Should I use a Tag Cloud?

[Andrew Skelly]

What are the benefits or downside to using a Tag Cloud on WP homepage?

[Damani Tabor]

Originally Posted by Andrew Skelly

What are the benefits or downside to using a Tag Cloud on WP homepage?

Tag clouds take up vital space that might have been otherwise applied to say ads, so you are right to be concerned. However...



I think the most effective clouds are the ones that show different sized tags based on usage. That way I get an instant visual reference to the relative popularity of the issues you write on.


And also this is at a more precise and granular level than categories.


So, that said, I think its a good thing, if implemented in this user-centered way.



- Peace!

[aidanjb1]

From an SEO standpoint the only thing adding a tag cloud is going to do is add a few more keywords to your homepage. I don't see big benefits or disadvantages either way.

Tag clouds can add another visual aspect to the sidebar...sometimes this will make your site look more "filled" but I doubt you'll see many SEO benefits...

Hope this helps!

[Coby]

I ALWAYS add a tag cloud, but not sure why...

I think it may come down to preference really. I think it will only add a few keywords to your blog, but also help for users. But you could use this space for adwords or a cpa offer though.

Can someone else expand on this? I would like to know some of the benefits, other than user related benefits.

[Brad Gosse]

Tag clouds offer 0 SEO value and can hurt you in some cases. Stay way unless your user experience demands it.

[lifesofree]

Tag clouds do make sense if you just put them further down on your page. Why?

Tag clouds can be legitimised by standard usability theories. At the top of the page one should place the most important things and give them a lot of space. Things that many of your visitors might be interested in most. Beneath, you try to catch them with content modules that become smaller and smaller, hoping that they are interested in one of those things, at the end, you can put something like a list of keywords (-> tag cloud) just hoping that the visitor is having interest in at least anything on your page.

So, tag clouds are a way to prioritize your content - which should be something that every website owner does. You could ask yourself:

1. What content do you want to publish on your website?
2. How would you prioritize this content?

and consider this for your website implementation. That's something a lot of website owners disregard. Yet, if you take a closer look to the structur of some of the web's most frequented websites, I guess you'll find such things.

That does not mean that tag clouds are a must, but they can make sense.

[taxi952]

I`m not using tag cloud but i heard that realy helps with the search engine

[Alex Barboza]

Originally Posted by Brad Gosse

Tag clouds offer 0 SEO value and can hurt you in some cases. Stay way unless your user experience demands it.

As for my testing tag clouds help index new content much faster, which can give you some SEO push sometimes.

[somenathsen1]

i thinks it's give you some SEO values.....

[Andrea Wilson]

I have not heard any SEO advantage of adding a tag cloud in any website but from a user point of view a tag cloud makes me stay longer in any site as it can show related keyword stuff to what Im reading.

Andrea

[Coby]

Originally Posted by lifesofree

Tag clouds do make sense if you just put them further down on your page. Why?

Tag clouds can be legitimised by standard usability theories. At the top of the page one should place the most important things and give them a lot of space. Things that many of your visitors might be interested in most. Beneath, you try to catch them with content modules that become smaller and smaller, hoping that they are interested in one of those things, at the end, you can put something like a list of keywords (-> tag cloud) just hoping that the visitor is having interest in at least anything on your page.

So, tag clouds are a way to prioritize your content - which should be something that every website owner does. You could ask yourself:

1. What content do you want to publish on your website?
2. How would you prioritize this content?

and consider this for your website implementation. That's something a lot of website owners disregard. Yet, if you take a closer look to the structur of some of the web's most frequented websites, I guess you'll find such things.

That does not mean that tag clouds are a must, but they can make sense.

Good Point, Mine are always placed at the very bottom of the sidebar.

I'm still unsure as to rather it helps with SEO as we are seeing both sides represented here.

[CatherineMay]

I would like to use a tag cloud because I like the way it looks.

But I've tried several and can't get the one particular tag I want to stand out to be prominent. This same tag is a keyword that the second most searched on my site, and the post is the second most popular, so I don't know why it won't stand out.

Does anyone have any suggestions for an easy tag cloud to configure where I could actually list the tags that would show in the largest type?


Catherine

[dadamson]

Tag clouds are not very effective for SEO at all. - I'm not convinced they do anything.

You can link to your page with specific anchor text tags within your content but a cloud of tags is easily recognized by the search engines as a tag cloud and they will not award you for it.

I am not saying they will hurt your website, but they will fill space that you can otherwise use for more sales - orientated content.

Cheers,
Dave

[StoneWilson]

Originally Posted by Brad Gosse

Tag clouds offer 0 SEO value and can hurt you in some cases. Stay way unless your user experience demands it.

Don't you know in most cases tag clouds tags got h1 label? And tag cloud also show clearly what's your website is maily about with different sizes tags.

[Caragui]

If you've got a lot of posts, a tag cloud would be a good help to your visitors. Tag clouds are usually widgets in the side bar so when you put it it won't only show on your homepage but in all your pages.