Integration with vBulletin - Zoints Thread Tags - GREAT for SEO

Demo:

http://network.zoints.com/tags

If you choose to send tags to Zoints (optional) you can see what we do with them and how we send you traffic and nice inbound links: http://zoints.com

A great article on the importance of tagging can be read here.

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.



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.



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.



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



The thread starter and moderation staff have a slightly different view which allows for administration of tags:



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!



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. 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




The admincp options

















Official support for this modification will be at http://network.zoints.com in this forum.


Change log:
2008/05/01 - 1.2.3
* vBulletin CSRF Protocol Compatible
2007/12/24 - 1.2.2
* Security patch

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

[Strike3ForumsMH]

Originally Posted by JWL

I have a question, and I would appreciate some very serious and honest answers


How well does this really work and does it really improve site visits and crawling?

My personal observation is it looks ascetically unappealing with all those tags at the base of your forum, but that is just me.

I am trying to start a new site and really am bent to know end to get of off the ground and search able. So I am really wondering if this is simple "Snake Oil" No offense is intended

www.gotrackday.com

I think "snake oil" is a bit harsh. But it does help some with crawling, depending on your setup and how well indexed you already are.... and for some like Loco it does not. Just like any option regarding SEO improvements, it's not one size fits all or a guaranteed traffic boom and love fest with Google (many who use vBSEO can attest to that) but for many it does help some or else we wouldn't have the number of installs we do have. I personally can't say whether or not it would be for you, but if you desire it just for SEO purposes and dislike many aspects of it, it might not be the best solution for you. While SEO is a component it is not the sole component as thread tagging is also really geared at connecting threads for users with the whole web 2.0 search concept in mind.

- Reid

[JWL]

Originally Posted by Loco.M

when I had zoints tags installed all it did was add tons of duplicate content in the search engine results
I got little to zero traffic from the zoints network.

Thanks so much for the answer, :up: I figured as much

Unfortunatly, there is so much out there to give your the "IMPRESSION" of such claims, I have determined that it is indeed, it is not something I will invest any time or money in. I have seen some time determined results with as you satated Zero Traffic.

Strike3ForumsMH
I make no apology for the use of snake oil, i stated very clearly "No offense is intended" I totally understand how you may take that as an attack, but that is not my issue. My issue is the question I posed, does it work? I appreciate your candid reply and hope the best with your efforts on the product and the best of luck to who ever buys the product.

[Mark.B]

If you're looking for tons of traffic from the Zoints network, in my experience that simply doesn't happen. I don't think Zoints is big enough yet.

If you are not currently very well indexed, then the tags can certainly help. They also provide a potentially more efficient means of searching the forums, depending on how well you use them.

I have stuck with them into 3.7, despite 3.7 having a built in tags system, because this one has the ability to auto-tag threads based on the thread titles....vital if, like me, you have members who would probably never tag their own threads.

[JWL]

Originally Posted by Mark.B

If you're looking for tons of traffic from the Zoints network, in my experience that simply doesn't happen. I don't think Zoints is big enough yet.

If you are not currently very well indexed, then the tags can certainly help. They also provide a potentially more efficient means of searching the forums, depending on how well you use them.

I have stuck with them into 3.7, despite 3.7 having a built in tags system, because this one has the ability to auto-tag threads based on the thread titles....vital if, like me, you have members who would probably never tag their own threads.

This site is brand new, I have others that have faired well, This is the one I believ will be a contender. I have site mapped it, started pushing it and linking it, adding content and as stated just started.

The good old fashion way is content, content and more content, along with word of mouth and making it know at aother sites.

I do not believe for one moment that any one peice is the golden egg. Zoints can be a good thing, so can vbseo, I am just not convinced yet. I went as far as spednign the $300 with yahoo on another site (I guess thats hwy they call it yahoo) yahoo's like me

It takes time to build a site, time and ultamatly commitment

[rinkrat]

I am getting tons of errors even though I uninstalled this. How can I stop these errors?

THanks


Invalid SQL:



SELECT * FROM zoints_tag WHERE threadid = 73194 ORDER BY tag;



MySQL Error : Table 'vb.zoints_tag' doesn't exist

Error Number : 1146

Date : Tuesday, February 12th 2008 @ 05:01:25 PM

Script : http://www.letsgokings.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=73194

Referrer : http://www.letsgokings.com/bbs/index.php

IP Address :

Username :

Classname : vb_database

MySQL Version : 4.1.20

================================================== =

[Strike3ForumsMH]

Originally Posted by JWL

Thanks so much for the answer, :up: I figured as much

Unfortunatly, there is so much out there to give your the "IMPRESSION" of such claims, I have determined that it is indeed, it is not something I will invest any time or money in. I have seen some time determined results with as you satated Zero Traffic.

