What are keywords?
Why should I use them?
How can keywords help me?
Keywords are tags that you place on the content you submit to Fanpop so that other fans can find it. You don't need to use a lot of them, just the relevant ones. You'll want to use words that describe what's in the content. Who is in it, what episode it's from, etc.
Example:
This example is very simple. It's an icon from the show Supernatural [keyword], the subject is Dean [keyword], it's from episode 4x18 [keyword] 'The Monster at the End of This Book' [keyword].
It's also sometimes helpful to say what kind of image it is. For icons, wallpapers, fanart and screencaps it's unnecessary because there are already categories that will sort that for you. But episode stills and promotional photos all just end up in the photo section.
Example:
The above image is a little more detailed. It's from the show Supernatural [keyword], the subject is Meg [keyword], the actress is Rachel Miner [keyword], it's from episode 6x10 [keyword] 'Caged Heat' [keyword] and it's an episode still [keyword].
In this image I put the actress's name because more than one actress has depicted this character.
Batch uploading
If you are uploading several icons at once, please make sure that your keywords are relevant to each image in the batch.
Example:
These two icons were uploaded in the same batch, they have the same keywords. But not all of the keywords are relevant to each image. They are both from the episode 'All Dogs Go to Heaven' but obviously both Sam and Dean are not in both of these icons. They should have been uploaded separately. One in a batch of 6x08 Dean icons, the other in a batch of 6x08 Sam icons.
Let's talk about why you should use keywords and how they can help you and your fellow fans.
Keywords help make your content searchable. If you're looking for something specific [an episode, character or type of image], keywords will help you find it.
Example:
Let's say that you were going to make a pick about Dean in the Supernatural episode 'The Monster at the End of This Book'. You wanted to put relevant icons on the options. In theory, the best way to find those relevant icons would be to use the 'Search Club' bar in the Supernatural Spot. You would type in Dean, The Monster at the End of this Book and/or 4x18, then choose 'images' > 'icons'.
This image has Dean in it and is from 4x18. It might be perfect for your pick. But it has no keywords at all. It would not show up in any search, no matter what you typed into the search bar. It is essentially nonexistent. Unless you happened to see this icon when it was first uploaded and showed on the front page, you'll never see it [unless of course it's reuploaded by someone else but that's a whole other issue].
This image has Dean in it and is from 4x18. But the only keyword it has is Supernatural. Which makes it pretty useless. Why would you go to the Supernatural spot and type Supernatural into the search bar? The only reason to use Supernatural in the keyword section is for outside search engines [ie Google] to be able to find it. It should never be the only keyword.
This image has Dean in it, is from 4x18 and has all the keywords necessary for you to find it! Out of the the thousands of icons that have been added to the Supernatural spot- you found the one you needed! That is the whole point of keywords. That is why they should be used with every image. Otherwise, you're just uploading air. The whole point of Fanpop is to gather content together and share it with your fellow fans. If they never see it, you're not sharing it.
Keywords would also help cut down on repeat content. If everyone used keywords and if everyone used the search bar to check to see if something has already been added [promotional photos especially!], then there wouldn't be near as many of the same images uploaded over and over and over again. I realize that's a lot to hope for but I figured I'd mention it because that is one of the ways that keywords could be useful.
I also want to give some tips on how to keyword videos. It's the same as the images but since there are no subcategories for videos like there are for images, it's more important to say what kind of video it is. Is it a fanvid? An interview? Special features? Gag reel? A scene? A promo?
Since most of the videos added tend to be fanvids, keywords that let people know what kind of video it is can be really helpful for those searching for non-fanvids.
Adding keywords is incredibly simple. All you have to do is take a moment to think about what you're uploading and what you would type into the search bar if you wanted to find it. It doesn't take that much time and is simple common courtesy.
I know that most of the people who will read this article already know the importance of keywords and use them. However, I think it might be helpful if we all pass this article along. Post links to it in spots that have poor keyword usage. Try to educate as many people as possible to why they should use keywords. Maybe we can see an improvement.
Why should I use them?
How can keywords help me?
Keywords are tags that you place on the content you submit to Fanpop so that other fans can find it. You don't need to use a lot of them, just the relevant ones. You'll want to use words that describe what's in the content. Who is in it, what episode it's from, etc.
Example:
This example is very simple. It's an icon from the show Supernatural [keyword], the subject is Dean [keyword], it's from episode 4x18 [keyword] 'The Monster at the End of This Book' [keyword].
It's also sometimes helpful to say what kind of image it is. For icons, wallpapers, fanart and screencaps it's unnecessary because there are already categories that will sort that for you. But episode stills and promotional photos all just end up in the photo section.
Example:
The above image is a little more detailed. It's from the show Supernatural [keyword], the subject is Meg [keyword], the actress is Rachel Miner [keyword], it's from episode 6x10 [keyword] 'Caged Heat' [keyword] and it's an episode still [keyword].
In this image I put the actress's name because more than one actress has depicted this character.
Batch uploading
If you are uploading several icons at once, please make sure that your keywords are relevant to each image in the batch.
