In WordPress, tags are used to help organize and connect content more specifically than categories. While categories are broad and often cover general topics like “News” or “Local,” tags let you highlight specific details of a post. Here’s a simple guide to understanding what tags do and how they can help your website.

What Are Tags For?

  1. Organize Content by Specific Topics:
    Tags allow you to add keywords to your posts. For example, if you write about local events, you might categorize the post under “Local News,” but you can tag it with keywords like “festival,” “concert,” or “community.” This helps group posts by specific subjects.
  2. Help Visitors Find Related Content:
    Tags make it easier for users to find similar content. For example, if a reader is interested in “sports,” they can click the “sports” tag on an article, and it will take them to all posts with that tag, even if they’re in different categories.
  3. Improve Your Site’s SEO:
    Tags help search engines like Google understand what your post is about. If you use relevant tags, your content is more likely to show up in search results for those topics. For example, using a tag like “Clarksville events” might help your articles rank when people search for events in Clarksville.
  4. Link Related Posts Across Categories:
    Tags connect posts that might be in different categories. For instance, an article tagged with “sports” could be found in both the “Local News” and “National News” categories if they’re tagged the same way.
  5. Help Organize Your Content:
    Tags can also be a great tool for website editors and writers. If you tag stories with ongoing themes (like “elections” or “community events”), it’s easy to track and manage related content over time.

Tags vs. Categories: What’s the Difference?

  • Categories are broad topics like “News” or “Sports” that help organize your overall site. You usually assign one or two categories per post.
  • Tags are more specific and describe the details of the post. You can add as many relevant tags as you want to each post.

When Should You Use Tags?

  • Multiple Topics: If a post covers several topics, like local sports, community events, and education, you can use tags to highlight each topic.
  • SEO Benefits: If there are common search terms people use to find your site (like specific locations or popular events), tagging your posts with those terms can help them show up in search results.
  • Encourage Exploration: Tags help visitors easily find related articles, encouraging them to stay longer on your site.

How to Use Tags Wisely:

  1. Stay Consistent: Use the same tags regularly. Instead of creating multiple tags for the same thing (like “Clarksville sports” and “local sports”), pick one and stick with it.
  2. Use Relevant Tags: Only tag posts with keywords that actually describe the content. Overusing tags can confuse visitors.
  3. Don’t Overdo It: Aim for 3-5 relevant tags per post. Too many tags can make things messy and hard to navigate.

Final Thoughts:

Tags are a simple but powerful tool to organize your site’s content, help readers find what they’re looking for, and improve your search engine rankings. When used properly, they make your site easier to navigate and more effective at connecting related articles.

This quick guide should help you understand how tags can be used to make the most of your WordPress site.