H1 or heading tags play a crucial role in SEO because they help search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing to better understand the structure and content of your web pages.
For this reason, it is essential to optimise them as best as you can because as they are a confirmed ranking factor, your website won’t place as highly in search engine results pages (SERPs) if you don’t.
This guide will outline everything you need to know about header tags, including what exactly they are, why they are so important for search engine optimisation, some best practices for crafting them and common mistakes to avoid.
Hopefully, you will find it a helpful resource to boost your website’s online visibility.
As Paperstack has been recently featured among the best SEO agencies on the Gold Coast, we’ve seen first-hand how well-structured H1 tags can support stronger organic performance.
What Are H1 Tags?
H1 tags are the primary heading elements in HTML. They are sometimes referred to as HTML header tags and comprise an opening <h1> tag and a closing </h1> tag, in between which is the text of the title.
As an example, the H1 tag for this post is:
<h1>SEO H1 Tags: Best Practices for Better Rankings</h1>
On a webpage, the H1 tag performs a vital function as it clearly defines to search engine crawlers and users what its content is about.
Ideally, there should only be one H1 tag on any given web page, as this will enable it to maintain a good hierarchical structure.
A well-optimised HTML heading tag should be succinct yet descriptive, readable and natural. It should also include your primary target keyword, the year (if the content is regularly updated) and an action word to pique the reader’s interest.
Most WordPress themes automatically insert the blog post title or page title as an H1 tag. However, for some other content management systems, you might have to configure it manually in your page’s source code.
Why Are H1 Tags Important for SEO?
As touched upon, H1 HTML tags are an important part of on-page SEO and search engine optimisation in general. Here are some of the main reasons why.
Help Search Engines Understand the Page’s Primary Subject
Search engines use H1 tags as a key signal to determine the main subject of a webpage.
As it helps them index and rank the page more appropriately for relevant search queries, it is a good idea to incorporate target keywords in the h tags to improve your position in search results.
Improve User Experience
A well-crafted H1 tag is probably the most important header tag of all because it often determines whether search engine users will continue to read your page.
Visitors often rely on headings to quickly determine whether a page contains the information they need. So, if yours is clear and concise, it will go a long way towards setting the right expectations and ensuring users engage with the content for longer.
Enhance Accessibility
H1 tags are the most prominent heading for web accessibility, particularly for screen reader users who are visually impaired.
As they use H1 tags to convey the main topic of a page, it allows them to navigate through your content much more effectively.
H1 Tags vs. Title Tags: What’s the Difference?
You may be wondering what the difference between H1 tags and title tags is. So, it is worth briefly outlining the distinction between the two.
Essentially, the H1 heading tag is an on-page HTML element that acts as the primary heading. It is typically displayed at the top of a webpage, informs users and search engines about the main topic of the page, and helps to structure its content for better readability and accessibility.
The title tag, on the other hand, is an HTML element that defines the page’s title as it appears in Google and other search engine results and browser tabs. As it provides a concise, keyword-rich summary of the page’s content, it directly impacts SEO rankings and click-through rates.
While the H1 tag goes a long way towards enhancing the on-page user experience, the title tag influences search traffic, visibility and engagement. It is essential that both are optimised to convey the page’s topic, but they should not be identical because they serve unique functions.
H1 Tag SEO Best Practices
If you want to improve the search rankings, user experience, and content clarity of your website or blog, you will need to optimise your H1 tags.
Here are some best practices to ensure that yours communicates the page’s purpose to both users and search engines as effectively as possible.
Use Only One H1 Tag Per Page
Make sure each of your web pages only has a single H1 heading tag, as this will help to establish a clear content hierarchy.
Pages with more than one H1 tag can confuse search engines and dilute the main topic of the page. So, creating a single, well-structured H1 heading will help to maintain a logical flow and improve both your SEO efforts and the general accessibility of the page.
Include Your Target Keyword in the H1 Heading Tag
It is imperative to incorporate your primary keyword in the H1 tag, as this will help search engines understand your page’s relevance to specific queries. However, you should ensure the main heading reads naturally and provides value to users while avoiding keyword stuffing.
Make Your H1 Tag Similar to Your Title Tag
While they don’t have to be identical, your H1 tag should closely align with your title text tag because this will provide consistency between what people see in search results and on the webpage itself and, therefore, increase your user engagement.
Keep H1 Tags Concise and Descriptive
An optimal H1 tag should be between 50 and 70 characters and clearly convey the page’s main topic.
Try to avoid vague, filler or overly complex wording because the aim is for users to instantly understand what your content is about.
