Zoints Thread Tags - Improve SEO and Search

Demo:

http://network.zoints.com/tags

A great article on the importance of tagging can be read here (http://www.shirky.com/writings/ontology_overrated.html).

The Zoints Thread Tags System will improve forum side search, SEO, and traffic for forums that choose to utilize it. And in my opinion, it's just plain cool :)

When a member creates a new thread, they can now input a series of "tags". Tags are simply keywords that describe the thread.
http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/new-thread.png


If you then go to your-forum.com/tags you will be presented with what is called a "tag cloud". The more times a tag is used, the larger the text grows. As you can see, the tags are also searchable.
http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/tag-cloud.png


Clicking on one of the tags in the cloud then lists all of the threads that are tagged with that particular keyword. The default option lists tags in a forumdisplay format. There is an option in the admincp to use a simple format.
http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/t1.png


Clicking on the thread title of one of the above threads then takes you to the thread. If you have the option on, the tags the thread are tagged with are also listed above the thread. Clicking one of those tags takes you to all the threads on the forum tagged with the same tag. Search engine spiders are going to have a field day with this :)
http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/thread-tag-display.png


The thread starter and moderation staff have a slightly different view which allows for administration of tags:
http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tag-admin.png


The forum's tags are also searchable via the search dropdown. The advanced search option allows for a variety of additional criteria to be seached for. Your members create a whole new (and highly efficient) forum search engine!
http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/t3.png


If you have the option on in the admincp and register your forum, once every hour, your tagged threads in publically viewable forums are linked via the corresponding interest tag on the Zoints Forum Network (http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=126669). For example, if you go to http://zoints.com/tag/children you will see what is pictured below. Not only is this a great relevant inbound link for SEO, but you will get traffic from Zoints direct to these threads!

Another example of this in action: http://zoints.com/tag/music

http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/zoints-tag-results.png


The admincp options
http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/at1.png


http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/at2.png


http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/at3.png


http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/at4.png


http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/at5.png


http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/at6.png

Official support for this modification will be at http://network.zoints.com in this forum (http://network.zoints.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55).


Change log:

2006/10/24 - 1.2.1
* Bugfix: breaking inline moderation when tag cloud below posts
* Bugfix: ajax input not working when tag cloud below posts
* Bugfix: seo hook effective for "results as threads" option
* Bugfix: Autogenerated tags have "quot" removed
* Bugfix: Automated template edit screwing up styles
* Improved instructions for manual template edits

2006/10/19 - 1.2.0
* Option to display results as threads
* Advanced search page
* Popular tag cloud pagination
* Popular tags displayed in forums
* Option to display tags in showthread at the top/bottom
* Fix for vbadvanced products navbar links
* Other minor fixes and tweaks

2006/10/02 - 1.1.2
* Bugfix: Foreign language characters in thread description
* Bugfix: Commas showing up when removing first tag in showthread via ajax
* Removing some redundancy in the tags AJAX removal

2006/09/30 - 1.1.1
* Bugfix: Preventing all HTML from being parsed inside tag descriptions

2006/09/30 - 1.1.0
* Adding and deleting tags from showthread via AJAX
* Mass-deleting single tags from entire cloud for admins
* Automatically generate tags for older threads (with option to show or hide on main cloud)
* Automatically stripping out tiny (2 or less characters) tags

2006/09/28 - 1.0.8
* Minor bugfix

2006/09/28 - 1.0.7
* Bugfix for required tagging

2006/09/28 - 1.0.6
* Character replacements
* Tag limit per thread
* Option to require tags for a thread
* Bugfix where stopwords may not have worked properly
* Bugfix for vBSEO / main cloud not showing up

2006/09/xx - 1.0.5
* Unreleased dev build

2006/09/23 - 1.0.4
* Ability to add multiple tags via showthread.php
* Ability to exclude certain forums from utilizing tags
* Addition of custom hook for developers to change thread urls

2006/09/21 - 1.0.3
* Ability to add and remove tags from showthread.php
* Bugfix for older versions of mysql

2006/09/21 - 1.0.2
* Small bugfix

2006/09/20 - 1.0.1
* Showing tags list on showthread.php

2006/09/20 - 1.0.0
* Initial release

This is something I've been wanting to try for some time. I will give it a go. Thanks.

