by The Computing Australia Group | What Should You
Look For in a Network
Website visitors—and search engines—both prefer content that’s organised in a clear, predictable way. In WordPress, Categories and Tags are the two built-in tools that help you structure blog content. Used well, they improve navigation, help Google understand topical relevance, and create a stronger internal linking foundation. Used poorly, they can lead to thin archive pages, keyword cannibalisation, index bloat, and duplicate/near-duplicate pages competing in search results.
So, should you use Categories or Tags for SEO?
The best answer for most websites: use both, but with a strategy. Categories should carry the weight of your site structure. Tags should add precision—sparingly—without creating clutter or low-value archive pages.
Below is our Perth SEO team’s modern, practical guide to using WordPress taxonomies to support better rankings and a better user experience.
What Are Categories and Tags in WordPress?
In WordPress, both Categories and Tags are taxonomies—a system used to group and organise content. They often look similar on the surface (a list of linked terms), but they serve different purposes..
Categories: Your Primary Topics (Broad + Hierarchical)
- They are hierarchical (you can have parent and child categories).
- Every WordPress post must have at least one category.
- They usually represent the main themes you publish about.
Example (sports accessories store):
- Category: Shoes
- Sub-category: Running Shoes
- Sub-category: Basketball Shoes
Categories are best when they represent core topics aligned with what your business offers.
Tags: Specific Labels (Narrow + Non-Hierarchical)
Tags describe your content at a granular level—specific features, variations, or angles.
- They are not hierarchical.
- They are optional.
- They tend to map closely to long-tail keywords or content attributes.
- Tags: Nike women’s shoes, Adidas men’s shoes, trail running, wide fit, neutral support
The Real SEO Question: Why Do Categories and Tags Matter?
Search engines don’t “rank categories” or “rank tags” by default. What they rank are pages—and WordPress generates pages for both category archives and tag archives.
That means when you create:
Categories: Your Primary Topics (Broad + Hierarchical)
-
A category called Shoes, WordPress generates an archive page like:
yourwebsite.com/category/shoes/ -
A tag called Nike women’s shoes, WordPress generates an archive page like:
yourwebsite.com/tag/nike-womens-shoes/
So the core SEO goal becomes:
Build an intentional taxonomy that improves topical relevance and internal linking—without creating index clutter or duplicate content issues.
Categories vs Tags: Key Differences (Quick Comparison)
Categories are best for:
- Top-level navigation and blog structure
- Site architecture (how content is grouped)
- Helping Google understand your core topics
- Building “topic hubs” (great for content marketing and service-based SEO)
Tags are best for:
- Cross-linking related posts across categories
- Capturing specific subtopics and attributes
- Supporting internal search and user discovery
- Adding context when used consistently (not randomly)
Should You Use Categories or Tags for SEO?
The modern recommendation: use both—strategically
In most cases:
- Use Categories as your primary content structure (3–10 well-chosen topics).
- Use Tags sparingly for repeated, useful labels that genuinely help users navigate.
Done right, this supports SEO in several ways:
- Clear topical signals: Categories define what your site is “about.”
- Better crawl paths: Internal linking from archives helps Google discover content.
- Improved UX: Users can find related posts faster, reducing bounce and increasing engagement.
- Improved UX: Users can find related posts faster, reducing bounce and increasing engagement.
- Content clustering: You can build authority around themes by grouping related content.
But there’s a catch:
If your tag pages are thin, duplicated, or excessive, they can dilute your SEO.
That’s why the best practice is not “use tags” but “use tags with rules.”
A Practical Taxonomy Strategy That Works
Before you publish (or before you clean up), define the structure first. Here’s a proven approach.
