Creating Dynamic Tag Clouds on Squarespace
TL;DR:
- Tag cloud blocks show tags or categories from collection pages, with size reflecting usage frequency
- More popular tags appear larger, making them stand out visually
- You can sort by alphabetical order, usage frequency, or recent activity
- Functionality depends on your Squarespace version (7.0 supports more page types than 7.1)
- Your content needs proper tags or categories assigned, or the cloud won't display anything
Tag cloud blocks help you display categories or tags from your site's collection pages in a visual format. The more frequently a tag gets used, the larger it appears in the cloud.
Understanding Tag Cloud Blocks
The tag cloud automatically sizes each tag based on how often it's used across your content. Popular tags become more prominent, while less common ones appear smaller. This gives visitors a quick visual overview of your most active topics or categories.
Supported Page Types
Your Squarespace version determines which pages work with tag clouds:
Version 7.1: Blog pages and store pages only
Version 7.0: Blog pages, store pages, album pages, and gallery pages
The key requirement is that your content needs tags or categories assigned. Without these, your tag cloud will be empty.
Adding a Tag Cloud Block
Here's how to set one up:
- Add the Block: Edit your page and click "Add Block", then select "Tag Cloud"
- Open Settings: Click the pencil icon on the new block
- Configure the Source:
- Pick which collection page to pull data from
- Choose between displaying Tags or Categories
- Select your sorting preference (alphabetical, usage frequency, or recent activity)
- Set Display Limits: Use the slider to show between 5 and 100 tags
- Save Changes: On version 7.0, click "Apply" to save your settings
Try different sorting options to see what works best for your site's navigation and visual style.
Sorting Your Tag Cloud
You have three ways to organize tags in your cloud:
Alphabetical: Orders tags from A to Z, making specific tags easy to find
Weight: Shows most-used tags first, highlighting your most popular content
Activity: Displays recently used tags first, keeping fresh content visible
Pick the option that best matches how you want visitors to browse your content.
Common Issues and Solutions
Empty Tag Cloud: Check that your collection items have tags or categories assigned. The block can't display what doesn't exist.
Missing Tags: If certain tags aren't appearing, they might be below your display limit. Increase the number of tags shown or check if the content is properly tagged.
Wrong Page Type: Double-check that you're trying to pull from a supported page type for your Squarespace version.
FAQs
How do I add a tag cloud block to my site?
Edit any page, click "Add Block", select "Tag Cloud", then customize it through the block editor settings.
Can I control how tags are sorted in the cloud?
Yes, you can sort alphabetically, by usage frequency, or by recent activity using the "Sort By" option in the block settings.
Why isn't my tag cloud showing anything?
The most common reason is that your collection items don't have tags or categories assigned. Add these to your content first.
How many tags can I display at once?
You can show between 5 and 100 tags using the slider in the block settings.
Jargon Buster
Tag Cloud Block: A visual display where tags appear in different sizes based on how often they're used
Collection Page: A Squarespace page that groups content like blog posts or products, which can be organized with tags and categories
Weight Sorting: Organizing tags by how frequently they're used, with most popular tags appearing first
Wrap-up
Tag clouds give visitors a quick way to see what topics or products are most prominent on your site. They work well for navigation and can make your content more discoverable. The key is making sure your content has proper tags or categories assigned before adding the block.
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