Example:
These two icons were uploaded in the same batch, they have the same keywords. But not all of the keywords are relevant to each image. They are both from the episode 'All Dogs Go to Heaven' but obviously both Sam and Dean are not in both of these icons. They should have been uploaded separately. One in a batch of 6x08 Dean icons, the other in a batch of 6x08 Sam icons.
Let's talk about why you should use keywords and how they can help you and your fellow fans.
Keywords help make your content searchable. If you're looking for something specific [an episode, character or type of image], keywords will help you find it.
Example:
Let's say that you were going to make a pick about Dean in the Supernatural episode 'The Monster at the End of This Book'. You wanted to put relevant icons on the options. In theory, the best way to find those relevant icons would be to use the 'Search Club' bar in the Supernatural Spot. You would type in Dean, The Monster at the End of this Book and/or 4x18, then choose 'images' > 'icons'.
This image has Dean in it and is from 4x18. It might be perfect for your pick. But it has no keywords at all. It would not show up in any search, no matter what you typed into the search bar. It is essentially nonexistent. Unless you happened to see this icon when it was first uploaded and showed on the front page, you'll never see it [unless of course it's reuploaded by someone else but that's a whole other issue].
This image has Dean in it and is from 4x18. But the only keyword it has is Supernatural. Which makes it pretty useless. Why would you go to the Supernatural spot and type Supernatural into the search bar? The only reason to use Supernatural in the keyword section is for outside search engines [ie Google] to be able to find it. It should never be the only keyword.
This image has Dean in it, is from 4x18 and has all the keywords necessary for you to find it! Out of the the thousands of icons that have been added to the Supernatural spot- you found the one you needed! That is the whole point of keywords. That is why they should be used with every image. Otherwise, you're just uploading air. The whole point of Fanpop is to gather content together and share it with your fellow fans. If they never see it, you're not sharing it.
Keywords would also help cut down on repeat content. If everyone used keywords and if everyone used the search bar to check to see if something has already been added [promotional photos especially!], then there wouldn't be near as many of the same images uploaded over and over and over again. I realize that's a lot to hope for but I figured I'd mention it because that is one of the ways that keywords could be useful.
I also want to give some tips on how to keyword videos. It's the same as the images but since there are no subcategories for videos like there are for images, it's more important to say what kind of video it is. Is it a fanvid? An interview? Special features? Gag reel? A scene? A promo?
Since most of the videos added tend to be fanvids, keywords that let people know what kind of video it is can be really helpful for those searching for non-fanvids.
Adding keywords is incredibly simple. All you have to do is take a moment to think about what you're uploading and what you would type into the search bar if you wanted to find it. It doesn't take that much time and is simple common courtesy.
I know that most of the people who will read this article already know the importance of keywords and use them. However, I think it might be helpful if we all pass this article along. Post links to it in spots that have poor keyword usage. Try to educate as many people as possible to why they should use keywords. Maybe we can see an improvement.
Let me tell you how I first discovered fanpop. (Just bored so thought I'd write this)
I was on the net looking for pictures. I then came across a site (Which is this one really) and clicked the link.
I never knew what this site was or what and thought it was one of those many sites like twitter and Facebook.
Browsing some more I accidentally landed on someone's profile page and scrolling down say there were pic's looking like cubes. On top there were titled 'Clubs'.
I noticed a familiar icon of my favourite actor and clicked on it.
It was cool, it was like a website just full of that actors info.
I noticed they had quizzes and took part.
Than I released that you had to sign up to record what you got right/wrong etc.
Thats when I decided to log on and realised I was SOOO ADDICTED TO IT!
(Hey I don't even spend so0 much time like this on Facebook!)
So that was how I discovered Fanpop-not to dramatic or interesting, but i found my rabbit hole.
Whats yours?
I was on the net looking for pictures. I then came across a site (Which is this one really) and clicked the link.
I never knew what this site was or what and thought it was one of those many sites like twitter and Facebook.
Browsing some more I accidentally landed on someone's profile page and scrolling down say there were pic's looking like cubes. On top there were titled 'Clubs'.
I noticed a familiar icon of my favourite actor and clicked on it.
It was cool, it was like a website just full of that actors info.
I noticed they had quizzes and took part.
Than I released that you had to sign up to record what you got right/wrong etc.
Thats when I decided to log on and realised I was SOOO ADDICTED TO IT!
(Hey I don't even spend so0 much time like this on Facebook!)
So that was how I discovered Fanpop-not to dramatic or interesting, but i found my rabbit hole.
Whats yours?
Most of you probably don't care because you have a PC or don't upload images that much.
It didn't really get on my nerves before, but now I want to upload Heroes screencaps to the Heroes spot which I have a die-hard medal in and I know PC users can upload much more than five images at a time; especially if they have a die hard medal in the spot they want to upload in.
I know you can open loads of tabs but then again it is more work and annoying.
It's unfair on people who like to contribute anyway, so I hope there is some change in the image uploader for mac users.
P.S. If you joke and say I should have a PC or whatever, then very funny but no.