Part 2 of 2 | Read Part 1 of 2
In a previous entry, we talked about the need to organize your posts and gave you the first tip to get organized. Today, we’ll discuss tips number two and three, and round up this two-part series.
Tip #2: Use Tags
Blogger calls it Labels. Tags are another blogger-defined organizing feature found on virtually every blogging platform – freebie or paid. In fact, even publishers websites like Helium would have you tag your contributions. So what are tags?
Tags are keywords or keyword phrases that help your visitors and Google’s crawlers, find you on the web. Yes, tags serve this twin purpose of making your blog posts reader-friendly and SEO-friendly (SEO is search engine optimization) as well.
Some blogs display their tags list; others don’t. Unlike your categories list that fall in neat, sometimes collapsible columns, tags lists are often presented in tag clouds – that collection of words on the sidebar with different font sizes. The larger the font size of a keyword, the more it’s been used in that blog.
Why are Tags Important?
Tags probably serve SEO purposes for the most part; it’s only benefit to your readers is filtering your posts into lists containing posts with a common tag. Tagging makes it easy for your readers to find specific posts in your blog.
Where search engines are concerned, tags make it easy for them to find your blog. Running a Google Search for specific keywords pulls up a list of top websites matching those keywords and yes, if your blog is optimized, it will wind up on the first page as well. The techie details of search engine optimization will be covered in this blog in various installments. For now, that broad description should be enough to help you appreciate how tags can help raise your popularity ratings on the blogosphere.
Tip#3: Use Your Sidebar
Yes, the sidebar is an organization tool, too! And every blogging platform has one (or two, depending on your design.) Your categories list and tags cloud could be put here. In fact, most blogs do put their categories lists and tags clouds on the sidebar. The sidebar works like your main navibar (or the navigation bar, which is normally found across the top, just below or right above your blog name. It’s that strip where you’d find the words Home About Contact Us).
The sidebar helps readers find general areas they might be interested about your blog. The subject you write about are on your categories list and tags cloud; your activities fall under your Recent Posts and Recent Comments sections, as well as your Archives. A search box, although not on every blog, is also found on the sidebar. Now, which widget comes first and on which sidebar should you put what are all part of your blog’s design. Play with it and see what’s convenient for readers. A blog, after all, is for an audience.
Organization, You and Your Blog
Besides making your blog friendly to human and machine visitors, your blog’s organization also contribute to your credibility as a blogger. A well-organized blog gives the impression you’re a well-organized person, that is, someone who is able to think clearly and plan. At least, for the most part.
