Can somebody answer this once and for all

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   ryankettposted 14 years ago

   Do 'tags' on hubpages have any affect on search engine listings whatsoever? Can I be found on google on the basis of my tags?
   
   The information I am getting is conflicting. Hubpages say this:-
   
   "Outside of HubPages, Tags also coincide with terms that are searched for by people using search engines, which can give your Hubs a boost in where they end up ranking."
   
   Hubbers, some experienced are saying something like:-
   
   "Hubpages tags are not included in metadata so are irrelevant to traffic".
   
   I am just going to be open and honest. I have been a plonker maybe. I have been using google keyword tool and using loads of keywords for my tags, then shoving a few in my article.
   
   Are you now going to say that the keywords in my tags have no benefits whatsoever, and it is entirely based upon what I put in my content?
   
   In fact, It has even been said that too many tags can hurt search engine rankings? I would be very grateful if somebody could just clear this up.
   
   Have I been a complete plonker or not? Can a hub ever be found purely as a result of a tag, if those words are not in the content?
   
   Please advise SEO experts and very experience hubbers.

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      White Teethposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Not me...but I will throw out wild speculation and conjecture...because I can...I heard that tags only help with internal linking...which will help in the long run if high-PR is in the mix...tags help bring more of Hubpages to bear...but I am most likely totally wrong...

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2. 0

   Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years ago

   My tags for hubs show up as a separate listing in the search engines. So yes I do believe that you can be found in google on the basis of your tags.
   
   Of course I can't find an example now that I'm looking for it. But I've seen a search term in google analytics and when I've popped it into google to see what hub comes up, I've had the tag listing come up.
   
   It's late here, but the next time I find one. I'll email you the example.
   
   This is consistent with my experience with my own blogs as well. Tags to matter to external search engines.

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      ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Ok great, many thanks Nelle.
      
      Would like to see that example if you ever find it

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      viryaboposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for this Nellie, could you please let me see the example too. Ive been worried about this as well, and Ryankett took the words from my mouth (keyboard!)

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3. 71

   relacheposted 14 years ago

   Using only the most relevant tags often gets better results than using general ones.  I tend to worry about my content and make sure  it's the best I can write, and then I pick my tags so that they reflect the most relevant points and concepts.  I don't take a lot of suggestions from HubPages on tags, as sometimes those recommendations are just awful (too irrelevant).

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4. 85

   Marisa Wrightposted 14 years ago

   http://hubpages.com/hub/Hubpages-Traffic-Use-of-Tags

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      alekhouseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Marisa, thanks for posting this link. I checked it out and found the information to be very informative and helpful

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      ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Marisa, many many sincere thanks for posting this article. For the last two days I have been going through all 78 of my very very badly tagged hubs.
      
      I am currently half way through following the advice of that article (this things are so easy when you find them, but often are not found if it were not for helpful people like you).
      
      I have already seen increased traffic, improving hub scores, and an improving CTR. I finally understand the importance and purpose of tags, and to think that it was something so simple....

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   sunforgedposted 14 years ago

   Thats a pretty well thought out article. ^----
   
   I would still put very little time into hubpages tags, there are so many ways to promote and optimize,so many ways to spend time, hub tags doesnt get a vote for being a worthwhile time endeavor in my opinion.

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      Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      It doesn't take that long to figure out the right tags. In such a competitive world, I don't like to miss an opportunity, especially one that's so easy.

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         ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Nelle, thank you for your advice too. The article Marissa posted has made me realise just how important tags are to performance, and indeed..... I am already seeing improvements over the past day or so from those hubs that I have reviewed.
         
         Anybody that says tags are not important need to seriously read that article and then enjoy the results of their endeavours.

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   chucklinartposted 14 years ago

   Quality, quality, quality -- it's all about quality now.  Just focus on writing good stuff and tagging it appropriately, and let the traffic follow.

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   flread45posted 14 years ago

   I agree with Nellie Hoxie,as my tags show up in search engines also.

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      Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Ah, thanks for the confirmation. I've always believed that they matter.
      
      But I also think that this drives home Relache's point that they should be highly relevant to the content of the hub. Spending a few minutes to get the right tags can yield great traffic results.

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   sunforgedposted 14 years ago

   So your tracking software is showing traffic to your hubs that originated with search engine queries that led to a hubpages tag page and then your specific hub?
   
   Seems unlikely- can you give me an example?

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      ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I did not say that sunforged. Let me explain.
      
      Previously my tags were so obscure that they did not lead to any other hubs when clicked on. Equally, the tags of other hubbers hubs would lead to a list of hubs.... which my hub would not be on.
      
      Now, all of my tags have at least 6 or 7, normally around 20-30 other hubs with that tag here on hubpages.
      
      There is potential for all organic traffic to each of those hubs clicking on a 'tag'. Now, after carefully selecting tags, I am competing with other hubs for that traffic.
      
      All I can say is that my traffic has increased, my hubscores have increased, and my CTR has increased. I do not need to provide evidence of that.
      
      Have you even bothered to read the hub that Marissa Wright recommended? Because at no stage does it say that your tags can be found by search engines. You are currently being critical of something that you appear not to have read.

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         darksideposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I had a hub (which I since deleted because after a year and 22 views, it wasn't exactly setting the world on fire) that could be found via a Google search, I'd copy and paste a sentence, the result didn't actually send a person directly to the hub URL, but to a tag page. I think the tag was 'beer'.
         
         So Search Engines can and do find tags. Though by my experience, it's not not going to set the world on fire. But I have seen tag pages of some social bookmarking sites rank highly.
         
         Even if it didn't, they are important. Though I wouldn't go overboard or particularly fuss or fret over trying to get them perfect. I just try and keep them honest.
         
         Tags help in other ways, in the HubPages search. Also by matching tags for the "Related Hubs" list in the right hand column.
         
         Here's my advice on tagging your hubs.

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            ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Cool, thanks for that Darkside. The hub up thread was very useful, but would be very interested in seeing your take on it... sure I will learn something new
            
            One for tomorrow though me thinks, 2:15am here!

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   fayansposted 14 years ago

   Whilst having more tags doesn't actually improve your search engine visibility as Google rarely indexes HP tags - unlike WordPress, each tag does count as a relevant backlink so PR will flow from one to another, if any.

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