Use Title Case for H1 Tags
It is a good idea to capitalise the first letter of all the significant words of your main title to improve how it reads and maintain a professional appearance. This formatting not only makes it stand out but also creates a benchmark for other headings.
Style Headings for Hierarchy
To create a logical structure, H1 tags should be the highest-level heading on a page, followed by H2s, H3s, H4s and so on.
A proper heading hierarchy like this helps to improve how your content is presented, which makes it easier for users to read and for search engines to index it more effectively.
Examples of Effective H1 Tags
Now you understand that a well-optimised H1 tag clearly defines the page’s topic, improves readability, and enhances SEO, you probably want to see some examples.
Here are some strong H1 tags you might want to mimic across different types of pages.
Homepage Example
“Explore the Best Travel Destinations for Your Next Adventure”
This H1 is engaging, descriptive, and aligned with the website’s purpose. It includes relevant keywords like “travel destinations” while remaining natural and user-friendly.
Blog Post Example
“10 Easy Ways to Save Money on Groceries”
For blog posts, H1 tags should be informative and capture user intent. This example is specific, concise, and includes a number to attract clicks.
Additionally, the phrase “Save Money on Groceries” targets a common search query, which ensures it is SEO-friendly.
Long-Tail Keyword Example
“Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet and Overpronation”
Using long-tail keywords in H1 tags helps target niche searches, as seen in this example. It not only includes “Best Running Shoes” but also specifies the audience (i.e. those with flat feet and overpronation), which makes it more relevant for users with this particular need.
Product Page Example
“Apple iPhone 15 Pro – Features, Specs & Reviews”
For product pages, the H1 should include the product name and key details. This example is well-optimised for search by including “Apple iPhone 15 Pro” and indicating the page’s content (features, specs, and reviews).
Overall, the more you can tailor your H1 tags to your page type and your user’s search intent, the more you can improve your search rankings and the number of human visitors who read your content.
How to Add an H1 Tag to Your Website
Adding an H1 tag to your web page is an important part of your on-site SEO. Here is how you can do it over some of the main content marketing platforms.
How to Add an H1 Tag in WordPress
In WordPress:
- Open your page or post in the WordPress editor.
- Click the title field (WordPress automatically assigns it as the H1 tag).
- To manually add an H1 to your content, select a text block, click the paragraph drop-down menu, and choose “Heading.”
- Set the heading level to “H1.”
How to Add an H1 Tag in Wix
In Wix:
- Open the Wix Editor and select the page you want to edit.
- Click “Add” (➕) > “Text” and choose “Heading 1.”
- Edit the text to include your H1 tag and adjust its styling if required.
How to Add an H1 Tag in Squarespace
In Squarespace
- Navigate to your page and click “Edit.”
- Select a text block, click the formatting menu, and choose “Heading 1.”
- Ensure only one H1 tag is used per page for SEO purposes.
How to Add an H1 Tag in HTML
- Open your web page’s HTML code file.
- Locate the <body> section and insert – <h1>Your H1 Tag Here</h1>
- Save and upload the file to apply the changes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with H1 Tags
Every important page on your website should be optimised with an H1 tag. However, when attempting to do this, there are some common mistakes people make which you should avoid.
Probably the most frequent is to use multiple H1 tags, which might impact most website’s rankings who do this as it can potentially confuse search engines.
Another common error is to forget to assign an H1 tag at all, which can make it harder for search engines and users to understand the page’s main topic. Additionally, keyword stuffing the H1 tag can appear spammy and affect the readability of your page.
By avoiding these mistakes, you will ensure that your H1 tag enhances your SEO and user experience and does not count against it. Here are some good SEO Tools that can help you.
FAQs
Here are some answers to questions we are frequently asked about header tags.
Can I have multiple H1 tags on a page?
While Google’s John Mueller has stated that multiple H1 heading tags won’t harm SEO, we think it is best to only use one because doing so makes for a much better structure and visual presentation.
How can I style my H1 tag?
Yes, you can do so by using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), which allow you to control the H1 tag’s font, size, and colour while maintaining a proper structure.
Why is the H1 tag an important heading?
As the H1 tag defines the main topic of a page, it helps users and search engines better understand your content.
Should my H1 tag match the search bar query?
Not necessarily, but aligning it with common queries can improve its relevance.
Final Thoughts
H tags are a vital part of your on-page SEO, and the H1 is more important than all other heading tags to get right.
We hope this guide has provided you with helpful information on how to best optimise the SEO tags on your live pages.
However, if you need help doing that or improving your search engine optimisation overall, please contact the experts at Paperstack today.
We have a proven track record of transforming the fortunes of our client’s underperforming websites.