Strike3ForumsMH
I make no apology for the use of snake oil, i stated very clearly "No offense is intended" I totally understand how you may take that as an attack, but that is not my issue. My issue is the question I posed, does it work? I appreciate your candid reply and hope the best with your efforts on the product and the best of luck to who ever buys the product.

I know you meant no offense by it, but I stated my opinions regarding the comment as it is a free product that a lot of us believe in so I can't help but feel a little bias. Thanks the well wishes though, I wish nothing the best with the start of your new forum.

Originally Posted by Mark.B

If you're looking for tons of traffic from the Zoints network, in my experience that simply doesn't happen. I don't think Zoints is big enough yet.

If you are not currently very well indexed, then the tags can certainly help. They also provide a potentially more efficient means of searching the forums, depending on how well you use them.

I have stuck with them into 3.7, despite 3.7 having a built in tags system, because this one has the ability to auto-tag threads based on the thread titles....vital if, like me, you have members who would probably never tag their own threads.

Mark makes some good points here. The traffic from Zoints.com will certainly vary, due to the size of the network itself and the popularity of the tags you have (for instance for my baseball forum, traffic rose in October from Zoints.com.) And tags are a really great way for members to search, if the forum threads are consistently and appropriately tagged of course.

Originally Posted by JWL

This site is brand new, I have others that have faired well, This is the one I believ will be a contender. I have site mapped it, started pushing it and linking it, adding content and as stated just started.

The good old fashion way is content, content and more content, along with word of mouth and making it know at aother sites.

I do not believe for one moment that any one peice is the golden egg. Zoints can be a good thing, so can vbseo, I am just not convinced yet. I went as far as spednign the $300 with yahoo on another site (I guess thats hwy they call it yahoo) yahoo's like me

It takes time to build a site, time and ultamatly commitment

Yep, Zoints Thread Tags is certainly not the golden egg but for some it can help with SEO purposes and for all it can help with internal site search for the members. Whether you use Thread Tags or not, I hope you find a solution that is right for your forums JWL.

Originally Posted by rinkrat

I am getting tons of errors even though I uninstalled this. How can I stop these errors?

THanks


Invalid SQL:



SELECT * FROM zoints_tag WHERE threadid = 73194 ORDER BY tag;



MySQL Error : Table 'vb.zoints_tag' doesn't exist

Error Number : 1146

Date : Tuesday, February 12th 2008 @ 05:01:25 PM

Script : http://www.letsgokings.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=73194

Referrer : http://www.letsgokings.com/bbs/index.php

IP Address :

Username :

Classname : vb_database

MySQL Version : 4.1.20

================================================== =

I am a bit spaced right now due to too many exams and too much work, so I can't recall if there is a specific fix for that error number but if memory serves me right.... I believe those are due to the tags system still being indexed with search engines and those engines following up on now dead links.

- Reid

[jeddahbikers]

It was a great idea on 2006 , but for now i rather update to vB3.7

Thanks anyway,

[yingzhou]

this mod Character Replacements is not support "á à ả ã ạ" character? I cant convert those to "a"

[Strike3ForumsMH]

Originally Posted by jeddahbikers

It was a great idea on 2006 , but for now i rather update to vB3.7

Thanks anyway,

We did put out a security fix, still support the product and have plans for it's future so it's not a dead idea, but to each their own. You can continue using tags on vB 3.70 over their now included take on tags, but if you prefer to go with what comes with it I hope it meets your expectations jeddah.

Originally Posted by yingzhou

this mod Character Replacements is not support "? ? ả ? ạ" character? I cant convert those to "a"

Could you please open a ticket so we can take a peak?

http://zoints.com/support.z

Thanks ying.

- Reid

[GuaRRand]

Originally Posted by Strike3ForumsMH

Hi there GuarRRand,

I can help you out, no problem. Let me know what step you are having trouble on or any specific things that confused you that I might be able to clarify.

- Reid

Originally Posted by GuaRRand

Ok thanks alot.
I'm gonna give it a shot tomorrow evening. if i run into anything and dont knock myself out, i'll let you know.

Ok, with a bit of a delay, i installed it.

I got a question (which might already been answered, but its alot to read int his topic, so here goes)

1. when i enable the product, instead of the tags at the bottom of pages, i get my navbar, imagethumbnails (from photoplog) and such.
(see attached image)

If you could help me with this prob, i think it'll work fine.

thanks