Adding Context to Sitecore Content

A description of tagging content in Sitecore without using the terms ‘big data’ or ‘metadata’

May 20, 2013 1

Sitecore Enterprise Web CMS

• Popular .NET Web Content Management System for mid-to-large organizations

• Provides friendly tools for non-technical Content Authors and Marketers

• Can be customized and extended to meet almost any conceivable business need

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What is a Tag in Sitecore?

A tag is a word that describes an item• An item is a structured unit of content in Sitecore• An item can be assigned any number of tags• Each tag can describe any attribute of the item

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Tags vs. Sitecore Content Tree

Tags are index terms assigned to content items• Non-hierarchical keywords that provide context• Used to improve search results• Helps people find relevant content quickly • Content indexes are becoming increasingly important

The Content Tree uses hierarchical categorization• The Content Tree is more like a Table of Contents• Parent-child categorizations are becoming less

important as content sets grow large and complex 4

Why Tag Content?

Tags provide context and relevancy to content• Improves search results for visitors• Makes content easier and quicker to find• Supports Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

• Can provide visitors with a Tag Cloud to navigate site• Visitors can quickly perceive the most prominent keywords• Visitors can quickly access topics of interest

Search Rankings are becoming more important • Sitecore supports large and complex content sets• Millions of items can now be stored in ‘buckets’• Using trees to organize data is no longer practical

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The Art of Tagging

Define and then stick to your tagging system• Determine how tags will be created and assigned• Internal, or collaborative with registered users• If internal, identify tags that make sense to you

• Determine if tag names will be singular or plural• Is the tag for an item or what an item is one of?

• Determine if tag names will be lowercase• Does your site employ case-sensitive searching?

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Guidelines for Tags in Sitecore

Use simple, descriptive & memorable tag names• Use a single word instead of a phrase• Only use spaces and hyphens for punctuation• Include company, brand & product names• Minimize the use of abbreviations

Be consistent in your use of tags• Try to use less than 12 tags for a single content item• Determine whether to assign tags to items or controls

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Managing Tags in Sitecore

Sitecore developers can create tag commands*• Some commands enable users to manage tags• Users could view all existing tag names• Users could add new tags without navigating the tree• Users could rename and delete tags in the tag pool• Admins could restrict access to tag commands

• Other commands enable users to assign tags• Users could assign tags to content items• Users could assign tags to controls that render content

*Requires custom development - See Developers’ Appendix

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Tags can be Assigned to Controls

Tags can be Sitecore items themselves• Tag items can be managed in the Content Tree• Tag items can exist in one or more Sitecore ‘buckets’• Tag items can have fields to indicate scope of context

Tags can be a property of a Sitecore control• Managed through the Control Properties dialog box• Supports assigning context of content on that page• Supports personalization through Sitecore DMS• Users assign tags in the Page Editor Floating Toolbars

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Using Tag Commands in Sitecore

Sitecore developers can add tag commands to tools*

• Commands that assign tags to items can be added to…• The Content Editor Ribbon • The Content Editor Quick Action Bar • The Content Tree Shortcut Menu• The Page Editor Ribbon

• Commands that assign tags to controls can be added to…• Page Editor Floating Toolbars

* Requires custom development - See Developers’ Appendix

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Scoring Content in Sitecore

Sitecore developers can provide tag scoring*• A field is added to the data template for Tag items• Users would use a simple scale to score, like 1 – 5

Extends tagging beyond just using keywords• Use scoring to supplement simple keyword tagging• Score shows degree that item relates to keyword• Allows for finer degree of relevance• Enables prioritizing items in search results

* Requires custom development - See Bibliography

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Using the Content Editor to Tag

Content items can be tagged from the Ribbon*• Tag commands can be added to the Ribbon• Users can add and remove tags for the selected item• Users can assign tags with a checklist field• Permissions can be used to restrict access

• Users can change the score weight of a tag for an item

Items can be tagged from the Content Tree*• Users can use the context menu or Quick Action Bar• Tags remain constant for the item across the site• Tag scores remain constant for the item across the site

* Requires custom development - See Developers’ Appendix

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Using the Page Editor to Tag

Content Items can be tagged from the Ribbon*• Same functionality as Content Editor Ribbon

• Users can add new tags without using Content Editor

Controls can be tagged from Floating Toolbars*• Field Editor pop-up displays tags checklist• Users can assign tags to renderings instead of items• Tags can change depending on context of content• Tag scores can change depending on context• Permissions can be used to restrict access

* Requires custom development - See Developers’ Appendix

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Tagging Items vs. Controls

Tag Controls to index the context of an item• Content can be displayed on multiple web pages• The same content can have multiple contexts• Tags assigned to content items provide a single context• Tags assigned to renderings support multiple contexts

Tags support DMS when assigned to controls• Sitecore users assign in Page Editor Floating Toolbars• Tags can work in concert with site personalization• Search results can be personalized for the visitor 14

Tag Storage in Sitecore

Tags can be stored in various locations• Sitecore Master/Web databases• Sitecore Core database• External databases• XML files in file system

Guidelines for Tag Storage• Review business requirements with stakeholders• Keep things as simple as possible

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Using Tags with Sitecore

Make tagging easy for Sitecore users• Store all tags in one location• Make it easy for users to manage tags• Make it easy for users to assign tags to content

