[Sigia-l] using the term "keyword"

[Eric Reiss]

I assume you're wondering whether to use "tags" as an alternative.

"Tags" is used by WordPress and other blogging tools, plus Flickr and
other media-sharing pages.

"Keywords" is an official HTML name for a type of metadata. It is also
used by Microsoft to mark documents (see "Properties" in any Office
app.) Google has a "keyword analyzer" as part of its analytics package.

The word "keyword" suggests that words are involved. "Tag" does not.
We've discovered that many relatively new users over the age of 30 do
not understand what a "tag" is. Some have suggested that this has
something to do with graffiti.

So, I'd say "tag" is colloquial, and "keyword" is more technically
accurate. As a result, the answer to your question depends on the
following:

1) what kind of app are you dealing with? A social app or something
else?
2) what is your user demographic?
3) which word will create the least confusion?

Personally, I'd almost always vote for "keyword" as I see "tag" as
current slang, but not necessarily of lasting usage. But hey, language
isn't static - I may change my mind next year :)

Cheers,
Eric

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Eric Reiss
CEO
The FatDUX Group
Copenhagen, Denmark
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mobile: (+45) 20 12 88 44
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-----Original Message-----
From: sigia-l-bounces at asis.org [mailto:sigia-l-bounces at asis.org] On
Behalf Of Dan Chamberlain
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 14:31 PM
To: 'Sigia-l at asis.org'
Subject: [Sigia-l] using the term "keyword"

We have a Communications team that still favors the term "Keyword". Does
the term "Keyword" have any meaning to users? If so, how do you use it?

Do you use it as a way to direct traffic on your Web site?

Dan Chamberlain
Internet Strategy
Dominion Resources Services, Inc.
701 East Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804.771.4629
8.736.4629
NYSE: (D<http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=D>)
www.dom.com



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