You're very welcome :) This is one of those modifications we feel are vital to the evolution of forums. Feedback is greatly appreciated so we can continue to improve it.

Nice one ;)

I've got this, of course, and the girls love it. It's just that I need to go through some old threads and re-tag because the auto keywords this hack picks up is not keywordish enough and doesn't describe the thread well. Other than that, it's a joy!

I'm testing it and having problems.

When I post a new thread, I get a blank screen.
When I advanced edit the first post in a thread, I get a blank screen.
When I show a thread with the "Show keywords" set to Yes, I get a blank screen.

Even the header template section doesn't show?

Any ideas?

Two things come to mind:

1. Did you upload the files in the upload folder?

2. Did you upload the .htaccess files and aren't using the mod_rewrite?

I did load the .htaccess file (by mistake - I just FTP'd the whole tags folder). But, when I found the problem, I checked the files transferred and deleted the two that should not have been there - including .htaccess.

I'm also using the basic URL structure.

Very strange. A few more questions:

1. Are you running any sort of template cache or compression hacks?

2. Do you get the options in the admincp?

3. Are you running an apache setup?

4. You may want to try uninstalling and then reinstalling the product.

If you would like to setup some temp accounts, i'd be happy to take a look.

I did load the .htaccess file (by mistake - I just FTP'd the whole tags folder). But, when I found the problem, I checked the files transferred and deleted the two that should not have been there - including .htaccess.

Actually, only the .htaccess file should have been deleted. That .js file needs to stay (if you did indeed delete that). I see in the readme why you might think that should be deleted and i'll fix that.

Very strange. A few more questions:

1. Are you running any sort of template cache or compression hacks? NO

2. Do you get the options in the admincp? YES

3. Are you running an apache setup? YES

4. You may want to try uninstalling and then reinstalling the product.

If you would like to setup some temp accounts, i'd be happy to take a look.The reinstall didn't solve it. I'm going to have to go over the template changes, I think.

Getting kinda late here. I'll tackle it again tomorrow with a fresh head and report back.

Thanks for the help so far.

An update:

None of the template changes as per the read me were implimented. I've inserted them manually, but I've still got the same problem.

I'm going to strip everything out, redownload the install files from Zoints, and see if that solves it.

If anyone else wants to know how to break it, simply forget to FTP the class_zoints.php file in the includes folder. :o

Works great!!!

/hits install

Heheh, glad you got everything worked out! :)

*edit*

Did you modify the url structure? You're showing http://www.theforumsa.co.za/forums/tags/index.php?tag=/affiliation/ which is not what we designed.

Heheh, glad you got everything worked out! :)

*edit*

Did you modify the url structure? You're showing http://www.theforumsa.co.za/forums/tags/index.php?tag=/affiliation/ which is not what we designed.

Up all night again, eh David? :cool:

Actually, only the .htaccess file should have been deleted. That .js file needs to stay (if you did indeed delete that). I see in the readme why you might think that should be deleted and i'll fix that.Just picked up on that .js file now. I had deleted it (and not FTP'd it on the re-install). I suggest in the readme going this route:

1. rename "upload" folder to your forum root folder. (commonly "forums")
2. if you are not using the mod_rewrite option, delete the .htaccess file in the "tags" folder.
3. FTP blah blah. (It get's a bit long winded explain how to make sure you FTP into the right level so that the folders mesh).

I'll cut you a deal. I'll try to stay dof (local slang for stupid) a while longer and beta test your manuals if you like. :D

Heheh, glad you got everything worked out! :)

*edit*

Did you modify the url structure? You're showing http://www.theforumsa.co.za/forums/tags/index.php?tag=/affiliation/ which is not what we designed.The readme goes: /upload/tags/index.php => <forum dir>/tags/index.phpIt seems to be working. /forums is my forum root folder - see comment above. Let's see if the feed back to Zoints works, but the rest seems to be running great.

