If you run a Ghost blog, tags are tiny but mighty. They organize your content, power tag pages, and create internal links that help readers (and Google) discover more of your work. When a post ships with zero tags, you lose all of that.

In this guide, you’ll learn why untagged posts hurt discoverability, how to tag smarter, and the fastest way to find and fix untagged posts—using Ghostboard’s SEO report as your weekly action list.

Let’s clean up that taxonomy. 🏷️⚡

Why untagged posts hurt (SEO + UX)

Think of tags as your blog’s internal navigation and topic map. They generate tag archive pages and link related posts together. That structure sends clear signals to users and search engines about what each post is “about.”

• Weaker internal linking. Google relies on internal links to find, understand, and evaluate pages. No tags = fewer topical links = weaker signals.
• Lower discovery from tag pages. Ghost renders tag pages by default; posts without tags won’t appear there—so fewer browse paths, fewer pageviews per session.
• Messy content structure. Ungrouped posts make it harder to build topical clusters, which many SEOs use to strengthen relevance and distribute link equity.

Bottom line: untagged posts are lonely islands in your site architecture. Tag them and they become part of a connected content system.

What tags do in Ghost (quick refresher)

Ghost’s tags are flexible labels you assign to posts (and optionally pages). They:

• Create public tag pages (e.g., /tag/your-tag/) that list all posts with that tag.
• Provide metadata per tag (name, description, image) that can enrich UX and structured data.
• Are easy to manage in Ghost Admin → Tags (see counts, edit settings).

Pro tip: Themes can output tag lists with the {{tags}} helper (linked to their tag pages by default). That’s built-in internal linking you get “for free” when you tag posts.

When is “no tag” acceptable?

• Standalone pages (about, legal, pricing) often don’t need tags and may be excluded from feeds and archives by design. Posts, however, usually benefit from tags because they’re part of a topical library readers browse.

Rule of thumb: Tag posts. Leave many pages untagged unless a tag adds real value.

How to add tags in Ghost (5 seconds)

1. Open your post in the Ghost editor.
2. Click ⚙️ Post settings (top right).
3. Under Tags, select existing tags or create new ones.
4. Save and update.

Ghost recommends completing relevant tag metadata for a better reader experience and richer structured data.

How to find untagged posts (fast)

You could scroll through your entire archive manually… or you can use this 3-step workflow to surface and fix untagged posts in minutes.

Open Ghostboard → SEO report (your “to-fix” queue)

Ghostboard’s SEO report centralizes common on-page issues so you can jump straight to problem posts. Use it as your weekly QA for SEO hygiene—including taxonomy fixes like untagged posts.

If you manage tag hygiene at scale, also open Ghostboard → Tags report to spot unused/less-used tags and overall tag health. It’s perfect for finding tag gaps you should consolidate or expand.

Then fix inside Ghost → update post

Open each flagged post, add 1–3 precise tags that truly match the topic, update, and move on.

How many tags per post?

Stay practical: 1–3 primary tags usually give you clarity without noise.

If you’re running a magazine-style site, you might need more—but aim for precision over volume. Too many tags can fragment your archives and dilute topical signals. (Ghostboard’s Tags report helps reveal “zombie” tags to prune.)

Smart tag strategy (so you rank and readers explore)

Use tags as topic hubs (not keywords stuffing):

• Reflect real topics users search. If multiple posts target variants of “Ghost SEO,” use a ghost-seo tag to cluster them.
• Balance breadth and depth. Avoid dozens of one-post tags. Build tags that host several good posts each.
• Keep names short. One to two words is best for scannability and design.
• Document your canon. Maintain a short list of “approved tags” so authors don’t invent synonyms.

All of this improves internal linking and site structure—two pillars Google repeatedly highlights.

Common mistakes (and simple fixes)

• No tags at all. Quick win: add 1–3 meaningful tags per post.
• Synonyms everywhere. Consolidate (how-to, howtos, tutorials → how-to).
• Over-tagging. Ten+ tags per post dilutes clusters; trim.
• Vague tags. misc, random help nobody—rename or remove.
• Forgetting tag descriptions. Useful for design/SEO on tag pages; fill them in Ghost Admin.

FAQ

Do tags directly boost rankings?
Tags themselves aren’t a magic ranking switch. Their value is structural: they create internal links and topic hubs that help users and Google. That indirectly supports SEO.

How many tags should I use?
Start with 1–3 per post. Expand only when it clearly helps readers. Avoid one-off tags.

What if I have hundreds of legacy posts?
Use Ghostboard’s SEO report to generate a weekly to-fix list and prioritize high-traffic posts first. Supplement with the Tags report to merge/retire weak tags.

Pre-publish checklist ✅

• Post has 1–3 accurate tags (reflects real topics).
• Tags match site taxonomy (no synonyms/duplicates).
• Tag descriptions/images (where useful) are set in Ghost Admin.
• Post links to 2–3 related posts in the same tag cluster.
• Added to your weekly Ghostboard SEO report queue for follow-up.

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