Email #16: Tag! You're it!

Dear <firstname> ,
A new consumer phenomenon is called 
"tagging" or "folksonomies" (short for folks 
and taxonomy). Tagging is powerful because
consumers are creating an organizational 
structure for online content. Folksonomies 
not only enable people to file away content
 under tags, but, even better, share it with 
others by filing it under a global taxonomy
 that they created.

Here's how tagging works: using sites such 
as del.icio.us - a bookmark sharing site – 
and Flickr - a photo sharing site - consumers 
are collaborating on categorizing online content
under certain keywords, or tags. 

For instance, an individual can post photographs 
of their iPod on Flickr and file it under the tag 
"iPod." These images are now not only visible 
under the individual user's iPod tag but also under
the community iPod tag that displays all images
consumers are generating and filing under the keyword.

Tagging is catching on because it is a natural 
complement to search. Type the word "blogs" into 
Google and it can't tell if you are searching for
 information about how to launch a blog, how to 
read blogs, or just what.

Although tags are far from perfect, marketers should,
 nevertheless, be using them to keep a finger on 
the pulse of the general public. Start subscribing to
RSS feeds to monitor how consumers are tagging 
information related to your product, service, company 
or space. These are living focus groups that are 
available for free, 24/7.

From tagging, we'll be moving on to scripts in the
next email. Get your pen and paper ready!

To your successful viral campaigns,

“Your Name”
“Your Website Link”
