How to Properly Tag Your Social Bookmarks

[JakeDaly]

Recently, I've started to social bookmark a few of my sites and articles through SocialMarker. I understand what a tag is but I'm not quite certain how to write one. I understand that different sites make you separate your tags by either commas, spaces or slash marks but what I don't understand is whether or not you can you use multiple word tags and, if you do, whether or not you write them as one word. Every time you see the 'popular tags' on sites they're always only one word long.

For example, if you want one of your tags to be German lessons online.. do you use germanlessonsonline, german lessons online or german,lessons,online as your tag?

Kind of a confusing question but I'm basically asking how to correctly write a tag. Thanks in advance,

Jake Daly

[curious1960]

I would use Camel Case and write it as: "germanLesssons". This techniques is allowed, readable and truly a standard.

[11Levels]

I would suggest you put it as follows german lessons online,

You should put more than one tag that pertains to your website. You should also put a comma after the last tag. Here's example:

german lessons online, german lessons, learn german online, learning german online, online german lessons,

Hope this helps,
Marianna

[Quentin]

Different Social Bookmarking sites use different tag strategies so it important to get to know them so you can utilize their power.

Example delicious only uses one word tags and yet others use allow long tails.

Quentin

[ken_p]

Originally Posted by Quentin

Different Social Bookmarking sites use different tag strategies so it important to get to know them so you can utilize their power.

Example delicious only uses one word tags and yet others use allow long tails.

Quentin

Yes, this is so true. I have done a bit of tagging, and sometimes, they allow me to write three word phrases as one, and sometimes it comes back as an error too long. so it is better to get to know first the tagging system of the site.

[subhub-mark]

On sites where only single word tags are allowed i usually use the format 'hello-world' which seems to work fine.

[CalGolden]

Good points by all.

It has been my experience that each social bookmarking site that I ever used clearly stated how to input tags. Just read and heed. You can not go wrong.

One thing to look out for is the use of commas. Some sites specify separating tags with a comma. Simple enough. But, here is the tricky part. Do you use a space after the comma just before the next keyphrase? They leave you scratching your head trying to figure that one out on your own. Get it wrong and there goes your tag juice down the drain.

Now, some sites that require a comma between phrases do tell you if a space is required, but they are rare. All you can do is test, if at all possible. Review your listing and see if it is formatted correctly for the particular site.





Cal