The magic number is at least 7 keywords, but the real answer depends on your content complexity. Let me explain the strategy behind choosing the right number.
The minimum: 7 tags required
Cathopic enforces a minimum of 7 tags per upload. This isn't arbitrary - research shows that content with fewer than 7 relevant keywords has significantly reduced discoverability. Submissions with fewer tags will be rejected during moderation.
The sweet spot: 10-15 tags for most content
Based on successful contributor patterns:
Simple, single-subject photos: 7-10 tags (priest, altar, sacristy)
Complex, multi-element images: 12-18 tags (wedding ceremony with multiple subjects)
Architectural photos: 10-15 tags (specific style, period, location)
Seasonal content: 8-12 tags plus seasonal terms
Real example: Goldilocks approach
Photo: Young woman receiving Eucharist at Mass
Too few (5 tags) - REJECTED:
eucharist, communion, mass, catholic, woman
Just right (12 tags):
eucharist, holy communion, mass, liturgy, sacrament, catholic, communicant, worship, first communion, receiving host, faith, spiritual
Too many (25 tags) - DIMINISHING RETURNS:
Above 12 plus 13 more increasingly generic or irrelevant terms that dilute focus
Why not just use the maximum?
Problems with too many keywords:
Dilution: Search engines may reduce relevance ranking
Spam risk: Appears like keyword stuffing
Time cost: Diminishing returns on effort
Moderation risk: Irrelevant tags can lead to rejection
The pyramid structure (recommended)
Use this distribution for 10-15 total tags:
2-3 ultra-specific terms ("eucharistic adoration")
3-4 moderately specific ("adoration chapel", "blessed sacrament")
2-3 broad categories ("catholic", "worship")
2-3 contextual/usage ("devotion", "prayer")
1-2 seasonal if applicable ("lent", "holy week")
Quality always trumps quantity
Better to have 8 highly relevant, accurate keywords than 20 that include generic or irrelevant terms. Each tag should genuinely describe your content or how users might search for it.
Language consideration
Add your keywords in the language you are using the platform. Moderators will add translations to the other language during the review process, ensuring your content is discoverable in both languages without you having to worry about translations.
From contributor guidelines
Our official guidance: "Write 7+ tags per resource." The plus sign ("7+") indicates more is welcome when genuinely relevant.
Testing and refining
After upload:
See which searches bring users to your content
Edit to add high-performing search terms
Remove underperforming or irrelevant tags
Optimize based on actual user behavior
Start with 10-12 well-chosen keywords. You can always edit later to add more based on performance data.
