Steemit Explainer -- Resolving Another Usage Mystery: Tagging, Tags Count, and Categorizing Correctly
Did you ever wonder about the old "You selected 6 tags, but maximum tag number is 5" problem on Steemit? Then this post is for you!
Here is how it usually happens:
You have written a beautifully worde, engaging, highly appreciated, informative blog post for your dear fellow-Steemians, you have selected a catchy headline and maybe an even more catchy and eye-pleasing image too. Now you are about to publish your lovely post. To do so, you need tags or a tag (at least one, maximum five). So you selected four or five tags and hit the Post button. Steemit throws the 6-tags-error -- and you don't know what you did wrong...
Here's the answer: somewhere in your post, you -- maybe inadvertently -- included an additional tag (or multiple additional tags). A tag is keyword-type of word with a preceeding hash sign (or "#") and recognized by Steemit as a category already existing somewhere within the decentralized application. Any tag included anywhere within your blog post is also counted as a tag, and Steemit wants you to use a "Tag (up to 5 tags)" for a total of 5 tags maximum including any portions recognized as a tag within your blog post.
In general, tagging on Steemit works pretty much the same as on Twitter -- and, like it or not, that's where most Steemit users come from, so they are likely to have experience with how tagging works over there:
- using a tag causes the post or entry to be grouped into and displayed under that tag (or category keyword) used
- all tags display in blue inside the text and are clickable (much like a general hyperlink) to display search hits
- users monitoring those tags for news will find your blog post if it is tagged appropriately
The first of your tags used for a Steemit post acts like a primary key and will be married to your post forever for categorization and data management in Steemit's block index . The first tag cannot be changed, nor removed.
Extra tip: as the '=,introduceyourself tag on Steemit is reserved to new user introductions only and some fellow-Steemians monitor this tag against spammy behaviour and may reprimand you for what appears to be an abuse, you want to be extra careful to not quote the '=,introduceyourself tag with a real hash sign in front of the word anywhere on Steemit unless you're actually writing a real introduction. (On Steemit, there's a Netiquette or best practice rule to keep that tag free from repeat posts by the same user over and over again.)
For Steemit power users: before tagging, look up the correct spelling/usage of a tag, that is you want to make sure whether it's called altcoin or uses a plural -s, if the tag you want is called scam or scamming -- or, if your name is Anthony Weiner, if it's sex or sexting :)
You want to absolutely avoid mis-spelling of a tag, thereby losing the benefits correct tagging provides to your Steemit post, and inadvertently creating a new category no one will ever visit, and litter Steemit with 'category' overload of little or no value.
To get the best exposure for your blog post, go and check which tags are more popular than others and select the more popular ones more likely to bring more readers within those initial 7 days during which Upvotes are counted and you'll get tipped accordingly.
Upvote this post only if you happen to like it!
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