The usages of both of these have to be used with exceptional practices. For example, since tags are precise, and categories are broader, it would be smart to include more tags in your posts. The amount of tags you use should surpass the amount of categories you have. Categories should be limited to 5-7. Keep it to a small amount. Tags are often referred to as “tweak categories.” In other words, by using a tag, you are narrowing down the category, Because of this, it is essential that the category names are different from the tag names. Viewers will be able to find what they are looking for easier.

What is search engine optimization? 

According to The Beginners Guide to Search Engine Optimization, search engine optimization is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or web page in a search engine’s natural” search results. With search engine optimization traffic comes from “natural” listings on search engines. This means that results from search don’t form right away, but they actually need something to transform the information into search results. With having to do with tags, search results are easier to be found when information is concise and precise. When people type your tags in to search for your results this can boost your traffic, which is very important for the ranking of your site.

How do categories and tags affect search engine optimization?

Categories and tags affect search engine optimization with dealing with search results. Pages are indexed and categorized. Every time someone searches for your tag or category, it creates more traffic for one’s site. Categories and tags organize everything on websites, making it easier search engine optimization.

Website Usage

http://en.support.wordpress.com/posts/categories-vs-tags/

http://www.elirose.com/2011/10/how-to-use-categories-and-tags-in-wordpress/

http://www.seomoz.org/beginners-guide-to-seo

http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35291

http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2005/09/09/categories-versus-tags-whats-the-difference-and-which-one/

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