Understand your authoring environment• Content Authors who use the Content Editor• Content Authors who use the Page Editor• Web Designers who can only access Page Editor• Marketers who can access both Editors 16

Adding Context to Sitecore Fields

Steps to add context to a Sitecore field• Log on to the Sitecore Desktop as an admin • Enable Standard Fields in the Ribbon’s View tab• Find the Help section of the target template field

Options for adding context to a field• Use Short Description to add text next to the field• Use Long Description to add a pop-up window of

text when users point at the field name• Use Help Link to add a link to the field name that

directs the user to another internal or external page

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Tagging Content in Sitecore 7

Sitecore 7 provides additional support for tags• Tags can be used to refine search results with facets• Tags can be used to boost items in search results• Users can assign tags as a bulk operation• Users perform a search and display results• Users use facets to refine search results• Users apply “Add Tag” bulk operation to results

• Users can store tags in a file system or external DBs• Lucene and Solr can display both in search results 18

In Summary

• Consistency is the most important part of tagging• Several options exist for tagging content in Sitecore• Decide whether to assign tags to items or controls• Assign tags to controls to support multiple contexts• Consider using scoring for finer degrees of context

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Developers’ Appendix

Table of Contents• Creating Tag Items in Sitecore – Slide 25• Creating Tag Properties in Sitecore – Slide 26• Creating Sitecore Tag Commands – Slide 27• Adding Commands to Tools– Slide 28

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Creating Tag Items in Sitecore

Create a container item in the Content Tree• Should be parallel to, not nested under, Home item• Can be made a bucket if many child tag items exist

Create a data template for tags• Should minimally contain name and value fields• Use this to create tag items under the container

Add a Tags checklist field to content templates• Add checklist field to base templates for content • Set the datasource to the container (tags’ parent)

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Creating Tag Properties in Sitecore

Create Sitecore tag items from preceding topic• Create container, data template and tag items

Create a rendering parameter template• Add a checklist field that points to container as source• Assign Standard Rendering Parameters as base

Assign your data template to a rendering control • Go to the control definition item in the Content Tree• Add your template as the value for Parameters Template• View Control Properties dialog box to see tags checklist 22

Creating Sitecore Tag Commands

Sitecore Marketplace• Meta-Tags shared source module• Simple Tracking Tags shared source module• MetaTag Manager third-party module• Taxonomy shared source module

23Download slide presentation to view URLs

Adding Commands to Tools

Sitecore-related Blogs• Add a Command to the Sitecore Item Context Menu• All About the Content Editor Ribbon in the Sitecore AS

P.NET CMS• Sitecore CMS 6.4 Core Database Changes• Sitecore CMS 6.4: Page Editor Commands

24Download slide presentation to view URLs

Caveat Emptor

There are many ways to manage tagging for Sitecore sites• Skilled developers can provide other solutions• Review your tagging needs with your Sitecore partner• Review proposed changes with all stakeholders• Implement new configurations on a test system firstThis presentation is intended to be academic• To enhance public knowledge of tagging issues• To promote a better understanding of tagging in SitecoreAuthor cannot guarantee accuracy or fitness for your site• Author makes no representations or warranties• Author disclaims any liability if you act on this information

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More Topics from TICAll Sitecore-related SlideShares from TIChttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/presentations

How to Assure Success for a New Sitecore Site (full slide deck)http://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/creating-new-sitecore-sites-full

Implementing Routine Sitecore Maintenancehttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/sitecore-maintenance-tips

Performance Tips for Sitecore Mobile Usershttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/sitecore-mobile-performance-tips

Sitecore 7 – New Features for Usershttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/sitecore-7-new-features

Sitecore Performance Tips for Visitor Engagementhttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/sitecore-performance-tips

Troubleshooting Sitecore Performancehttp://www.slideshare.net/cwnelson/troubleshooting-sitecore-performance

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The Inside Corner, Inc.

• The Inside Corner, Inc. (TIC) is owned by Craig Nelson• TIC is a Sitecore partner & web consultancy• A U.S. point of contact for teams of Sitecore specialists • We create new Sitecore sites & enhance existing ones

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Primary Developer - Craig Nelson

• Sitecore Specialist certified for Sitecore 7• 10 years of system administration experience• 10 years as a Microsoft Certified Trainer• 5 years of ASP.NET web development experience• 4 years of Sitecore development experience• 3 years as a Sitecore technical instructor• Sitecore architecture & configuration expert• Performance & SEO optimization specialist• Workflow configuration specialist 28

Get Help with your Sitecore Site

Follow TIC on LinkedIn• http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-inside-corner-inc.

Add TIC to your Circles on Google Plus• http://google.com/+Theinsidecorner

Follow TIC on Twitter • https://twitter.com/TheInsideCorner

Contact Craig Directly• Craig Nelson - Certified 7.0 Developer and Sitecore Partner• cwnelson[at]ticdevs.com• Mobile - 707.319.7446

Visit the TIC website• http://ticdevs.com

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Bibliography

• Content Relevancy and Tagging• Find Missing Sitecore Help Text• Intro to Tags• Tagging Best Practices• Top 10 Tagging Best Practices for Anything Web 2.0

30Download slide presentation to view URLs

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Thanks!May 20, 2013

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