The tag cloud is also called the tag cloud. It is usually located on the side of the site, sometimes it can be found under the navigation. Such a menu is very popular on blogs, where it can be used to pull out publications with specific tags or on any specific topic. Nevertheless, despite its convenience, such a system cannot replace full page navigation. It can be used only to facilitate the search on the site. Some links on the tag cloud may be larger, some may be smaller. It depends on the popularity of the topic. The more popular the topic, the larger the tag itself on the cloud.
There are several ways to create a tag cloud for a site. It will turn out very beautiful if it is made using flash. An elegant three-dimensional video will look great on the blog. The links of such a menu are constantly on the move, and they can also be controlled using the cursor. A tag cloud of this type is also suitable for a thematic site.
Installing a flash cloud on Word Press is easy. To do this, you just need to download and install a special plugin on the site. Links will automatically appear in the video. For any other site, you can find ready-made modules and scripts, the appearance of which can be improved if there is some knowledge in the field of programming.
Before you can create a tag cloud in this way, you need to make sure that the script is compatible with the engine on which the site or blog is running. Some users have already seen that not every module is suitable in any particular case. So, a script for Joomla! may not work at all in another system. If you want, then another option or path is possible - create a cloud yourself. Here you can do with knowledge of plain HTML. In this case, the cloud will function perfectly on any site.
The first thing to do: determine the background or image on which the tags will be located. The easiest way to do this is to select a picture and format it in the Photoshop program. The dimensions of the image should be calculated in advance so that it does not violate the design of the web resource. When the background is ready, create an HTML table. The dimensions of the table should also correspond to the space allotted for the cloud. It should have three columns and two rows. When the basis for placing links is ready, you need to register tags. Links are made in the same way as in the regular menu.
By clicking on the tag, the user will be taken to the desired page. Of course, such a system is very simple. There will be no colorful effects on it. However, such a tag cloud is perfect for any site, whether it is a regular HTML site or hosted on Joomla! and other CMS. Some particularly important labels can be independently selected using the style sheet. Automatically, they will not increase or stand out, of course.
To establish a more beautiful cloud, you can also use a PHP script. Such a system will be dynamic. Sometimes a script cannot be delivered due to limited memory in PHP. You can solve this problem by contacting your hosting provider. In most cases, it is possible to achieve an expansion in the amount of memory. A full navigation tag cloud will never replace. Therefore, in the first place, it is better to take care of a good menu on the site.
If we are talking about a blog, then several systems should be thought out here in order to navigate the materials. In addition to the usual system of categories, you need to design a menu for the most read materials, as well as for new articles. If the page is very long, it makes sense to put a button that will take the reader directly to the top of the site. Convenient navigation is one of the factors attracting users. If the site has a good and clear menu, then visitors can linger on it for a long time. Provided, of course, that the web resource contains useful information.