Categories or Tag Clouds

Let’s talk about something of old and something anew. Clearly, usage of categories are really old. We categorize related information into their appropriate sections. For instance, the location map could be categorized into the Contact Us page.

I believe due to the existence of blogs, there was a need for a more complex and detail way of sorting information. When you write about the company, is it the history? is the vision? or is it the team of the company?

Simple grouping has been turned into clouds of keywords. These keywords are to cater the demand and non-decisive nature of a user. Instead of spending five minutes to find the correct category, you start your search with keywords and later narrowing down your answer through the results.

One of the difficulties I had of starting this blog anew for 2007 was, what should I use to archive my entries? Should I sort my entries using categories or should I install a plugin and rely heavily on keywords; the current trend today.

Both had its strengths and weaknesses and by my own decision, I decided to go with the plain common categories. Reason being was simple, if I couldn’t make up my mind what was the intention or goal or lesson of each entry I posted then I’m actually blogging an entry for the mere sake of it.

Whenever I type an entry, it touches on several topics without a doubt. However, in school we are taught how to write good compositions and stories. One of the tips teachers shared was that a good start needs a good end. The end is really the closing of the beginning.

Therefore, this entry I’m typing is really a lesson I’m trying to share with everyone. Categories and tag clouds are related to website design, website development and even blog development. But what I’m really trying to do is share the experience I learnt in deciding what was right for me and why did I make that choice.

And one of the biggest weaknesses I’d like to share regarding tag clouds is that, many Malaysians online don’t know how to use it. This is proven in the Visit Malaysia Cyber Campaign project.

So think about it. Are categories or tag clouds better for your website?

Posted by Danny Foo on February 5, 2007 | Filed Under Website Lessons | Bookmark and Share |

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    • Comments

    2 Responses to “Categories or Tag Clouds”

    1. Response #1 by blogjunkie on February 6th, 2007

      I’ve decided that I’ll use both in my next redesign. However, I’ll use categories for the post TYPE (blog, aside, review, etc) and use tags to reflect the blog content (css, blogging, design, etc). Check out an example at Binary Bonsai (http://binarybonsai.com/archives/).

      Don’t ask me when the next redesign will be though…

    2. Response #2 by Danny Foo on February 6th, 2007

      Lol! Same same. :)


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