When we create a niche site, we work hard to stay relevant and on-topic, just like we do with writing copy. Using tags improves user experience and helps readers discover related content, keeping them engaged and deepening their connection with your brand’s story.
In this article, I’ll give you step-by-step instructions on creating tags in WordPress. But first, let’s quickly look at the difference between categories and tags and how both tools can streamline your content creation process.
Categories vs. tags in WordPress: what’s the difference?
What is a tag?
A tag is a label given to an article. Any given article can have one or several tags. For example, on a website about “Travelling with toddlers,” you might use tags like “Domestic travel,” “Cruises,” and “International travel.”
What is a category?
A category is a broader container for your articles, grouping them by subject. Each article belongs to just one category. For instance, a website about boats might use categories such as “Sailboats,” “Catamarans,” and “Motorboats.”
Should you use categories, tags, or both?
It’s easy to get confused when building a website—should you use categories, tags, or both? The short answer: both can be useful, depending on how you want to organize your content.
The key difference is that a post can have multiple tags but should only belong to one category. Categories help divide broader subjects, while tags act like keywords that link related content.
The main difference between Categories and Tags is in how they are meant to be used. A post can have many Tags but should only belong to one category.
Categories for websites with more than one subject
Let’s use an example of a website about boats. We concluded that we use “categories to group together posts in a container of our choosing”.
In our example, you could use the categories Sailboats, Catamarans and Motorboats.
Another example where categories can be useful is if you have one website with different subjects.
If you write about “Travel” and “Making Money Online” it would make sense to use different categories named “Travel” and “Make Money”.
This serves two purposes.
- On the one hand, it will be easier for visitors to find information about the topic they are interested in. They will arrive at your website and can use the navigation menu to find articles or posts of interest by searching in these two different categories: “Travel” or “Make Money”
- More importantly, it tells the search engines crawling your website that your website is about Travel and Make Money Online.
Without any categorization, you could appear unfocused and irrelevant, hurting your chances of appearing on the search engines.
So what about Tags?
Tags and niche websites – why they’re a perfect match
Tags are ideal for niche websites focusing on a single subject. Much like effective copywriting, a niche website thrives on depth and detail. Tags help you organize related content within that niche, making it easier for your readers to find exactly what they want.
Let’s say your site is about “Travel with toddlers.” This is a specific niche, but it still covers several subtopics like “Domestic travel,” “Cruises,” and “International travel.” You can use tags to group these posts together, improving user experience by making it easy for your readers to find content related to their interests.
For example, a post about a domestic cruise could have the “Domestic travel” and “Cruises” tags. When visitors click on a tag, they’re taken to a page with all posts related to that topic. This simple feature keeps your content organized and gives your audience a smooth, guided experience.
Using tags for improved user experience
Good copywriting draws readers in, but strategic tagging helps keep them engaged. Tags structure your content, helping visitors discover related articles that answer their questions or spark further interest without having to scroll through all the website posts in search of more relevant information.
This seamless browsing experience increases visitors’ time on your site and builds trust—just like well-crafted copy leads readers naturally through your message. Plus, using tags correctly can even boost your SEO, improving your content’s discoverability in search engines.
How to create tags in WordPress
Now that you understand why tags are important for your content, let’s explore how to create them in WordPress.
1. Deciding what to name your Tags
The first task is to decide how to label your different posts and articles with Tags that make sense.
Your Tags should be no more than 2-3 words. The Tags need to be specific but at the same time general enough to match more than one article. For example, I use tags such as content creation and copywriting here on Oritello.
2. Create the tags in WordPress
When you have your list of Tag names and descriptions, it is time to log into the WordPress Dashboard.
After login, click Posts > Tags.
The page that loads ask us for 3 pieces of information to create our Tags.
- Name:
Simply use the name you decided in step 1. Example: Create a Website - Slug:
Use your chosen name and all lowercase letters, and replace blank spaces with hyphens (-). Example: create-a-website - Description:
Describe what type of articles that will be given the tag you create. Not all WordPress themes use this description. Example: Tutorial on how to create a website with WordPress.
When you have completed all three fields, click Add New Tag.
Repeat this process until you have created all your Tags.
3. Assign tags to articles or posts
With Tags created, you need to start using them for your new and existing posts.
For new and existing posts, simply add the Tag to the editor as you create or edit the post.
You can also use the Quick Edit feature by going to Posts > All Posts and covering your mouse pointer over any given post.
And there you have it. You have added our Tags.
Tags created – now what?
The goal was to use tags for improved user experience.
You have now created Tags to label posts that belong together.
What happens next?
Go to your website and visit one of your posts.
The Tag you have assigned to the post will now be visible.
Try clicking the Tag. You will be taken to a page that lists all posts assigned to that particular Tag.
This is how you use tags to improve user experience—and make your website a more engaging place for your audience.
Frequently asked questions
How many Tags should I use in WordPress?
There’s no limit to the number of tags you can use but aim for tags with at least 3-5 related posts to make them useful.
What is the difference between Tags and Categories in WordPress?
Categories are broader, while tags are more specific labels that link related content together. Both can improve the structure of your website.
Are tags bad for SEO?
When used correctly, tags will help organize and structure the content on your website. This should help your SEO rather than hurt it. On the other hand, it could hurt your SEO if you create hundreds of Tags with no clear structure or value to your visitors.
Will Tags make visitors stay longer on my website?
Yes! Properly tagged content helps visitors discover more articles they’re interested in, increasing the chances they’ll stay longer and engage more deeply with your content.
Need help creating an organized, user-friendly website?
By understanding and using tags effectively, you’ll create a more organized website and enhance the overall experience for your audience—just like great copywriting keeps readers engaged, great tags keep them exploring your site.
Ready to take your content strategy to the next level? Let’s work together to create compelling content and an organized, user-friendly website. Contact us today to get started!