Step 1: Choose 3–8 Core Categories That Match Business Intent
Your categories should align with:
- Your services/products
- Your audience’s problems
- Your long-term content plan
For a managed IT provider, categories might be:
- Cyber Security
- Cloud Services
- IT Support
- Microsoft 365
- Networking
- Business Continuity
For a marketing/SEO agency, categories might be:
- SEO
- Google Ads
- Social Media
- Content Marketing
- Website Design
Step 2: Use Sub-Categories When There’s a Clear Hierarchy
Sub-categories are useful when:
- You have enough content volume in a parent category to justify deeper grouping
- The relationship is clearly “parent → child”
- Users genuinely benefit from the additional level
- Category: SEO
- Sub-category: Technical SEO
- Sub-category: Local SEO
- Sub-category: eCommerce SEO
Step 3: Create a Tag “Rulebook” (and stick to it)
A tag should exist only if it meets at least one of these tests:
Tag Test A: Will we reuse it?
If you’re only going to use a tag once, don’t create it.
If it doesn’t help a visitor explore related content, it’s not helping UX.
Tag Test C: Does it represent a consistent attribute?
Good tags are repeatable labels: brand names, methods, tools, locations, industries, use-cases—depending on your site.
Examples of strong tag sets (choose what fits your niche):
- Tools: “GA4”, “Search Console”, “WordPress”, “Shopify”
- Industries: “construction”, “healthcare”, “accounting”
- Attributes: “checklist”, “template”, “case study”, “how-to”
- Platforms: “Microsoft 365”, “Azure”, “AWS”
- Locations (sparingly): “Perth”, “Fremantle”, “Joondalup” (only if you consistently write location-specific content)
Best Practices for Categories and Tags (SEO-First)
1) Keep Category Count Reasonable (Start Small)
Too many categories makes your blog feel scattered and unstructured. In most cases:
- Start with 3–5 categories
- Grow to 8–10 categories if your content volume supports it
2) Keep Tags Even More Disciplined
Tags can get out of hand quickly because they’re optional and easy to create on the fly.
A practical guideline:
- Aim for 0–6 tags per post
- Rarely exceed 10 tags, even for long posts
- Avoid one-off tags that generate thin pages
3) Avoid Duplicate or Near-Duplicate Terms
Don’t create:
- Category “Shoe” and tag “Shoes”
- Tag “table” and tag “tables”
- Tag “IT security” and tag “cyber security” if they serve the same purpose
This leads to:
- Multiple archive pages targeting the same concept
- Cannibalisation (your own pages competing in Google)
- Confusing navigation for users
Pick a preferred term and standardise it.
4) Don’t Assign Posts to Multiple Unrelated Categories
WordPress allows multiple categories per post, but it’s usually best to keep:
- One primary category per post
- Optionally a secondary category only when it truly belongs
Why? Because too many category assignments create:
- Overlapping archives that look identical
- Unclear topical focus
- Potential duplication and messy internal linking
If you need extra classification, use a Processes or a tag—not three different top-level categories.
5) Make Your Archive Pages Worth Indexing (or Noindex Them)
This is where modern SEO strategy matters most.
By default, category and tag archives often contain:
- A title (e.g., “Shoes”)
- A list of excerpts
That’s not always enough to deserve a spot in Google.
Your choice:
- Option A (Recommended for many sites): Build category pages into real “topic hubs”
- Option B: Set some archive pages (often tags) to noindex to avoid thin content issues
Option A: Turn Categories into Topic Hubs
For key categories, add:
- A short intro (what the topic covers)
- Links to cornerstone articles
- FAQs (if relevant)
- A “start here” section for new readers
If your category page becomes genuinely useful, it can rank on its own and drive strong internal linking.
Option B: Noindex Tag Archives (common on service sites)
Many business sites do best with:
- Categories indexed (especially if developed)
- Tag archives set to noindex, follow (so links still help discovery)
This prevents index bloat while still letting tag links support crawl paths.
(Your best approach depends on your site size, content quality, and whether your archives are adding unique value.)
6) Use Keywords in Categories/Tags—But Don’t Over-Optimise
Yes, keywords in taxonomies can help clarity and relevance. But avoid:
- Keyword stuffing
- Slight variations of the same keyword
- Creating tags purely to chase rankings
Think user-first: if it improves navigation and accurately describes content, it will usually support SEO.