Up all night again, eh David? :cool:8 hours to fix this problem? I'm not that dof. If it had broken the forum it would have been an all nighter until it was done, for sure. But I believe we're more productive with healthy doses of beauty sleep if we can manage it that way.

I'm not saying we don't need to push ourselves - Last night I pushed hard to register my forum with Zoints, mainly so that I had the groundwork laid to impliment my next step in solving the problem while I was fresh this morning.

Five hours later Zoints closes for new site registrations. If I'd left it 'till later.....

The more I push myself the luckier I get.

I was actually asking David C, since I was talking to him in the middle of the night and saw he was still online when I got up. It seems that alot of us are "burning the midnight oil lately".

I'm glad you got the problem solved Dave!

I was actually asking David C, since I was talking to him in the middle of the night and saw he was still online when I got up. It seems that alot of us are "burning the midnight oil lately".

I'm glad you got the problem solved Dave!Oops and thanks - I've got to cut down on my speed reading.

I've installed it and it's quite good... my members are not the web-2.0-hyped type so I haven't heard that much feedback from them about it but I'm liking it so far. SEO-Wise I can see why it could make a good impact.

Up all night again, eh David? :cool:

Heheh, not quite all night. But sleep isn't something I get much of lately.

Feedback and suggestions

Thanks Dave. Now that you've got it working right, we have a huge update coming today ;) I'll incorporate your suggestions into the readme prior to release, thanks!

I've installed it and it's quite good... my members are not the web-2.0-hyped type so I haven't heard that much feedback from them about it but I'm liking it so far. SEO-Wise I can see why it could make a good impact.

Glad to hear you're enjoying it. Obviously i'm biased, but I think this will turn out to be one of the most beneficial SEO mods to hit forums in a LONG time.

Well! This positive feedback about this mod is quite enough for me. I'm going to install it tomorrow, I do believe.

Now that you've got it working right, we have a huge update coming today ;) /Throws laptop on floor.

/Throws laptop on floor.

If it makes you feel any better, I want to have a few aestetics fixed with the new build before its released, so it's slightly delayed. :(

- New thread results page: http://forums.livingwithstyle.com/tags/help -- this hack now creates almost infinite subforums that are relevant to each other. The SEO implications are enormous.

- Forum by forum tags: http://forums.livingwithstyle.com/f23/ (Scroll all the way to the bottom). The placement of that cloud above the reply button is one of the reasons its delayed.

- More functionality enhancements.

I hope to have it released sometime Wednesday.

/Throws laptop on floor.


lmao... poor guy.

I couldn't see the first link, but the second looks great.

If I may suggest a feature, what about AJAX tag "autofill"?, the way it works in the advanced search for usernames?

Call me stupid, but how do I edit the first post to update the hack?

In the meantime, you can get the updated files attached to the bottom of this post. And here is the new info:

Major Update - Zoints Tags 1.2

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback for this next version. Special thanks go out to Buro9.

Changelog

2006/10/19 - 1.2.0
* Option to display results as threads
* Advanced search page
* Popular tag cloud pagination
* Popular tags displayed in forums
* Option to display tags in showthread at the top/bottom
* Fix for vbadvanced products navbar links
* Other minor fixes and tweaks

Upgrade Instructions

1. Upload all files
2. Import new product and select "yes" to overwrite.

The new features

When you go to the admincp options for the thread tags, you are now presented with the option to display tag results in a forumdisplay format:

http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/t6.png


When that is selected (it is the default now), then your tag results will look much like your forum display as seen below:

http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/t1.png

This is exciting, because you now have a near infinite number of virtual forums with highly relevant threads within your forum. The SEO implications are enormous.


