Aren't tags completely useless?

1. 37

   TIC Publishingposted 13 years ago

   The tags you put in when creating an article... are those HTML META Tags?  Google stopped paying attention to those in like 1999, and I don't think any important search engine uses them -at all-
   
   Is there any use in filling them in?

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      Aficionadaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      They're used internally in HubPages.  With these tags, they come up with the list of Related Hubs in the feed on the right side of a Hub - and in other places, such as on Question/ Answer pages.

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      1. 37

         TIC Publishingposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Ah!  I knew there had to be some sort of logical reason.
         
         I had to dig deep into my memory banks - back to a time when mankind was still bashing out DOS commands with a club, and praying to the screeching modulation gods for a decent handshake, to even remember what an HTML META Tag was!

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         1. 76

            Aficionadaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                 
            
            Well, would you believe, I think we still have some 5.25" (?) floppy disks around somewhere.  Exceptionally ancient stuff!

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2. 71

   ddsurfscaposted 13 years ago

   they most certainly have something to do with where your articles get placed in google directories.  I have had results in which good tags placed my articles on the first page of the directory.

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3. 66

   psycheskinnerposted 13 years ago

   These days I don't think many people even connect the idea of tags to metatags an more--they think more of blgo and amazon tags that help them search.

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4. 71

   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   How are tags completely useless? They are not, considering tags are the same as "keywords" and keywords are search terms people put into search engines so they can find what they are looking for.
   
   Therefore, tags/keywords are not useless.

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5. 74

   Richieb799posted 13 years ago

   The major search engines no longer rely upon meta tags within the HTML header line, however they do still use the meta description tag, The Meta Title tag and another one, I forgot the name but it commands Google to crawl your pages links as well.
   As for tags on Hubpages, I suppose they can contribute in a small way.

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   1. 78

      thisisoliposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Google no longer uses Keywords or Description meta tags according to Cutts, however a good Meta description is very important since it is most likely what searchers will see, it needs to be your sales pitch!

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6. 77

   Wesman Todd Shawposted 13 years ago

   I really would like to know the answer.
   
   I recall hearing that if we have too many tags that it lowers our hub's score.  I can see the good reason for having related hubs on a hub's page, so maybe we should only have, say, five to ten tags on a hub?

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   1. 71

      Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hey Wesman, if you have too many tags, then HP will flag your hub for excessive tagging. And, also, if you do have too many tags, then there is also a possibility that you will have some tags that are deceptive? Which HP will also flag.

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      1. 77

         Wesman Todd Shawposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         well, I knew that.  I had one of my satire pieces un published way back before hp ever un published anything.  Supposedly I had it in the wrong category, and they hated one of my tags, which was Google worthy Satire "evil white people." . . .which was a reference to ME, and MY FAMILY.
         
         Moderator said the tag "evil white people" was "hate speech."
         
         I didn't realize I hated my self so badly, I suppose I should be arrested for the hate crime of hating myself.

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         1. 71

            Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            

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7. 66

   psycheskinnerposted 13 years ago

   I think you are pretty safe so long as each tag is absolutely connected to the main topic of the hub.

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8. 74

   livewithrichardposted 13 years ago

   When you create a tag here on HP you actually create a new page. This page is used for internal linking and the tag links to other hubs that also use the same tag (keyword.) Go ahead, click on one of your hub's tags and see where it takes you. If others have used the same tag then it will take you to a related tag page.
   
   Keep in mind that the more tags that you use on your hubs the more link juice you are giving away. You actually weaken your hub. Only use tags that are absolutely related to your topic and are actually in the body of your text. 
   
   Tags that are in the body of your text will strengthen your hub by relating it to the tag page that was created.  When many people use the same tag then that related tag page will help boost your hubs rankings.  How much help really depends on the strength of the tag (keyword) and if people are actually searching for that word.
   
   This is why it is very important to pay close attention to your content, do a little research prior to writing, and make full use of other on-page SEO techniques (URL, Titles, H1 and H2 tags, Captions, Unique descriptions, etc.) Also, avoid the page leaks, such as too many tags, unrelated one way links, links inside the comments, link karma to hubs that are not yours.

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   1. 77

      Ms Deeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      livewithrichard - Your comment here helps me finally understand the purpose of the tags! Thanks for this
      
      Question: Are you saying linking to hubs not my own is a page leak so potentially reduces traffic?

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      1. 74

         livewithrichardposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Linking to hubs not your own is a page leak and could have negative effects on your own hub. Just because you may use the same keyword as someone else does not mean that your topic is the same. Linking to unrelated topics will reduce the authority you are trying to build with your hubs.

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         1. 77

            Ms Deeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Ah-ha! That certainly makes sense. Thanks for your response

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9. 85

   earnerposted 13 years ago

   The hubs tags you type in have magical properties.... they link together all hubs using that tag - and they can be used in rss feeds (if you're into those). 
   
   If you click one of your tags you get a page that displays all hubs using that tag.
   
   e.g. http://hubpages.com/tag/free+computer+courses/hot
   
   And notice at the end it says hot.  You can change that to be latest.
   
   Now, that might not seem exciting..... but try this:
   
   http://hubpages.com/tag/free+computer+courses/hot?rss
   
   Well bugg4h me.... if that isn't a nifty rss feed.
   
   And you can then submit that rss feed to relevant rss directories.
   
   "But wait!" I hear you cry .... I'd be promoting somebody else's stuff and not just mine. 
   
   "Ah .... I see ... greedy, eh" I reply.  Well try this:
   
   Just your hubs, that use a specific tag, as an rss feed:
   
   http://hubpages.com/author/earner/free+courses/hot?rss
   
   Now you just have to muster the effort to submit them .... er, which I never get round to

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10. 79

    sunforgedposted 13 years ago

    with tag pages now being noindex .. HP's tags are now mostly useless

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11. 76

    wheelinalloverposted 13 years ago

    When I first publish a hub there are only two keywords. One was left for a month this way. I just forgot to check it. I do use some of the tags hub pages recommend and also write my own. I search my content to see what words appear the most in my hubs and how those words relate to the subject. If they are important I add them.
    
    I also look at the title tuner and might add words from there if they are relevant. These are keywords because they are what was searched to find your hub. I might also edit my hub and add these words to my work if they somehow fit, then add them to the list.
    
    I have also removed words to add new ones. For someone who knew nothing of backlinking, linking or SEO at all I have come a long way in five months.
    
    
    For me if something doesn't work I will go change it and if it does work I will try to copy what it was that did work. That is how we all learn.

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