Length of Tags

1. 79

   tmbridgelandposted 11 years ago

   I have recently been looking at the most common phrases used to find my Hubs, and putting them into my Tags. Then I delete a few generic Tags just so I don't build up too many. So for example, on my Hub about natural cures for eczema, a common search is, 'Do cold showers help eczema'. I dump a one-word tag like 'Eczema' and add 'cold showers help eczema. Has anyone tried using search results to make Tags, and does it make any sense to do it?

   replyreport
   1. 84

      Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      As Greekgeek says, tags on HubPages are not the same as tags on blogs.  They're for internal use on HubPages, not for the search engines.
      
      You should never use general or vague tags because it will just mean your Hubs get lumped in with unrelated Hubs.

      replyreport
2. 78

   Greekgeekposted 11 years ago

   There's actually not much use in putting long phrases in tags, since search engines can't see them.*
   
   All Hubpages tags do is determine which hubs feature yours in the "related hubs" sidebar box and vice versa. If you use highly specific, long tail phrases that no other hubs are using, it's a wasted tag, since it fails to establish cross-links with any other hubs. Instead, try using some tags related to your topic and check to make sure the hubs that tend to come up in your sidebar are solid, useful hubs related to your topic.
   
   *This is because the tag cloud is generated on the webpage by a script at the time of page load. The tags an't stod in the page source, not even in a META keywords tag. You can verify this for yourself by Google searching the Url of an older hub with  the prefix cache: in front of the URL to see which parts of the page are visible to search engine bots and which aren't.

   replyreport
   1. 79

      tmbridgelandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Greekgeek and Melissa. This is useful info I didn't know.

      replyreport
3. 86

   tsmogposted 11 years ago

   Oops. I must have walked into this class by mistake - just kidding about. I never thought of that before. Creative too. I have used two word tags and then immediately use the words alone. I wonder how a study could be completed on this.
   
   Opening doors, I learned from Greekgeek the purpose of tags. Now, I know. I am really, really curious of the URL trick she taught - cool! Great food for thought.
   
   Oddly, it gives pause wondering if that be why some hubs are like little orphans as time wears on. And, with the wave of a magic wand, the thought that changing the tags may generate more reads, here at hubpages, and then let word of  mouth do its thing with sharing.
   
   Thank you tmbrideland, Greekgeek, and Marisa Wright for this treasure chest of wealth for who knows, a touch of regeneration of energy . . .
   
   tim

   replyreport
   1. 86

      tsmogposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I just reread what I wrote and ask forgiveness for the misspelling tossed in, I will slow down a tad, and reread my comments - thanks for that insight too . . .

      replyreport
4. 78

   Greekgeekposted 11 years ago

   You may not have known the secret lore of Hubpages tags, but you didn't make illegible typos and fail to fix them before the edit window shut! Argh. *flails at edit button* So no need to apologize for much less noticeable typing mistakes.
   
   I need to start issuing myself citations for typing under the influence of an iThingumbob. Sorry about that.

   replyreport
5. 86

   tsmogposted 11 years ago

   Hello Greekgeek. I saw I wrote tmbridgeland  - tmbrideland (smile) I laughed wondering just what is up with that - Freudian slip while thinking of a wedding I will be going to. Have a great day or is night . . .doesn't matter much just have fun

   replyreport