What is a tag? Think of a tag as a keyword or category label. Tags can both help you find items on the Amazon site as well as provide an easy way for you to "remember" and classify items for later recall.

So how can I use tags?

There are many ways to use tags. Here are some examples:

• Find other items with similar qualities: Are you a photography enthusiast? Find a photography book that you love and tag it with the category "photography book." Click on the "photography book" tag you created and see other items that were tagged similarly. Because people's tags are (by default) visible to others, a great effect of tagging is that you can navigate among items through other people's tags. Add a tag and check out what other items people have tagged as "robot" or "gardening" or "chocolate." Also, you can assign as many tags as you wish to each product, so tag away!

• Organize your collection or items of interest: Tag items you've purchased in the past and organize your collection in any way you wish. Don't like the way Amazon has organized its science fiction or cookbooks? Tag the items you care about with the categories that matter to you.

• Remember items you are considering for purchase: If you are planning to buy a digital camera, you might tag several makes and models so that you can look at them side by side, organized the way you wish.

• Search Tags: You can search for products with a given tag from any product detail page or from any tag page.

• Get recommendations based on items you've tagged: Items you tag will be used as sources from which to make personalized recommendations. Go to the Your Store area and select from your tags under the "Recommendations by Your Tags" section. All items you've marked with the tag you select from here will be used as the basis for these recommendations.

What tags shouldn't I use?

By default your tags are public so everyone can view them. You should not use:

• Profane or obscene language, inciting or spiteful tags
• Tags that might: harass, abuse or threaten other members of the community
• Tags that may reveal any personal information about children under age 13
• Tags that promote illegal or immoral conduct

We recommend that you do not use tags which might reveal your phone number or e-mail address.

Where can I go to see the items I've tagged?

Click on "Your Amazon.com" through the tab at the top of the site. Next click "Your Profile" in the navigation bar. Scroll down the page and you'll see sections called "Your Tags" and "Products You Tagged."

Can everyone see my tags?

By default, if you have at least one purchase at Amazon, everyone can see your tags. If you don't have a purchase yet, your tags will not be publicly visible. However, as soon as you buy something and add a new tag, all your tags will become public. Your tags will help others find interesting products, and likewise you can see how other customers have tagged products. As you navigate using tags, you will find more and more interesting products, as collectively organized by other Amazon customers.

What if I don't want others to see my tags?

You can make your tags private if you want. Just go to Your Profile page, find the Your Tags area, and click on Manage Your Tags. From there you can edit and delete tags as well as choose whether they are public or private.

How can I edit or remove a tag?

When you are on a product page, you can click on Edit to edit or remove a tag you created. Or, go to Your Profile page, scroll to the Your Tags area, and click on Manage Your Tags. From there you can edit and delete tags.

What is a Tag for Amazon search?

A tag for Amazon search allow you to specify the search for which you think the item should appear, along with your explanation of why it is relevant. Once approved, we'll show your suggested item and explanation in Amazon search to everyone - it'll be attributed to you!

Can I see an example?

Thanks to a tag for Amazon search, William Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" now appears on searches for "the scottish play".

How can I make a tag for Amazon search for an item?

Go to the detail page for your chosen item, and look for a section called "Tags customers associate with this product". Now click on the "suggest" link, and you'll be taken through the process of making a tag for Amazon search.

How can I view/edit/delete my existing tags for Amazon search?

You can manage your existing tags for Amazon search from your "Manage your tags for Amazon search" page. This page is accessible from Your Profile page.

When will my tag for Amazon search appear in Amazon search?

Each tag for Amazon search is reviewed and, providing it meets our guidelines, will typically appear in Amazon search within a week. We'll email you when your suggestion has gone live, or if it has been declined for some reason.

Why doesn't my suggestion appear higher in Amazon search results?

The relevance of each tag for Amazon search is automatically calculated. The greater the relevance, the higher a tag for Amazon search will appear in search results. Typically, you will find that a suggestion on a more specific search phrase (e.g. "the scottish play") will appear higher than one on a more general search phrase (e.g. "romance").

We are continually working to optimize our relevance calculation and we do value your feedback, so please let us know if you feel your suggestion should appear higher in search results.

Are there any restrictions as to what tags for Amazon search I can make?

Yes, please see our guidelines.

Why are tags for Amazon search on the author name or item title discouraged?

Tags for Amazon search are intended to improve Amazon search by helping people find relevant items which otherwise wouldn't appear in search results. Amazon search should already show an item on searches for the item's author or title. If you have found an item where this is not the case, please contact Amazon Customer Service.