The itch to write

We recently launched post tagging. I've been keeping an eye on how people are using tags and tag clouds, and I think I can help you get the most out of the new feature. How should you tag your posts?

1. Tag with multiple tags. Assume you'll be looking for a post and you will not remember which tags it has. If you tag with most characteristics of the post, it'll be easier to find in the future. Example: Imagine you had a holiday with your friends in Tignes. Go crazy on the tags: tignes, ski, snowboard, snow, ross, rachel, chandler, phoebe, holiday.
2. Use short tag names. You don't need to include several concepts on one tag. Spread them out. Instead of "ski holiday on tignes", use "ski, holiday, tignes". In the near future we'll allow you to combine tags when searching for posts.
3. Use tags common to other blog authors on the internet. If you are responding to someone's post or writing about something that's spreading through the net, tag with the same tags. Look at the original post for the tags, or follow what's being talked about in technorati.
4. Every so often -- say, every few months -- take a look at your tags page (only when you are logged in). Merge tags that are similar, by renaming the duplicate tag to the new name. Imagine you have "holiday" and "holidays". Rename "holiday" to "holidays".