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The Beginner’s Guide on SEO Headings

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Heading tags (H1 to H6) are essential for organizing your website’s content and improving SEO. They help search engines understand your page and make it easier for visitors to navigate.

When used correctly, headings improve readability, keep readers engaged and therefore boost your rankings. In this guide, you’ll learn how to structure and write headings, avoid common mistakes, and see real examples you can use as inspiration for your website.

What Are HTML Heading Tags?

Heading tags are HTML elements that structure content on a web page into sections. They range from H1 (the most important) to H6 (the least important). Think of them as a table of contents for your page that guides both readers and search engines.

  • H1: The H1 heading is the main title of your page, used only once to tell the user and search engines what the page is about. This is like the title of a book on the cover.
  • H2: Subheadings that divide the main sections. These are like the individual chapter titles in a book.
  • H3–H6: Additional subheadings for deeper organization and clarification of content. Most of the times you should only use headings until H3 and sometimes H4. If you find yourself needing more headings, you might want to think about creating a separate article on the topic.

Using heading tags correctly ensures your content flows logically, making it easier to read and more SEO-friendly at the same time. (These are tied together, meaning when a user stays on your site for longer, this signals to Google, that your article seems to be worth reading and Google will rank it higher)

Pro Tip: Use heading tags to structure your content, not just to style text. Proper structure improves SEO and accessibility for all users, including those using screen readers.

The Role of Heading Tags in SEO

Heading tags are more than just a way to organize content, they’re critical for SEO. Here’s why:

  • Search Engine Optimization: Search engine bots use headings to understand your page. Including keywords in headings signals relevance to your target topic.
  • Improved User Experience: Well-structured headings make content scannable, helping readers quickly find what they’re looking for.
  • Accessibility: Proper headings improve navigation for users with screen readers.

A clear heading structure benefits both readers and search engines, making it easier to rank higher while keeping visitors engaged.

Pro Tip: Keep your headings descriptive and aligned with user intent. Search engines favor headings that clearly match what users are searching for.

Best Practices for Using Heading Tags

Using heading tags properly is key to good SEO and user experience. Follow these tips to get it right:

  1. Use One H1 Tag Per Page
    • Your H1 is the page’s main title. (Not to be confused with the HTML title tag)
    • Make it descriptive and include your primary keyword naturally. (You get some examples in the next section)
  2. Maintain a Logical Hierarchy
    • Start with H2s for main sections, then use H3s and beyond for subsections.
    • Avoid skipping levels, like jumping from H2 to H4.
  3. Include Relevant Keywords
    • Add keywords in headings where it makes sense, but avoid keyword stuffing.
    • Focus on clarity and readability.
  4. Optimize for Accessibility
    • Use proper heading tags in the HTML instead of just styling text to look like a heading.
    • Most of the website builders out there do that for you.
  5. Style Headings for Visual Clarity
    • Ensure headings stand out using consistent fonts, sizes, and spacing.
    • Each H2 heading should look the same, changing style of a heading throughout an article can be very confusing.

For example this is the hierarchy on one of our blog posts:

A screenshot highlighting different heading tags across an article

Pro Tip: The largest visual heading on your page doesn’t need to be your H1. You can style a different text element as the largest and include a smaller, optimized H1 above it for SEO purposes.

Examples of Good and Bad H1 Tags

Your H1 tag is the most important heading on your page. It should clearly describe the page’s content and include the keyword you want to rank for. Here are some examples:

Good H1 Tags

  • “Top-Rated Plumber in Los Angeles – Affordable & Reliable Services”
  • “Delicious Italian Food Restaurant in Chicago – Reserve Your Table Today”
  • “Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Dallas – Free Consultation”

Why These Work: They are specific, include keywords, and tell users exactly what the page is about.

Bad H1 Tags

  • “Welcome to Our Website”
  • “Page Title”
  • “Plumber Plumber Plumbing Services in Los Angeles Plumbing”

Why These Fail: They’re too generic, lack keywords, or are stuffed with keywords, making them unclear and unhelpful.

Good Bad Examples of H1 Headings

Pro Tip: Avoid keyword stuffing and focus on writing an H1 that feels natural and valuable to readers.

H1 and Title Tags: What’s the Difference?