Two more options in the admincp are shown below.

http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/t7.png


As you can see in the dropdown, you now have the option to have a tag cloud above threads on forumdisplay.php, below threads on forumdisplay.php, or off. The same goes for the tags on showthread. The image below is an example of the tag cloud below threads on forumdisplay. Please note that these are tags just for that specific forum. So you now have forum by forum tag clouds :cool:

http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/t2.png


We now allow for you to have a "popular tag cloud" pagination. You set the number of pages to display :)

http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/t5.png


We have implemented a powerful "advanced" search for tags. This is especially exciting in that the search is very efficient. This was tested on a big board with over 400,000 theads. Each thread was autotagged yet searches took less than a second whereas normal searches bog down. In other words, if your members tag threads well, then you now have a much more efficient, human generated search engine.

http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/t3.png


You can search to see what tags a member has used, tagged threads with more than X replies, and all the other advanced search functionality. :cool:

http://img3.zoints.com/forums/tags/t4.png

Enjoy!

You cant edit?, that's weird. I'm sure Joey will look into it.

You cant edit?, that's weird. I'm sure Joey will look into it.

That he did :) It's fixed now and the first post has been updated.

Awesome mod!
Looks something like a mix of similar topics with the archive :)
Great job, i'll keep an eye on how the bots are reacting to it.
Btw, what templates did you edit to display adsense, i couldn't find define('THIS_SCRIPT', which i'm using to show adsense only on pages with content.

Found it.
It can be done in the zointstags_tagcloud and zointstags_viewtag templates :)
One other (probably stupid) question.
I like the way the urls are shown like this: tags/honda/ instead of this: tags/index.php/honda/ but only the latter is working, even with the option to use mod_rewrite on :(
You have to ability to change the appearance of the thread URLs for the tags by adding a plugin
to the hook "zointstags_threadurl". In this hook, $thread is an array containing all the info
from the 'thread' table. You should set $thread['url'] to the customized URL. Please make this
a non-relative URL if possible.
I've checked this out but i'll probably destroy it.

I installed last night.

Nice easy hack to install and everything works as expected. :)

Really useful this hack, been working on one of my own as well that makes use of the tagging, can be seen here --> http://www.pooq.co.uk/testing/tag.php

Just refining it a bit and then will have the code up here

Really useful this hack, been working on one of my own as well that makes use of the tagging, can be seen here --> http://www.pooq.co.uk/testing/tag.php

Just refining it a bit and then will have the code up here

That is too cute Jim!

Yeap, very web 2.0, you're planning on releasing it or it's going to be exclusive to your site?

Yeap, very web 2.0, you're planning on releasing it or it's going to be exclusive to your site?

Soon as I figure out how to package it up for a release I will be, got no idea at moment about creating hooks / custom php within vbulletin etc! Learning as I go :p

Really useful this hack, been working on one of my own as well that makes use of the tagging, can be seen here --> http://www.pooq.co.uk/testing/tag.php

Just refining it a bit and then will have the code up here

Very cool! :)

One thing, be careful of the url structures. Your hack is currently creating different urls for the same content which can be problematic. Examples:

http://www.pooq.co.uk/board/tags/index.php?tag=football (yours)

http://www.pooq.co.uk/board/tags/index.php?tag=/football/ (ours, though we do have the different display options)

1.2.1 has been released. It's primarily a bugfix release:

2006/10/24 - 1.2.1
* Bugfix: breaking inline moderation when tag cloud below posts
* Bugfix: ajax input not working when tag cloud below posts
* Bugfix: seo hook effective for "results as threads" option
* Bugfix: Autogenerated tags have "quot" removed
* Bugfix: Automated template edit screwing up styles
* Improved instructions for manual template edits

I like the way the urls are shown like this: tags/honda/ instead of this: tags/index.php/honda/ but only the latter is working, even with the option to use mod_rewrite on :(

Couple questions:

1. Did you upload the .htaccess file?
2. Does your server have mod_rewite enabled?

Yep, mod_rewrite is enabled and i uploaded the .htaccess file as well :)

Directions have been posted for changing the colors of the links in the tag cloud (http://network.zoints.com/showpost.php?p=14906&postcount=6) :cool:

one of the best vbulletin hacks :)