Member since:
December 1, 2005

Tag! You're it!

December 08, 2005 03:07 PM EST (Updated: December 08, 2005 03:08 PM EST)

views: 4 | rating: 8.3/10 (3 votes) | comments: 6

I've been really enjoying the "tag" field on gather posts, but I found that a lot of folks are not using this field as effectively as they could.

A tag is reminiscent of a library catalogue keyword. Think of your posts that way -- you are setting up the subject/keyword search for a very funky self-serve library.

So, are you publishing a recipe? Consider listing key ingredients, methods, contexts. Swiss fondue with beer?

recipe, fondue, swiss, cheese, beer, entertaining, bread, party

How about a political piece on Condi's statements on rendition in Iraq?

Condi, Rice, EU, Europe, rendition, Iraq, torture, justice, arrest, terrorism, newsmakers, cabinet, bush administration, secretary of state

Or a photo of a sunset over Lake Champlain in Vermont?

photography, landscape, Vermont, New York, lake, lake champlain, sunset, tourism, New England

Creative use of tags -- especially tags that might not appear as text in your article -- help us gatherers glean more from the gather.com site!

Tags: search, gather, photography, article, how-to tips, categorization, tag, blogging, taxonomy, community, how to gather, technology, personal gadgets, site comments

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Comments: 6

0000-vaugheyj-0000 Dec 8, 2005, 4:27pm EST

nice post. I have seen some tags that aren't word, or phrases that I would ever loo up. WHile mine could be better, I decided to have fun with this one long one "who is going to do a search for the phrase great undertakings i ask you"

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Dante Blando Dec 8, 2005, 10:57pm EST

I like the presmise of your piece. However, you typed "Condi". I mean, no one but tabloid journalists would call the Secretary of State that name. Right?

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Mike Keacher Dec 9, 2005, 12:57am EST

Them and Steve Earle.

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Monica Kennedy Dec 9, 2005, 4:18am EST

I think you have a great explanation here of how the tags can be used. I look at it as advertizing my work - the more tags you use, the more likely my article will be found and read by someone. I don't know if I am like everyone else, but I use the popular tags section to find things to read more than the browse by topic. It seems to narrow it down more for me that way.

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Shava Nerad Dec 9, 2005, 7:45am EST

Actually, the tag line (appropriately enough) of the Rice for President committee is "Run, Condi, Run!" The president calls her that; apparently it's her nickname among her dearest friends. many people seem to call her that, including CNN (no comment). I could (but I won't) make an argument that it makes a better tag because people know how to spell it. I mean, "Condoleezza?"

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Andrew B. Dec 16, 2005, 4:58pm EST

Thank you for your great explanation of how our Tags work. Tags will become an even more important part of our site in the coming months. Having a good understanding of how to use them is a key part to finding content that interests you and for your content to be found. Stay Tuned!

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