What are tags in Mediatool?
Tags are a type of media field in Mediatool. Its options are restricted to a pre-determined dropdown menu.
💡 When setting up the Sheet View, you can use tags for specific attributes like market, target audience, brand, product, objective, etc.
Tags limit planners to selecting from predefined options, reducing the chance of errors. For example, instead of manually typing 'Brand X' under column 'Brand', and risking a typo like 'Brand XC', planners can simply select the correct option from a dropdown menu. This ensures the data remains accurate and can also be used in reports.
💡 Media Types and Media Vehicles function as tags in Mediatool; any additional tags are up to you to create and configure.
What are the benefits of using tags when planning?
Tags are restricted – meaning that admins have control over the available tag categories and editors can add options to those
Tags reduce the risk of human error – since planners can only choose from a pre-defined drop-down menu, you limit the risk of typos
You can filter data and create reports based on tags – regular text fields cannot be included in reports
Tags can be auto-populated in the Sheet View - tags that you'd like to apply to an entire plan can be chosen in the plan setup. They will then be populated automatically.
How are tags organized?
Individual tags are organized into tag categories. When added to a media type, tag categories display as column headers in the sheet view just like other field types. Tags are the options in the drop-down list.
💡 In the example below, Country is a tag category whereas Slovenia, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary are tags.
Tag categories can branch off into further sub-categories. There is no limit to the number of each.
In the GIF below you can see the tag category Country has tags Canada and USA under it, and is further broken down into the sub-categories Region and City.
How to create tag categories and add tags
All tag settings are controlled in the tags section of the account settings.
To create a tag category and add tags, follow these steps:
Access Tags Setting: Go to the Settings section and click on Tags.
Create a Tag Category:
Click on 'Create a tag category'.
If you want the tag category to apply to all existing media types automatically, check the 'Media types option'. Leave it unchecked if you prefer to add it manually to specific media types later.
Enter a name for the category, and if desired, add a description and choose a tag color (the color will be visible in reports or calendar view when using the tag as a dimension).
Click 'Create category' to complete the setup.
Manage Your Tag Category:
After creating a tag category, it will appear in the “Tag Categories” list.
Select the category to add tags or create sub-categories within it.
Add Tags:
Click on 'Add tags to [Tag Category Name]'.
You can add tags individually or multiple tags at once by entering them one per row.
💡 You can easily copy and paste multiple tags from an Excel sheet; just make sure to place one tag per row.
How to create a sub-category
Tag sub-categories can enhance the organization of your tags. Especially if you have more static tags like 'Regions'. For instance, you might have 'Region' as the main tag category, with tags like 'APAC' and 'EU'. Sub-categories could then list specific countries within these regions. This approach streamlines the selection process for planners by narrowing their options.
💡 Sub-tags work best for more static categories like regions, which don't change often. For more dynamic needs, such as varying fees, where options need frequent updates, consider setting up a media inventory. Learn more about this process here.
Follow these steps to create a tag sub-category:
Access Tags Setting: Navigate to the Settings section and select "Tags."
Select the Main Category: Click on the category where you want to add your sub-category.
Add Sub-Category: To the right of your chosen main category, click on 'Add sub-category to [Tag Category Name].'
A popup will appear. Enter the name of your sub-category and provide an optional description.
Click 'Create category' to finalize the process.
Add Sub-Tags: After creation, a plus sign will appear next to your tags. Click on this plus to add sub-tags.
Type your sub-tags. You can add tags individually or multiple tags at once by entering them one per row.
To learn more about how to visualize and filter data based on tags, check out our article on Reports.
Additional settings for tag categories and tags
In order to control additional settings for the tag category, do the following steps:
Access Tag Categories: Navigate to the organization settings and select an existing tag category.
Open Category Settings: Click on the three dots next to the category name and choose 'Category settings'.
Settings available are:
Protect tag category: Read more about it
Lock tag category: Once the tag category is locked, no changes can be made to it - you can't add/edit/remove tags/tag categories/subcategories.
Description: You can add a tag category description here.
Hide tag category from plan setup: If active, the tag category will be excluded from the plan setup - you won't be able to pre-select options for the plan.
Require tag category on plans: If active, you can't proceed with a plan creation without an option being chosen for this tag category.
Why and how to disable tags
You can also disable a specific tag. It's usually done when you don't use the tag in the planning, but use it to report historical data. Disabled tags can be re-enabled if you want to use them again in current or future plans.
To disable a specific tag:
Access Tag Categories: Navigate to the organization settings and select an existing tag category.
Open Category Settings: Click on the three dots next to the tag name and choose 'Disable tag'.
How to protect your tag category
Restricting a tag hides that tag from selected users when they are using Mediatool. The user will not be able to see any line items in a media plan that use the tag, and they will not be able to see any calendars or charts that contain values associated with the tag.
How to delete tag categories, tags, sub-categories, or sub-tags
To delete tag categories, tags, sub-categories, or sub-tags, follow these steps:
Locate the Item: Find the tag category, tag, sub-category, or sub-tag you want to delete.
Access Options: Click on the three dots next to the item.
Confirm Deletion: Click on 'Delete' to confirm the deletion.
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