Tag, color, and retrieve — find the right idea when you need it

Tags are fundamental to Ikes — feel free to use as many as you like

In Ikes, adding tags to your saved notes and images lets you quickly locate the ideas you need later. Tags are the foundation of idea management in Ikes.

You might worry that too many tags will become unmanageable, but there's no need. Ikes offers recently-used sorting, alphabetical sorting, keyword search, and a favorites filter, so even dozens of tags stay easy to navigate.

You don't need to think about detailed categories or hierarchies. Tagging on the fly works just fine. That said, a few small habits can make a real difference in how easily you find your ideas.

The key to tagging: imagine what words you'd search for later

There's only one thing to keep in mind when tagging: ask yourself, "The next time I need this note, what word would I search for?"

From that perspective, effective tags fall into two broad types.

Tags based on what you'll use it for

These are tags tied to the situation or project where you plan to apply the idea.

For example, say you're watching a documentary on a day off and spot information relevant to your work. Tag it "Cost Reduction Project" and later, while working, filter by that tag to pull it up instantly.

• Project names (Cost Reduction, New Business, Rebranding)
• Activity names (Lesson Prep, Social Media Content, Investment Research)

Tags based on what it's about

These are tags that describe the theme or category of the note itself.

For example, when you're stuck generating ideas, filter by a tag like "Ideation Methods" and browse through hints you've saved in the past.

• Themes (Ideation Methods, Study Techniques, UI/UX Design)
• Categories (Recipes, Wish List, Stencil Art Supplies)

Simply being aware of these two types dramatically improves how easily you can find your saved ideas. You can also use both types of tags on a single note.

Ikes features that make tags even more useful

Tagged ideas can be put to work in ways that go beyond filtering.

Batch export — Export all notes with a specific tag as CSV or plain text in one step. Share the exported file with ChatGPT or similar tools to summarize the content or draft social media posts.

Widget display — Place an Ikes widget on your iPhone or iPad home screen and have it randomly show notes with a specific tag. Display words tagged "Motivation" on your home screen, and they naturally enter your line of sight throughout the day.

Tags serve as the starting point for everything: finding, compiling, and surfacing your saved ideas in daily life. Start by tagging freely, following whatever comes to mind.