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How to Use Tags in WordPress (And Why They Matter)
When it comes to managing content on your WordPress site, organization is key. A well-organized structure not only helps users find what they’re looking for but also improves your site’s SEO. Two important tools that help with this are categories and tags — both part of WordPress’s taxonomy system, which is just a fancy term for how content is grouped and classified.
In this guide, we’ll focus specifically on WordPress tags: what they are, how to use them, and how to manage them effectively to improve SEO and user experience. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to clean up your site, this tutorial will walk you through everything you need to know.
What Are Tags in WordPress?
Tags are a built-in feature used to organize content. They act as metadata — keywords or phrases that describe specific details of a post. While categories group content into broad topics, tags are used to identify more specific elements within those topics.
Unlike categories, which are hierarchical (allowing parent and child relationships), tags are non-hierarchical and more flexible. You can assign multiple tags to a single post, making it easier to link related content together.
For example, if you use a tag like “SEO Tips” across multiple posts, WordPress automatically creates a tag archive page that displays all posts with that tag — which can be useful for both users and search engines.
Tags vs. Categories: What’s the Difference?
Here’s a quick breakdown:
– Categories: Used for broad grouping of content (e.g., “Recipes,” “Tech News”).
– Tags: Used to describe specific topics or features within a post (e.g., “Gluten-Free,” “iOS 17,” “Budget Travel”).
Think of your blog like a book: categories are the chapters, and tags are the index that helps readers find specific topics.
How to Add Tags in WordPress
There are two main ways to add tags to your posts:
1. While Writing a Post
Using the Gutenberg (Block) Editor:
– In the right sidebar, click the Post tab.
– Scroll to the Tags section.
– Start typing a tag — WordPress will suggest existing tags.
– Press Enter or click “Add.”
Using the Classic Editor:
– Find the Tags box on the right-hand side.
– Enter tags separated by commas.
– Click “Add.”
2. From the WordPress Dashboard
– Go to Posts > Tags.
– Here, you can add new tags, edit existing ones, and see how many posts use each tag.
– You can also add descriptions, which may appear on tag archive pages depending on your theme.
Best Practices for Using WordPress Tags
To get the most out of tags, follow these guidelines:
✅ Use Specific, Descriptive Tags
Choose tags that clearly describe the content. For example, use “email marketing” instead of something vague like “tips.”
✅ Limit the Number of Tags
Stick to 5–15 relevant tags per post. Over-tagging can dilute your SEO and clutter your site.
✅ Don’t Duplicate Categories
Avoid using the same name for both a category and a tag (e.g., “Travel”). Use tags to add nuance, like “budget travel” or “Europe.”
✅ Be Consistent
Use consistent naming conventions. Don’t mix “recipe,” “Recipe,” and “recipes” — pick one and stick with it.
✅ Avoid One-Off Tags
If a tag only applies to one post and you don’t plan to use it again, skip it. Tags are most effective when they link multiple posts.
How Tags Help SEO and Internal Linking
When used correctly, tags can improve your site’s SEO by enhancing internal linking. WordPress automatically creates a tag archive page for each tag, listing all posts that use it. This helps search engines crawl related content and improves navigation for users.
Example:
If three posts are tagged “Beginner SEO,” WordPress creates a page at yoursite.com/tag/beginner-seo/ showing all three posts.
However, if most of your tags only link to one post, these archive pages may be considered “thin content” by search engines, which can hurt your SEO.
Controlling Tag Indexing
Using SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math, you can control whether tag archive pages are indexed by search engines. For low-value or thin-content tags, set them to “noindex” to avoid SEO penalties.
When to Use Categories vs. Tags
Let’s look at a practical example from a food blog:
– Category: “Dinner Recipes”
– Tags: “Low Carb,” “Instant Pot,” “30-Minute Meals”
This structure helps users browse broad topics (via categories) and find specific recipe types (via tags).
Managing and Cleaning Up Tags
Over
