Tag Clouds

[Tim]

I noticed with the new upgrade HM has tagging and a tag cloud (http://forums.hostmatrix.org/tags.php) (it was under the search drop down). I can see the use of tags to aid search engines, sort things, etc., but my question is, what good is a tag cloud?

I've never actually seen them used other than on some social sites, and I've never really found a use for them--other than visual appeal.


-Do you find tag clouds useful?
-Do you use tag clouds on your blog/website?

[kadhal]

I really dont think Tag Cloud is much of a use for a forum. It might help a non frequent user . I still dont understand what these groups (http://forums.hostmatrix.org/group.php)are there for though.

[Tim]

:P.

I guess vBulletin tried to turn into a facebook-like-app regarding that. I am totally starting the Super Cool Group (R).

kadhal, which websites have you found tags useful in?

[alphonse]

I think tag clouds are not useful for anything but determining the most famous tags around, but otherwise quite useless.

[nafi]

Tag clouds, IMHO, is simply an exercise for the search engines. There is no way that a normal person can properly utilize a tag cloud. People don't like reading clouds. We read and understand lists - nice organised ones.

The search engines, however, read EVERYTHING. So they're happy to grind through the clouds of anchor texts, classifying the website's pages as it goes.

Tag clouds only became popular because of the huge boost it gave sites in the SERPS. And anyway, I think those days of awesome gains - just because you implemented a tag cloud - are just about over.