Heading tags, which play the most important role in the content optimization of a website, provide important information to Googlebots and users about the structure, subject, and flow of the content. Content optimization, which is one of the important ranking factors, is only possible if you set up the heading tags with the right hierarchical structure. In today’s content, as the Seorative team, we will talk about the importance of the heading structure and the tips for optimizing the content with the right heading tags. Let’s get started right away!
Contents
Heading tags are a special method of marking and referencing headings on a web page and are used in HTML. They, which are shown as <hn> in the code source and have a hierarchical location by taking a value between 1 and 6, provide clues to the user and search engine bots about the relationship between the subheadings in the flow of the content.
Heading Tags Structure
Now, if you wish, let’s take a theoretical look at how a general heading structure will be, and then let’s start to examine it through examples.
We said earlier that in a page hierarchy from H1 to H6, selections should be placed according to the semantic meanings of the titles. We will now examine an example based on this.
So, how many heading tags are there in HTML? There are 6 of them! Let’s see the general rules to follow while using HTML5 heading tags from <H1> to <H6>.
- The H1 title is also the title of the page and there can only be one H1 tag per page. On the other hand, other heading tags can be used as many times as you want.
- A heading tag should not be used if the hierarchically higher heading tag is not used in the content.
- Two heading tags should not be used consecutively without any body paragraphs in between.
- If possible, the list should not be passed directly to the content after the heading tag, and a brief explanation should be made.
- Structures marked with a heading tag should not be used with special structures such as listings.
Here is an example of a basic SEO heading tag hierarchy:
- What is SEO? <h1>
- What is On-Page SEO? <h2>
- On-Page SEO Checklist <h3>
- Do Technical Optimization <h4>
- Check out the URL structure of your website <h5>
- Be sure URL structure consist related keywords <h6>
Did you notice? Each title used in the example above is a sub-topic of the previous title. With this feature, the headings are semantically logical and have a structure that makes it easier for the user to follow.
Why Should I Use Heading Tags?
Heading tags make it possible for your users to locate your website with just a few keywords, while also providing the reader with more useful content. By eliminating the pages that consist of a jumble of meaningless words that are arranged in a sequential manner, you allow the user to acquire comprehensive information via the use of headers and subheadings.
Meanwhile, you’ll contribute to the creation of an SEO-friendly post that underlines this point using the H1 title tag and the subsequent sub-title tag, among other things. Natural, unique, and fluent content will always increase the demand for your website, and if the tags are utilized properly, you will be listed higher on the Google search engine results page (SERP). Title tags play a crucial role in assisting users in finding the material they are seeking for as well as in the creation of a consistent and relevant article series.
Page Titles and H1 Tags
H1 tags are the first headlines you see on a well-structured page, and they help visitors prepare for what they’re about to read or watch by introducing them to the content. H1 tags do not display on the search engine results page, and people will only view them after they have arrived at your website. Search engines seek for title tags that are unique and descriptive for each page on your website. Some people run the risk of utilizing duplicate titles for related sites, which may have a negative impact on their search engine results.
The page title is one of the most significant parts of SEO, and it should not be confused with the H1 tag, which is another key element. Let’s take a look at the distinctions between these two and why you should be concerned about them.
- In search engine results pages, the page title is shown. The primary title of the snippet in search results is based on this phrase.
- Despite the fact that the page title is not visible on a page, it is included in the page header and is also shown in the browser header.
- When only a person is exploring a website, the H1 tag is shown to them.
- The page title provides a strong signal to search engine crawlers about the subject matter of the page content.
- The H1 tag must be the same as, or slightly different from, the title of the web page.
The Importance of H1 Tags
Unlike all heading tags, H1 tags are the structures that determine the title of the relevant page in the SERPs. Let’s pass a few notes to show the relationship between SEO and H1 header tags:
- H1 is a heading tag that allows Googlebots to understand what the page is about and is directly related to indexing.
- Having more than one heading on a page creates an obstacle for Googlebots or other search engine bots to associate the page with queries.
- The H1 must contain the main keyword, include a call-to-action if possible, and convince people that the content is worth reading.
- An H1 header tag that only generates from the focus keyword may be perceived as spam by Googlebots and be uninteresting to users.
Heading Tags and SEO
Explore the relationship between heading tags and SEO: why should you use heading tags? Here are the reasons:
- Heading tags increase your accessibility for search engines and users.
- Heading tags indirectly affect your SEO score. Because these will allow search engine bots to crawl your page more easily, while reducing the likelihood of users bouncing from the site.
- Heading tags are important in showing the text structure and presenting a general map of what topics are covered in the content. You can make the Heading list more visible by adding a table of contents per content.
Need more help with content optimization and heading adjustments? Seorative team is ready for duty! Contact us now and we’ll create a custom plan for you by listing everything we can do for your content.