It’s easy to confuse the H1 tag and the title tag, but they serve different purposes:

  1. H1 Tag
    • This is the main heading visible at the top of your webpage.
    • It describes the content on the page and helps users understand what to expect.
    • Example: On a lawyer’s website, the H1 might be:
      “Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Dallas – Free Consultation”
  2. Title Tag
    • This is the meta title that appears in browser tabs and search engine results.
    • It helps search engines and users identify your page before clicking.
    • Example: The same lawyer’s title tag might be:
      “Top Personal Injury Lawyer in Dallas – Call for a Free Consultation”

While the H1 tag focuses on users already on the page, the title tag targets potential visitors in search results.

Pro Tip: Your H1 and title tag don’t need to be identical. You can use the title tag to grab attention in search results while the H1 provides context for readers on the page but you should try to keep the main message of both the same.

Examples of Heading Structure

A well-organized heading structure makes your content easy to read and helps search engines understand your page. Here’s an example of how a personal injury lawyer’s website could use header tags:

  • H1: “Top Personal Injury Lawyer in [City Name] – Get the Compensation You Deserve”
    • H2: “Why Choose Our Law Firm?”
      • H3: “Experienced Attorneys Dedicated to Your Case”
      • H3: “Proven Track Record of Success in Personal Injury Cases”
    • H2: “Our Personal Injury Services”
      • H3: “Car Accident Claims”
        • H4: “What to Do After a Car Accident”
      • H3: “Slip and Fall Injuries”
        • H4: “Proving Liability in Slip and Fall Cases”
      • H3: “Medical Malpractice Claims”
    • H2: “How It Works – From Consultation to Settlement”
      • H3: “Step 1: Schedule Your Free Consultation”
      • H3: “Step 2: We Build Your Case”
      • H3: “Step 3: Negotiation or Trial”
    • H2: “Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation”

Why This Works:

  • The H1 grabs attention and includes a keyword (personal injury lawyer in [city name]) which is both great for SEO and user experience.
  • The H2–H4 tags break the content into logical sections, making it easy for users to scan and for search engines to understand what the page is about.

Pro Tip: If you have multiple services and serve multiple areas, creating a unique page with a unique H1 heading can help boost your SEO.

Common Heading Mistakes to Avoid

Avoiding common mistakes with heading tags can save you from SEO penalties and improve user experience. Here are the key pitfalls to watch out for:

  1. Using Multiple H1 Tags
    • Each page should have only one H1 to avoid confusing search engines.
  2. Skipping Heading Levels
    • Maintain a logical flow. For example, don’t jump from H2 to H4 without using H3.
  3. Keyword Stuffing
    • Overloading headings with keywords makes them look unnatural and can hurt your rankings.
  4. Using Headings for Design Only
    • Styling regular text to look like a heading (e.g., making text bold or large) without using proper tags disrupts SEO and accessibility.
  5. Overloading Text with Headings
    • Don’t overuse headings for every small piece of text. They should introduce new sections or important ideas.

Pro Tip: A clear and logical heading structure makes your page look professional and improves both usability and SEO performance.

Conclusion

Heading tags are essential for improving your website’s structure, user experience, and SEO. By using clear, keyword-rich headings and following a logical hierarchy, you can make your content easier to navigate and more appealing to search engines.

Take a moment to review your website’s headings today. Ensure your H1 is optimized and you only have one H1, subheadings are clear and organized, and common mistakes are avoided. These small changes can make a big difference in how users and search engines perceive your site.

Pro Tip: Regularly review your headings when updating or creating new content. A well-structured page will not only improve your rankings but also keep visitors engaged and coming back.

Picture of Jonas Lindemann

Jonas Lindemann

I’m an experienced SEO professional with over a decade of helping over 100 businesses rank higher online, especially local businesses, e-commerce stores and SaaS. As the co-founder of LPagery, I specialize in practical, proven strategies for regular SEO and Local SEO success.

About The Author

Picture of Jonas Lindemann

Jonas Lindemann

I’m an experienced SEO professional with over a decade of helping businesses rank higher online, especially local businesses, e-commerce stores and SaaS. As the co-founder of LPagery, I specialize in practical, proven strategies for regular SEO and Local SEO success.

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