define global tags?
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I’ve checked FAQ and Forums and haven’t yet found the answer. Can somebody define what is meant by “global tags”? I’m asking because I just learned that the “limit” on total (combination) of tags/categories is 12 “if I want it to be included in global tags”. Well, maybe it’s not that big a deal that I”m in global tags, because most of my tags are about pretty obscure stuff (I use categories for broader topics). But, since I don’t know what global tags are (as opposed to just “tags”? I guess?) then I don’t know if i”m worried about not being included or not.
Thanks.
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The tags and category links that are above or under your posts, lead to the wordpress.com global tags pages which will list all posts by all wordpress.com blogs that use a certain category or tag. It’s a way for people to find other blogs and posts blogging about the same things, and it ends up giving you quite a bit more search engine juice.
The tags and category links in your tags and category widgets in your sidebar will lead to your local posts for that tag or category.
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Being included in global tag pages gives you a big boost in SEO, because everyone using that tag links to that global tag page; thus, search engines conclude it is a hugely important page. Then, that page links back to you when you’re listed in it, giving YOU some of it’s Googlejuice. This is a very powerful effect, powerful enough that I rarely use more categories except when I also use tags like Sex and Porn, that would get that post booted from those pages anyway.
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hmmm.. OK, I think I understand. The words are the same, that appear after my post (for instance) as well as in the widgets (like, say, “book reviews”) but it is just where they link to (the destination) that is different, is that correct?
So given the qty. tag limits, how does one try to be more specific with their tags? Like instead of, say, “African-American history” “women’s History” “American history” and all the other variations I have. Do I guess I just say “history” and leave it to the poor visitor to figure out whether my page on African-American women in the 19th century is or is not of interest, when perhaps they were looking for 17th century British history? That sure seems like a lot of wasted time on the visitor’s part.
But then, I’m still pretty new at this whole blog thing, so maybe I’m just too detailed or focused in the way I think about tags.
Thanks.
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Is there any way to change the post category and tag links to local rather than global results?
This is supremely confusing for my users.
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Is there any way to change the post category and tag links to local rather than global results?
No, there isn’t. Staff has been quite clear that the category/tags of a post will lead to the global tag pages. The only way to have things local is to use the sidebar widgets. (Some people have hidden the tags/categories on the posts by using CSS but most of the themes here have those in the same element as other post data, rendering the hiding of those things – like edit – as well.)
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@writingreading – I understand what you’re saying. Personally, I don’t use tags at all (except one specific one). I use categories (since they work like tags, anyway) and my categories tend to be pretty broad. In your case, I’d use a category of “African-American women’s history” or something like that as opposed to just “history.”
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Thanks, Vivian. But tags/categories don’t search on partial matches, do they? So if I was tag surfing for “Women’s history” that wouldn’t pickup the tag you suggest, right? And therefore that post would be missed, because I as a searcher didn’t specify “African-American” women’s history, right?
But then, I suppose the point is moot anyway, because as long as I have too many tags, it won’t find the post anyway through global tags – if I’m understanding right.
And what about when language itself is the problem? For instance: “Black history” vs. “African-American history.” or “Women’s history” vs. “Women’s studies” and so forth. I understand I just have to “pick one” and go with it, but it sure makes it difficult now that there are these tag limit quantities. Even if they bumped it up to 20 as the maximum, that would help a _lot_, and give me a lot more flexibility.
Sometimes you get odd combinations of things, too, and you need to be able to use a variety of tags to describe it. One term or group of terms don’t adequately cover it.
Like you, I had also been using categories as my broader terms (like “African-American history” as an example) and tags for more specific things (like “Civil Rights” or specific events or time periods or people in history). Again, though, I”m having to cut back on all of that specificity, due to qty limits. This is frustrating, because when I’m looking for info myself, I’m usu. looking for _specific_ info (like “Civil War blogs” or what have you) – not something more general like “History”.
One of my most problematic posts is:
http://writingreadingandreflections.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/famous-women-youve-never-heard-of-2/
I can see a few tags I could cut out, but not more than maybe 2 to 5 – which would still leave me well over the limit of 12, I’m sure.The post mentioned above is also a good example of a different kind of problem on the tag limits – when I create my own local category “Famous Women You’ve Never Heard Of” so that it links to similar posts that are part of an ongoing series on my blog – but would mean nothing and really wouldn’t even need to be included in the global tag links. So, maybe somewhat related to jcollier’s concern, above – this particular home-grown category wouldn’t need to “go global” at all.
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If you have too many tags, you’ll be left off the tag searches and all of this is moot, yes. You will still be listed on Technorati tag searches, but I haven’t seen a hit from them in over a year.
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