Headings/ Headings Tags
Heading tags refer to the headings of the different paragraphs or sections of a page. A heading differentiates a particular section or paragraph from the rest of the page and makes it more readable and organized. There can be a maximum of six heading tags, which ranges from H1 to H6 and forms a top-down hierarchy, i.e., HI is at the top or more important, and H6 is at the bottom or least important.
The headings should be used in order from top to down. You cannot skip any of the heading tags in between the sequence; otherwise, it will break the heading structure, which is not recommended for on-page SEO, i.e., H1 tag should be followed by the H2 tag, not by H3 or any other heading tag.
Benefits of Headings in SEO/ Why is Important H1 tag?
H1 tag is the most important tag of each of the pages of a website. Its purpose is to introduce the content of a page, to tell users what to expect from a page, or simply tell the name of the page.
The relevant keywords or desired information at the top of the page is good for SEO. It allows users and search engines to read and understand your text. They make it easier for the users to understand what a post or page is about. Headings tell which parts of your content are important, how they are connected. So, we can say that headings act as signposts that guide readers through a page.
Heading should be relevant so that readers could know what a page or section is about, or what to expect from a page or section. Furthermore, it also helps users to get back on track if they get lost.
For example, a person who sells two-wheeler parts can create a page with a “Where to Buy Bicycle Parts” H1 tag. So, this heading tells Google that this page is about where to buy two wheeler parts, so it increases the chances of this page to rank for that query. Thus, Google will display this page to the right users, and thereby it helps reduce bounce rates, which in turn helps improve SEO.
Some important instructions to optimize the headings
- H1 Tag on every page: Never miss the H1 tag on a page as the search spiders tend to look for h1 tags to get the idea about the content of the page. If you miss the H1 tag or your webpage is without an introduction, visitors may not be sure if they are on the right page.
- Unique: Don’t overuse H1 tag, i.e., it should be only one for each page. Multiple headers for a page may confuse the readers and dilute your keywords. Duplicate content is never good, no matter how small it is.
- Relevant, descriptive keywords: Use targeted keywords or phrases in the headings; avoid words that are not relevant to the page. For example, instead of “About” or “About Us” you can use “About Our Car Repair Shop.” You can also incorporate long-tail keywords in the heading to make the heading more specific and interesting to readers. Thus, it allows you to show the readers that they have found the right page. For example, a toy supplier while writing a page about toys supplies for his or her website can use the H1 tags like “toys supplies,” “Where to Buy Toys Supplies,” or “All about toys supplies,” etc. Thus, it allows you to use keywords in the right spots, and thus helps your website to outrank the competition. Furthermore, the headings should be followed by a body of relevant content.
- Sequence: Maintain the order of heading tags; H1 should come first in the page followed by H2, H3, and so on.
- Keyword density: Don’t stuff keywords into the H1 tag or heading, For example, Car Parts Supplies is better than “Car Parts Car Repair Supplies Cars”
- Use subheadings: You can use the H2 tag after every 200 or more words to create a page break that makes each section more visible and appealing. Remember not to put keywords in every subheading as it may result in keyword stuffing.