Using Tags Effectively

Choose the right tags to help users discover your characters and set accurate expectations.

Why Tags Matter

Tags are crucial for character discovery. They help users:

  • Find characters that match their interests
  • Filter search results
  • Understand character type at a glance
  • Avoid content they're not interested in

Good tags = more discovery = more engagement with your character.

Types of Tags

Genre Tags

The setting or world type.

  • Fantasy: Magic, elves, dragons, medieval
  • Sci-Fi: Space, technology, future, aliens
  • Modern: Contemporary setting, real world
  • Historical: Past time periods
  • Post-Apocalyptic: After-disaster scenarios
  • Horror: Scary, thriller, psychological
  • Romance: Love-focused stories
  • Mystery: Detective, crime, investigation

Character Type Tags

What role the character plays.

  • Assistant: Helpful, supportive
  • Companion: Friend, partner
  • Mentor: Teacher, guide
  • Rival: Competitor, challenger
  • Villain: Antagonist
  • Hero: Protagonist
  • Student: Learning, inexperienced

Personality Tags

Core personality traits.

  • Friendly: Warm, welcoming
  • Serious: No-nonsense, focused
  • Funny: Humorous, comedic
  • Shy: Introverted, reserved
  • Confident: Self-assured, bold
  • Mysterious: Enigmatic, secretive
  • Tsundere: Initially cold, secretly caring
  • Yandere: Obsessive love

Setting Tags

Specific locations or contexts.

  • School: Academy, university
  • Office: Workplace, corporate
  • Tavern: Fantasy inn, bar
  • Space: Spaceship, station
  • Cyberpunk: High-tech, low-life
  • Steampunk: Victorian + steam tech
  • Medieval: Knights, castles

Fandom Tags

Based on existing media.

  • Anime series names
  • Game titles
  • Book/movie franchises
  • OC: Original Character (not from existing media)

Relationship Tags

User's relationship to character.

  • Stranger: First meeting
  • Friend: Established friendship
  • Lover: Romantic relationship
  • Enemy: Adversarial
  • Family: Related characters

How Many Tags?

Sweet Spot: 5-10 Tags

  • Too Few (<3): Hard to discover, missing context
  • Just Right (5-10): Good balance
  • Too Many (>15): Looks spammy, dilutes focus

Priority Order

  1. Genre (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Modern)
  2. Character Type (Assistant, Mentor, Rival)
  3. Main Personality (Friendly, Serious, Shy)
  4. Setting (School, Space, Medieval)
  5. Fandom (if applicable)
  6. Additional traits (fill to 8-10 total)

Tag Best Practices

✅ DO

  • Be Accurate: Tags should honestly describe the character
  • Be Specific: "Cyberpunk Detective" > just "Detective"
  • Use Popular Tags: Check what others use for discoverability
  • Mix Categories: Include genre, personality, and setting
  • Update Tags: Refine as you learn what works

❌ DON'T

  • Tag Spam: Don't add every possible tag
  • Misleading Tags: Don't tag "Romance" if there's no romance
  • Only Generic Tags: Avoid just "AI", "Chat", "Character"
  • Irrelevant Fandoms: Don't tag unrelated anime/games
  • Duplicate Tags: "Fantasy" + "Fantasy World" is redundant

Example Tag Sets

Fantasy Warrior

Fantasy, Medieval, Warrior, Female, Serious, Combat, Mentor, OC, Adventure, Magic

Why it works: Clear genre, type, personality, and context

Sci-Fi AI Assistant

Sci-Fi, AI, Space, Assistant, Friendly, Helpful, Technology, Spaceship, Female Voice, OC

Why it works: Specific niche (AI assistant in space), clear purpose

Modern College Student

Modern, School, Student, Shy, Friendly, Slice of Life, Female, College, OC, Romance

Why it works: Contemporary, relatable, clear personality

Anime-Inspired Tsundere

Anime, Tsundere, School, Female, Romance, Competitive, Modern, OC, Comedy

Why it works: Clear anime archetype, setting, and tone

Common Tagging Mistakes

1. Too Vague

Character, AI, Chat, Person

Problem: Could describe any character, no useful information

2. Tag Overload

Fantasy, Magic, Elf, Female, Archer, Warrior, Fighter, Combat, Adventure, Forest, Nature, Green Eyes, Long Hair, Beautiful, Tall, Brave, Strong, Independent, Friendly, Kind, Helpful...

Problem: Way too many tags, looks spammy

3. Misleading

Romance, Love, Dating (on a character that's a professional detective with no romance)

Problem: Sets false expectations, frustrates users

4. Irrelevant Fandoms

Naruto, One Piece, Dragon Ball (on an original sci-fi character with no relation to these)

Problem: Clickbait tagging, damages trust

Tag Discovery Strategy

Research Popular Tags

  1. Search for similar characters
  2. Note which tags they use
  3. See which tags appear most frequently
  4. Use those tags if they fit your character

Test and Iterate

  1. Start with 8-10 tags
  2. Monitor which searches find your character
  3. Add tags for niches you're missing
  4. Remove tags that don't drive relevant traffic

Balance Broad and Niche

  • Broad tags: "Fantasy", "Modern" (high search volume, more competition)
  • Niche tags: "Cyberpunk Detective", "Space Pirate" (lower volume, less competition)
  • Best strategy: Mix both

Special Tags

NSFW Tag

Special tag that requires explicit flagging. See NSFW Guidelines for details.

  • Automatically added when you mark character as NSFW
  • Allows users to filter adult content
  • Required for adult-oriented characters

OC (Original Character)

Use "OC" tag for original characters not from existing media.

  • Helps users find original content
  • Distinguishes from fandom characters
  • Generally encouraged for unique creations

Tags and SEO

Tags Help Discovery

Tags affect how characters appear in:

  • Platform search results
  • Category browsing
  • Related character suggestions
  • Tag-based filtering

Keyword Relevance

Think about what users search for:

  • "Fantasy elf" not just "Elf"
  • "Detective" not just "Police"
  • "Tsundere" if that's the personality type
  • Use terms your target audience uses

Updating Tags

When to Update

  • Low discovery rate
  • Wrong audience finding your character
  • Character evolution (updates to personality/setting)
  • New popular tags emerge in your niche

A/B Testing Tags

  1. Note current engagement rate
  2. Change 2-3 tags
  3. Wait 1-2 weeks
  4. Compare engagement
  5. Keep changes if improvement, revert if not
💡 Pro Tip: Look at the most popular characters in your niche. What tags do they use? Those tags have proven search value - use them if they fit your character.
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