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Tag Cloud
A tag cloud or word cloud (or weighted list in visual design) is a visual depiction of user-generated tags, or simply the
word content of a site, typically used to describe the content of web sites. Tags are usually single words and are normally
listed alphabetically, and the importance of a tag is shown with font size or color. Thus, it is possible to find a tag
alphabetically and by popularity. The tags are usually hyperlinks that lead to a collection of items that are associated with
a tag. (Wikipedia) As such, tag clouds may have an SEO impact, especially if they are 'server side generated.' 'Client' or 'Browser' generated clouds are generated after page loud, and therefore have no impact on SEO as the featured SEO keywords on the tag cloud are not visible to search spiders 'in advance.'
The first use of tag clouds on a high-profile website was on the photo sharing site Flickr, created by Flickr co-founder and
interaction designer Stewart Butterfield.[2] That implementation was based on Jim Flanagan's Search Referral
Zeitgeist, a visualization of Web site referrers. Tag clouds have also been popularized by Del.icio.us and Technorati, among
others.
Tag clouds, in sum, may have some utility both for the real searchers on your website - by identifying actual SEO / keywords. And for SEO purposes for helping you to identify and lead search spiders deeper into your site. Of especially import is the fact that tag clouds utilize the A HREF or LINK tag, and that tag has special weight for search spiders, especially Google.
By Noelle Decambra
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