Some of the people I follow use a tag or label cloud. This gives a visual image of which tags are used the most (or least) by having them vary in size. I don't use other people's label clouds, so this is probably not the way to go. But first, you have to LABEL THEM. This seems really a little bit in the same ballpark as filing. When I would try to organize my office when starting a new project, I would put everything in folders according to how I thought they should be categorized. Before the project was over, I would have re-organized all the folders with different naming schemes at least twice or three times until I was able to pull up the correct folder every time. Somehow it seems like labeling or tagging my posts would be similar. And then I need to edit every one I want to tag, right? I notice that some people have gone back and done that, and I'd really be interested in finding out how one decides to tag a post. The internet of course has plenty of information. I found this website helpful, but I'm still stymied at how to begin.
Oh, and just to show how hard it would be to figure out how to label my posts, I want to throw into this post the recipe for the Caribbean Yam Salad shown in my Thanksgiving post! Some people have asked for it, so here it is:
Clean and dice enough yams to make 4 cups; steam until tender but not mushy. Chill. Whisk together 1/4 cup sesame oil, 1/4 cup tamari, 1/4 cup cider vinegar, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, dash cayenne pepper, 1 tsp each Dijon mustard and honey. Toss dressing with the yams, then add diced 1/2 cup red bell pepper, 1/4 cup dry black currants, 1/4 cup tamari pumpkin seeds, and 2 Tbsp sesame seeds. These are all really according to taste.In the picture you can see all the ingredients pretty easily, but I upped the red bell pepper and pumpkin seeds because I like both of those a lot. If you try it, let me know what you think of it. And I'm looking forward to learning what other people have found about tags, and I'd sure like to know if you use them or not, on your site or others. Thanks!
:-)
I have been wanting to tag my posts, too, but I am overwhelmed at the thought. I have no advice, but if you figure out a good way, let me know! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI would think to start tagging your posts as you go and gradually update your older posts. I don't know of any other way to do it. I don't use tags that much and with over three hundred post on the main blog I'm not sure if I will ever go back and tag those.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe, it was the oil and spices I was wondering about.
Judy
I have always tagged my posts until the last couple of ones. I decided I never use the tags anyway so why bother. If I can't remember something I posted before, I doubt anyone else will remember - so who cares if I repeat myself. I am like you with the filing method too. Organizing and reorganizing. I never get it right to suit me.
ReplyDeleteThe important thing is to start. I would start with this post, and maybe give it a few labels like:
ReplyDeletetags, names, recipe
Also, compile a long list of labels that you know you would have used already (had you been labeling), or that you expect to use in the future, and place it where you can easily see it and update it. Something like:
hikes, market, bellingham, birds, critters, food, blogging, movies, books, knitting, family, friends, injuries, imac, etc...
I don't think you can avoid the multiple refinements (i.e. second and third passes) that will occur as you get a better idea for how you want your filing system to work. I wouldn't even try to avoid the reworking because I'm guessing you will always want to work in some improvements whenever and wherever you can. So just start, and don't feel like it needs to be done all at once.
DJ you sound look like a very organized person and that's a good way of finding something right away. I used to tag my posts but it's always the same thing, dogs, cats, beach, travel and I don't think people care for it so I stopped tagging mine.
ReplyDeleteAL
Nice work done !!I do like tagging..:)
ReplyDeleteI am a bit compulsive about tagging and after almost 2 years of blogging this has proved invaluable to reference old posts.
ReplyDeleteStock up on tea and dark chocolate, play some favourite music and do it all in an afternoon :)
I use Windows Live nowadays to write my posts on or I dump them from MS Word into Windows Live and it has Categories which is a tag. You click on categories and fill in the word that best describes the post content. They have other "Tags" that I don't use because it is a link then back to an outside program. Categories works for me. It appears as a cloud on Blogger if I choose that.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the yam salad recipe – I’ll try it but I have never heard of tamari pumpkin seeds – I guess you find them at the health food store? My daughter started my blog and did all the work – she showed me how to write the categories but, for example, I don’t know how to change my heading as she did that too, or insert a Youtube or anything fancy like that.
ReplyDeleteI started tagging early on, but there is no rhyme or reason to how I've tagged. I never use it for looking anything up. I guess I figure it's there just in case.
ReplyDeleteThe recipe sounds wonderful. Maybe you could post other recipes as ya'll eat something fantastic. I know you eat healthy and eat as much fresh stuff as possible. It is a great incentive to those of us (myself) that find it too easy to fall back on those old familiar (less healthy) recipes.
I have always used tags on blogger..it is helpful..like if you click on chance as a tag you will get just blogs about him..some people use tags, and some do not. It does help me to organize my blogs..and then sometimes I just use off the wall tags..cause I can:)
ReplyDelete