7) Be Careful Using Categories in URLs
WordPress can include categories in post URLs, for example:
- /category/shoes/running-shoes/best-trail-shoes/
This can create issues:
- Longer URLs (less readable and harder to share)
- Problems if you later rename categories
- Extra redirect work and potential broken links
A clean structure often performs better long-term:
- Longer URLs (less readable and harder to share)
- Problems if you later rename categories
- Extra redirect work and potential broken links
A clean structure often performs better long-term:
- /best-trail-running-shoes/
If you do include categories in URLs, treat category changes as a migration project: map redirects properly and monitor Search Console.
8) Canonicals, Pagination, and Archive SEO Settings
If your archive pages are indexed, make sure you manage:
- Canonical tags (avoid duplicate URLs)
- Pagination (page 2/3/4 should be crawlable but not competing)
- Meta titles/descriptions for top categories
- Robots rules (noindex thin archives)
Most SEO plugins provide controls here (e.g., whether to index tag archives).
A Recommended Setup for Most WordPress Sites
If you want a safe, effective baseline:
A clean default configuration
- 5–10 Categories max, aligned with your service/product pillars
- Sub-categories only when you have enough content volume
- Tags limited to recurring, useful labels
- Tag archives set to noindex unless you actively build them out
- Category archives either:
- built into topic hubs (best), or
- kept minimal but not thin (still add short intros)
What to do with “Uncategorised”
Never leave posts in “Uncategorised.” It looks unprofessional and wastes a taxonomy slot.
Instead:
- Rename “Uncategorised” to something meaningful (if needed), or
- Ensure every post is assigned intentionally before publishing
Common Mistakes That Hurt SEO (And How to Fix Them)
Mistake 1: Hundreds of tags with one post each
Fix: Merge tags, delete unused ones, and redirect or let them 404 (depending on your setup). Then set tag archives to noindex unless you have a plan to build them.
Mistake 2: Category and tag duplicates (same keyword)
Mistake 3: Thin category pages that could be strong landing pages
Mistake 4: Posts assigned to multiple categories “just in case”
Fix: Choose a single primary category. Use tags for secondary context.
Mistake 5: Changing taxonomy structure without redirects
Fix: When renaming or deleting category/tag slugs, implement 301 redirects and update internal links.
How to Think About Taxonomies Like Google Does
Google’s goal is to understand:
- What your site covers overall
- How content relates
- Which pages are most authoritative for a topic
A tidy taxonomy supports that by creating:
- Strong internal link pathways
- Clear topical clustering
- Reduced duplication and noise
That’s how you turn a blog from “a list of posts” into a structured content system that performs in search.
Should you use Categories or Tags? Though it’s not compulsory to use tags in WordPress, we recommend using both for ideal SEO benefits. To understand how both taxonomies tie in up with your site SEO, contact us or email us at sales@computingaustralia.group.
Jargon Buster
Taxonomies – is the method in which a website organises its content and lists pages.
Plugins – are a piece of software that is added to a WordPress website for additional functions.
301 redirect – is a permanent redirect to a new page that ensures the link equity is also transferred.
Chris Karapetcoff
FAQ
Should I use categories or tags for SEO?
Use both, but with a strategy. Categories should define your main content topics, while tags add specific context (e.g., tools, brands, use-cases) without creating clutter.
How many categories should a WordPress blog have?
A good starting point is 3–5 categories, scaling to 8–10 if your content volume supports it. Too many categories can make your site feel disorganised and create thin archive pages.
How many tags should I add to a post?
Ideally 0–6 tags per post. For very long posts, you may use more, but try not to exceed 10. Only create tags you’ll reuse across multiple posts.
Do tag pages cause duplicate content issues?
They can. Tag and category archives often list similar posts, which may create near-duplicate archive pages and index bloat. If your tag archives are thin, consider setting them to noindex, follow (while keeping categories indexed and improved).
Should I include categories in my URL structure?
Usually no. Including categories can create long URLs and makes changes risky—if you rename categories later, you’ll need 301 redirects. Clean, stable post URLs are typically better for SEO and maintenance.
