1. Cleaning up your
TAGS &
CATEGORIES

2. What does good classification
look like?

3. Megamenus are distinctive,
relevant and timely

4. Topic pages are
robust and useful

5. Topic indexes feature
clear, well-populated topics

6. Link aggregators are relevant

7. Coming soon: Related posts

8. The Classification Continuum
Entity tag Concept tag Subcategory Category
Specific Broad
+ Plentiful + Rare

9. Entity Concept (tag)
A noun with a specific, typically An abstract noun representing
physical manifestation. an idea or issue.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Foundations
Proposition 19 Ballot initiatives
Michael Bloomberg 2010 elections
Washington Metro Area Transit Authority Public transportation
Chinatown Neighborhoods
2010 U.N. AIDS Summit Meetings

10. Subcategory
A concept that’s too big for its britches.
Illegal immigration
Ocean acidification
Lifelong learning

11. Category
One of 4 or 5 distinct terms that
can describe all your posts.
Technology
Science
Politics
Economy

12. The Classification Follies

13. Duplicative mega-menus

14. Unhelpful topic index
too short! that’s the ticket! too long!

15. Single-use tags

16. Tags unrelated to your mission

17. Tag names that lack context

18. “Meta” tags

19. Tags that are actually features

20. How to get there (I)
A step-by-step audit

21. 1. Weed out overlapping tags.

22. 2. Make your tag names
search-friendly.
(Advisory Neighborhood Commissions)
(2010 New York State Elections)
(Immigrations & Customs Enforcement)
(Joslin Diabetes Center)

23. 3. Eliminate weak, thinly-
populated tags.

24. 4. Change overweight
concepts to subcategories.

25. 5. Improve your mega-menus.

26. 6. Refresh your Don’t Miss
topics weekly.

27. How to get there (II)
Questions to ask for every post

28. Which category
does this match?
Tip: Aim for 1 category per post.

29. Is this tag central to the post?
Tip: Users should expect to see the post on the topic page for the tag.

30. Does Wordpress auto-
complete the tag?
Tip: If not, you’re creating a new tag. Tread carefully.

31. If it’s a new tag,
is it likely to recur?
Tip: If you don’t know, wait. It’s easy to tag old posts.

32. Do you have more than
6 tags on the post?
Tip: Between 2 and 6 is ideal. Fewer’s fine. More? Use your best judgment.

33. Questions!