How to Use Blog Categories & Tags

Using blog categories and tags properly will go a long way towards helping the search engines find you and your content, and they will help viewers find what they need once they get to your website, via a search box (consider adding one if you don't have one).

What's the difference between Categories and Tags?

Think of categories like drawers in a filing cabinet, and the tags as the file folders in the drawers.

• Categories are broader, like entree, dessert, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack(type of meal). They are topics you address on your blog.
   
• They are the table of contents for your blog. Do as few categories as possible so it doesn't get unwieldy.
   
• Tags are more specific like chicken, beef, cream, potatoes, butter (the actual food itself). They are specific and address items you discuss in your blog post. Use one or two words only. They should reflect the keywords or points of your article. Tags are your blogs index (categories are the table of contents). Use as many tags as make sense, although less is more when possible.
   
• Then use them consistently and train anyone you have helping you to use them the same ways you do.

Tips for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for blogs:

1. Do not duplicate tags and categories. This applies to synonyms also (Google understands similar phrases and will consider them duplicate content - bad). This is essential.
    
2. Be consistent so tags and categories don't get out of control.  A well-organized blog actually adds to the usability of the site and makes it easier for your visitors to quickly find what they're looking for.
    
3. Minimize "link bleeding."  Each page starts with 100% of link value, that value is divided up between the links on the page. Minimize links to worthless pages like Contact page, About page.
    
4. Use widgets judiciously, they can dilute link values.
    
5. The best links are links to relevant content.
    
6. The category and tag links listed at the top or bottom of the post will help increase relevancy of the post (better ranking). If you are doing well you will see your category and tag pages/posts doing better than other pages on the site.
    
7. Pages that change content often (like a blog) are good. They provoke the search engines to crawl them more often.
    
8. Tags and categories can have multiple pages with tons of content within them. It's a good thing.

Get Organized YOUR Way

Harry and I are completely alike, except in some very opposite ways. We both like to be organized. HOW that happens, well, very differently. 

Getting organized is highly dependent on your personality. One person's "organized" is another's nightmare. There is no one right or wrong way. You have to figure out what works for YOU. Take a look at what we do:

Harry is a paper kind of guy, he likes to spread out. I don't like paper. Clutter makes me edgy, so I go digital. Don't let anyone tell you that you HAVE to do it a certain way. We have a client who lives by her sticky notes. All over the wall. That works for her.

By the way, that's Evernote I'm using on my iPad. I HAVE to have a master "to-do" list plus lists for each client/project, recipes, and personal stuff. I collaborate a lot, share files and info, and need to be reminded to do things.

Evernote is the love of my life (after Harry). I started with the secure free version, now pay a small yearly fee for awesome collaboration/sharing/reminder features. I use it every day both for work and personal organization and it stays sync'd across my desktop, iPad and phone. Yay!

Is It Time To Update Your Website?

How often should you update your website? Whenever the information and images on your website become dated, when you have new information to add, and when you have finished and photographed new work or new products. No less than four times per year, in my opinion.  Then viewers, and search engines, can see that you are active and productive.

Very often I see websites that have not been updated in years.  Lack of current blog posts, old resumes and bios, old copyright dates, and no recent information make it very easy for the viewer to assume that you are no longer in business, not creating anything new, or that you're not really serious.

Also, make sure the design and navigation of your website are up-to-date and looking fresh. If your site hasn't had a facelift in a year or more, it's time.

Mark your calendar so you don't forget.  Get some help if you need it. It's not a good use of your time to spend hours struggling with it and your results may look less than professional.  

Contact me if you need help. Websites are a big part of what we do to help keep you going strong.

All my best to you and yours!

-Robin