Tag Cloud / Category Cloud?

[Green Jelly]

I have been speaking to my web developers today about creating a blog and mentioned Tag clouds (I think this is the right term). They thought they were pretty old hat, not really used any more and not much value. Any opinions?

[Kev Jaques]

They can add another arm to searching site content, emphasize relevant content for users. Not so much link value nowadays but value for the user. It does require you to tag your content though, so if you are starting from scratch I would add one in (where appropriate).

It should be something to test rather than dismiss it as old hat (sure they have been around for some while). If your users find content better with the tags being more relevant than categories then you're onto a winner. You should address those kinds of things if the categories are not able to portray their content well enough. So it can depend on your content.

[eukhost]

I have been speaking to my web developers today about creating a blog and mentioned Tag clouds (I think this is the right term). They thought they were pretty old hat, not really used any more and not much value. Any opinions?

You can find more detailed information over here http://searchengineland.com/effective-tagging-for-both-usability-seo-12708

Hope this article helps :)

[BDR_London]

Tag clouds do not have a huge SEO benefit. They are a good way to improve cross site linkage and help your vistors find related content.

[Ali-v-8]

I love Tag clouds.
If you are clever you can really utilise this technology.
Linking all your pages and more importantly attract the attention of visitors.
They may want the information you are displaying.

As for SEO benifits: EVERY LITTLE HELPS (call form tesco's solicitors in 5,4,3,2, ring ring) :D

[Green Jelly]

Thanks Ali - is it easy to set up the links? Wp-Cumulus has been recommended to me as a Wordpress plug in - is this a good option?

[Kev Jaques]

It's a bit gimmicky, however it's one of the few plug-ins I like ;) Will be looking at doing something similar for a Winamp Play list at some point ;)

It does degrade too and offers a bit of interaction with the site on a more visual level than a basic tag cloud. The main important thing for the tag cloud is relevance of content you have and this should be looked at with the font sizes. (don't just rely on colour alone)

[Spock]

Wp-Cumulus has been recommended to me as a Wordpress plug in - is this a good option?

This is the flash based one right? Does that mean it won't help in SEO terms as much as a standard text based cloud?

[I, Brian]

If it's a Wordpress blog, then setting up a tag cloud is very very easy - simply add the following code to your nav to show the most commonly used tags:


<?php wp_tag_cloud(''); ?>


However, also ensure you have the following code under your posts to display individual post tags:


<?php the_tags(); ?>


Tags are a potential way to tap into longtail phrases you may otherwise have difficulty targeting directly through post titles or categories.

Not a huge traffic lever by itself, but certainly worth considering putting the effort into it, where the returns may be worth it.

[Kev Jaques]

Show your Lurve by hitting the thanks button Green Jelly :) Everyone basically repeated what I already said ;)

[Green Jelly]

Humble apologies Kev Jaques - only just logged on since your post :o)

[Kev Jaques]

No worries :) I thought blimey how come Ali gets all the thanks lol ;) heheh :) Not that I begrudge anyone anything ;) (well except the tax man ;) )

[Ali-v-8]

Now Now Kev, You know its cos Im better looking. :cool: Lol
But I guess you did get in there first. I only responded to BDR_London saying there was no benefit.
Its also a good Idea to create individual tag clouds for each page.
Remove the links returning to the same page. Thats a definite no no.

No worries :) I thought blimey how come Ali gets all the thanks lol ;) heheh :) Not that I begrudge anyone anything ;) (well except the tax man ;) )