What’s in the Can? Why SEO Tags Are the Labels Your Content Needs

By J.E. Nickerson | Wise Thinkers Help Desk

Imagine walking into a grocery store where every can on the shelf is blank. No labels. No pictures. Just row after row of mysterious metal containers.

You pick one up. Is it peaches? Dog food? Chicken soup?

No way to tell—not without opening every single one.

This is what your content looks like to search engines (and to readers) when you don’t use SEO tags. It may be valuable. It may be exactly what someone’s looking for. But without proper labeling? It gets lost on the shelf.

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🏷️ SEO Tags Are Your Content’s Labels

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s the process of making your content easy for search engines (like Google) to find, understand, and recommend. One key piece of SEO is tagging.

Tags are like the labels on those cans. They tell both search engines andreaders:

• What your article is about

• What topics it covers

• Where it belongs on the shelf

Without tags, your article might be powerful, helpful, or beautifully written—but it’s invisible.

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📦 Think Like a Store Manager

If you were running a grocery store, you’d want every item clearly labeled. Not just for your own inventory—but so your customers can find what they need.

The same goes for your website. When you tag your articles well:

• Readers can easily explore related posts

• Your site stays organized

• Google is more likely to recommend your content to others

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🧠 How to Choose the Right Tags

Good tags are simple, relevant, and focused. For example:

• If you’re writing about character arcs, use tags like: writing tips, character development, story structure.

• If it’s a tech-related article, your tags might be: SEO basics, website tips, content strategy.

Avoid overly specific or overly vague tags like:

• stuff I learned (too vague)

• how I felt when writing this character arc scene in my fourth book chapter three (too specific)

Stick with broad themes that connect your article to others in the same category.

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🔍 Bonus: Tags Help You, Too

It’s not just about readers and Google. Tags help you stay organized. Over time, your body of work grows. Tags let you group similar pieces, track your most popular topics, and create internal links across related content—boosting your site’s value and usability.

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✍️ Final Takeaway: Don’t Leave Your Cans Blank

Your content deserves to be found. You’ve worked hard on it.

So give it the label it needs. Use clear, helpful SEO tags that tell the world what’s inside the can.

Because in a digital world full of content, a well-labeled article isn’t just easier to find—it’s more likely to be shared, clicked, and remembered.

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Is your website bringing in the traffic you want and keeping your readers hooked on your content? Want to Build a Stronger Author Presence?

If you’re ready to connect your message, your writing, and your online presence in a way that truly works, check out Site Engine Checklist for Writers and Creatives — a free resource designed to help authors like you build meaningful platforms that reflect your voice and values. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to take your next step, this guide will help you align your content, sharpen your purpose, and reach readers with clarity.

📚 And if you’re new here, I’m J.E. Nickerson — faith based author and inspirational storyteller. You can check out my books here or follow me on YouTube for more inspiration and encouragement on this writing life.