.
To tag or categorize… that is the question.
.
.
As you know, I tend to be a prolific blogger. Since the global plague threw a monkey wrench in our retirement and travel plans… I’ve posted twice a day and disproved the old adage ‘less is more ’.
.
.
But back to my question…
When you write a blog, do you tag or categorize? And what’s the difference?
My previous blog sites only offered tagging, so that’s what I’ve been doing since migrating here … but I’m wondering if I should categorize instead. Will more readers find my treasure trove of useless nonsense fascinating posts that way?
Dazzle me with your vast knowledge on the subject dear readers…
.
River's world..... 
I used to tag to keep my fiction separate from my morning coffee posts, but then realized that the posts didn’t need to be archived to that degree of precision. And now I am hardly doing either, though I punish myself frequently for my slacking.
Maybe if I was doing more reporting, as such, it would make sense to keyword things, but I don’t think people want to look up “bitching” or “damned Democrats”
I kind of like the idea that I don’t archive my posts on my PC … if WordPress or blogger go belly up, my writings disappear …
LikeLiked by 1 person
As will mine, but then I don’t ever post anything worse saving anyway.
🤣
LikeLike
I do both. Label each post under a general category and then tag away. Couldn’t tell you how either one affects readership, though; I assume more people find relevant posts based on tags, but categories help newcomers drill down to topics they find most appealing.
800 consecutive days, eh? Well, watch out: I’m aiming for 31 next month! Woot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re hot on my heels. I’ve been warned…
🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know about that. I’m only going to post ONE a day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Husband is retiring, I may be scaling back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I both tag, with some key words like humour or sarcasm as well as subject related words depending on what I am writing about, and categorize into stories, observations, or rants. Then again I don’t blog every day. kudos to you for being able to do that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I tend to blog a lot on one day and schedule ahead. I’m a font of useless posts.
😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
😆
LikeLike
And what category would you put it under? Nasty squirrel, crabby husband and Maine?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are my usual tags, yes.
😉
LikeLike
I started off creating categories and now I add tags as well. I don’t know if it helps anybody else, but it helps me when I want to search past blog entries.
Deb
LikeLiked by 1 person
I rarely do that, but I guess someone else might want to.
😉
LikeLike
I do both as well. I categorise so that my posts have some organisation; it’s also supposed to help anyone who searching your site. The tags are meant to help people who are just generally searching by topic; for instance if you put “coffee” in your search bar, you should get all the posts that have “coffee” as a tag. Cheers, Lynette
LikeLiked by 2 people
That makes sense, categories for organization and tags for searching. I’m afraid it would take too damn long to go back and start over but I may try a little organizing now. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lynette and I come from the old country of kennysaidwhat and now the two of you make up fully half of my army of followers. It’s a small universe.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Just think of it as an exclusive club.
😉
LikeLike
Woody Allen once said he would never join a club that would have him as a member. It’s good not to be Woody Allen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I don’t want to be in a club with Woody Allen… so it’s a win win.
👍
LikeLike
Fancy meeting you here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha. 🙂 I get around, but only in the best ways. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s such a pleasure to see you, you could be on everyone’s blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your very kind thoughts, Kenny. 🙂
LikeLike
As others have insinuated, are you looking for new readers, or are you just wanted to communicate with whoever happens along. I came here through mistermuse, who kept mentioning you. Also it was timing. A very prolific blogger friend ended up in the hospital for a few months, and that left a big hole in my blogging schedule. Just so happened l liked a lot of your posts, so I am still here.
As for categories and tags, I don’t particularly care how many readers I have. What I like are people who comment — yea, nay, or otherwise. I only have about 10 readers on my present blog, and my old blog is still finding readers though I don’t post on it much anymore. It spreads mostly by word of mouth.
Besides that, my tablet I use for posting is very unstable. When I try to add categories or tags the tablet crashes. Don’t know why. If I get in one category or two tags I consider myself lucky. Mostly I don’t try much anymore.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s always nice to find new readers though it’s not really an issue. I delete all business followers and like you, enjoy the interaction of commenting. Hate to say I’m glad a blogger was in the hospital, but happy you found me at the right time.
😉
LikeLike
She is back now and getting back up to speed, so I have to devote more time to Word Press now. Where will I be stealing it from. Probably sleeping less, lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s all about priorities.
😉
LikeLike
I categorize to keep my drivel organized but besides the midlife one I hate all my categories. I may change this at some point.
I read a post by Ashley who said if you use the same name for a category and a tag the algorithm gets confused. Since I have no clue what an algorithm does or doesn’t do I could care less. But because Ashley is smart, I stopped using same for both.
My two cents: categories are mostly for you. Create one for Barn Mahal, squirrel, husband and you can neatly organize in chronological order your stories on that subject.
Use tags to cast a net out into the blog world. People search tags.
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That makes sense. And since I really don’t need to categorize for myself I guess I’ll just stick to tags.
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I tag exclusively, it’s the best way to grow your blog. I have four followers, only one of whom is me. See how good?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, that’s a great testimonial for tags.
Not.
🤣
LikeLike
True that. Of course, they might be better if I posted more often, but I place more importance on the members of my blogospheric triumvirate. How’s that?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect. And we appreciate the special attention.
👍
LikeLike
I use categories.
I don’t use tags.
I don’t know which attracts more traffic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I may switch and see if it matters.
LikeLike
I Categorize and Tag. Don’t ask exactly how. It’s just on a whim, but it seems to be working.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I may try both and see what happens.
LikeLike
I do neither. I used to do both but realized I never used the features. I do text search when I want something.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hell, I do not even know what those are. Here is what I do: I write. Either it gets “found” and read, or it does not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Keeping it simple. Got it.
👍
LikeLike
I do both. Categories for broad subjects and tags for individual things (like bunny).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Because one must be able to find the bunnies.
👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
And the bar, and the doors, and the math. No really, some people like math.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Someone has to, but it’s not me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I was regularly blogging I used to do both though I had no specific reason
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never even thought about categorizing my mess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I use tags. And really, I only do it for me, so when I’m searching for something it just makes it easier for me to find it.
LikeLiked by 1 person