Notion

How to Add Tags in Notion

Spencer LanoueSpencer Lanoue
Notion

Ever felt like you're drowning in a sea of information while trying to organize your Notion workspace? Well, tags might just be your lifesaver. By the end of this piece, you'll have a solid grasp of how to use tags effectively in Notion, helping you organize your notes and projects like a pro. Whether you're a seasoned Notion user or a curious newbie, let's get you on the path to more organized digital living.

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Why Tags Matter in Notion

Let's kick things off by talking about why tags are a big deal. Imagine your Notion workspace as a giant filing cabinet. Without a good system, finding one specific document could take forever. That's where tags come in. They're like sticky notes that help you quickly identify and access related content across different projects and databases.

Tags make it easier to:

  • Organize and categorize your content.
  • Quickly find related notes and documents.
  • Keep track of project statuses or task priorities.

In essence, tags are all about making your digital life simpler and more efficient. Once you start using them, you'll wonder how you ever managed without them.

Setting Up Your First Tags

Creating tags in Notion is straightforward. You'll typically use a multi-select property for tagging, especially in databases. Let's walk through setting up your first tag.

Step-by-Step: Creating a Multi-Select Property

Here's a quick guide to get you started with tags:

  1. Open your Notion page and head to a database you want to tag.
  2. Click on the "+" sign in the database header to add a new property.
  3. Select "Multi-select" from the property types.
  4. Name your property "Tags" (or whatever suits your needs).
  5. Start adding your tags by typing them in and hitting enter.

And just like that, you've created a tagging system. You can now assign multiple tags to any entry in your database, making it easier to filter and find information later.

Using Tags to Filter and Sort

Once you have tags set up, the real magic happens with filtering and sorting. This can help you quickly sift through data without scrolling endlessly. Let's see how to make that happen.

Filtering by Tags

To filter by tags, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the "Filter" button in your database's toolbar.
  2. Select "Add a filter" and choose your "Tags" property.
  3. You can now filter to show items with a specific tag or combination of tags.

Filtering helps you focus on what matters most at any given time, like seeing all tasks labeled "Urgent" or finding all notes related to a specific project.

Sorting by Tags

Sorting is another powerful feature. Here's how to sort by tags:

  1. Click on the "Sort" button next to the filter option.
  2. Select "Add a sort" and choose your "Tags" property.
  3. Decide whether you want an ascending or descending order.

Sorting can be particularly useful when you want to view items grouped by tag, providing a neat overview of your database's contents.

Customizing Tags for Better Organization

One size doesn't fit all, and that's the beauty of tags. They're customizable. You can fine-tune them to fit your workflow perfectly. Here's how to do just that.

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Color-Coding Tags

Notion allows you to assign colors to your tags, making it easier to differentiate between them at a glance. Here's how you can color-code your tags:

  • Click on the tag you want to color-code.
  • Select the color you prefer from the color palette that appears.

Color-coding can be particularly helpful in visually distinguishing between categories, priorities, or statuses.

Renaming and Deleting Tags

To rename or delete a tag, simply click on the tag in your database and choose to rename or delete it. This is useful when you need to update your tagging system or remove tags that are no longer relevant.

Customizing tags to fit your needs ensures that your system evolves alongside your projects and priorities.

Integrating Tags with Other Notion Features

Tags don't work in isolation. They are most effective when integrated with other Notion features. Let's look at some ways you can combine tags with other tools in Notion.

Using Tags in Relation Databases

Relation databases are powerful when combined with tags. Here's how you can use them together:

  • Create a relation property between two databases.
  • Use tags to filter and sort entries in both databases, providing a cohesive view of related content.

This integration allows you to maintain context when working across different projects or departments.

Combining Tags with Notion's Task Management

Tags can enhance your task management setup. For instance:

  • Use tags to mark tasks by priority or project.
  • Filter tasks by tag to focus on specific areas of your workload.

By combining tags with task management, you can streamline your workflow and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Tagging for Team Collaboration

If you're working with a team, tags can be a game-changer for collaboration. They help keep everyone on the same page and ensure that information is easily accessible.

Sharing Tagged Content

When sharing content with your team, tags provide a quick way to convey the context. Here's how to make the most out of it:

  • Share databases with your team and ensure everyone understands the tagging system.
  • Use tags to indicate the status of tasks or projects, keeping everyone informed.

Shared understanding of tags leads to better communication and teamwork.

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Collaborative Tagging Practices

Establishing a consistent tagging practice is crucial for team collaboration. Here are some best practices:

  • Agree on a set of tags and their meanings to avoid confusion.
  • Regularly review and update tags to reflect changes in projects or priorities.

Consistency in tagging ensures that your team remains organized and efficient.

Using Spell to Enhance Your Notion Workflow

As useful as Notion is, sometimes you need a bit more power, especially when drafting documents. That's where Spell comes in. Imagine having AI assist you to create high-quality documents without breaking a sweat.

Here's how Spell can complement your Notion use:

  • Quick Drafts: Need to draft a document? Spell writes a high-quality first draft in seconds. Perfect for when you need to get ideas down fast.
  • Edit with Ease: Highlight text, make changes, and let Spell refine your document. No more jumping between apps to fix formatting.
  • Collaboration: Just like in Notion, you can collaborate in real-time with Spell, making it seamless to work with your team.

Spell is like having a supercharged version of your document editor, making your workflow faster and more efficient.

Tagging for Personal Projects

While tags are great for team projects, they're equally valuable for personal organization. Here's how you can use them for your own projects.

Journaling and Notes

Tags can make personal journaling or note-taking in Notion more organized:

  • Tag entries by topic or mood.
  • Filter by tags to review specific themes or ideas.

Using tags in personal notes helps you track your thoughts and ideas over time.

Hobbies and Learning

For hobbies or learning new skills:

  • Create tags for different topics or skill levels.
  • Use tags to keep track of resources and progress.

Tags will help you stay organized and motivated, making your personal projects more enjoyable.

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Common Mistakes When Using Tags

Even though tags are incredibly useful, it's easy to slip into some common pitfalls. Let's look at how to avoid them.

Over-Tagging

It's tempting to create a tag for everything, but over-tagging can make your system cluttered and confusing. Try to keep tags meaningful and limited to avoid this.

Inconsistent Tagging

Consistency is key. If you use different tags for similar items, you'll end up with a disjointed system. Agree on a standard set of tags and stick to it.

By steering clear of these mistakes, you'll keep your Notion workspace clean and efficient.

Making Tags Work for You

Ultimately, the goal is to make tags work for your specific needs. Experiment, tweak, and refine your tagging system until it feels right. Remember, it's your digital space. Make it work for you.

Consider using Spell alongside Notion for an even smoother experience. With Spell's AI-driven capabilities, you can draft and refine documents more quickly, making it a great companion for your Notion workspace.

Final Thoughts

Organizing your Notion workspace with tags can transform how you manage information, making it a breeze to find and categorize content. Tags are versatile, whether you're working solo or with a team. And if you're looking to speed up your document creation and editing, Spell offers a powerful AI-driven solution to enhance your workflow. Embrace these tools, and you'll be well on your way to mastering the art of digital organization.

Spencer Lanoue

Spencer Lanoue

Spencer has been working in product and growth for the last 10 years. He's currently Head of Growth at Sugardoh. Before that he worked at Bump Boxes, Buffer, UserTesting, and a few other early-stage startups.