Hn tags, properly using H1, H2, H3 for SEO 2023
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The architecture and content structure of your website wield substantial influence over your SEO. Hn tags, acting as titles and sub-titles, play a pivotal role in enhancing on-site SEO and improving user experience (UX) for your content. These tags serve to assist both your website visitors and search engines in recognizing the themes explored within your page."
Understanding Heading Tags (Hn Tags)
Hn tags are HTML elements employed to define the headings and subheadings of a webpage.
These tags are numbered from 1 to 6 based on the significance and placement of the heading or subheading within the overall document structure. They create a hierarchy that simplifies reading for both users and Google crawlers. A quick review of the table of contents, featuring all the Hn tags, makes it effortless to discern the locations of critical information, arguments, and noteworthy passages, benefiting the reader.
Note: Please don't confuse the coding of Hn tags, presented as follows: <h1>...</h1>; <h2>...</h2>... etc., with the coding of the page header, which is written like this: <head>...</head>
Effectively Utilizing the H1 Tag
The H1 tag serves as the primary title of a webpage.
Its content should consistently represent the core subject matter of the page. An effective H1 title should be engaging, compelling readers to explore the content further, and, for SEO purposes, include the primary target keyword from your acquisition strategy.
It is advisable to:
- Include only one H1 per page;
- Ensure each page has a unique H1, avoiding duplicate titles;
- Keep the H1 distinct from your TITLE tag;
- Prefer shorter H1 titles, ideally under 70 characters, placing the primary SEO keyword at the beginning of the tag;
- Implement CSS to make the H1 tag visually distinct (e.g., larger font size) compared to other Hn tags. For example, for this article, considering our focus, alternative H1 options could include "Structuring Blog Articles with Hn Tags" or "Hn Tags: Definitions and Applications," among others.
Effectively Using H2, H3, and Other Hn Tags
Similar to the primary H1 title, subsequent Hn tags are equally significant. H tags (not to be confused with hashtags, as they serve different purposes!) ranging from H2 to H6 aim to simplify the identification of chapters or subtopics discussed within the content.
Here are some guidelines for Hn tags:
These tags should incorporate strategic terms, including synonyms or keywords related to the primary term;
They should be structured in descending chronological order without any gaps, such as:
- H1 - H2 - H3 - H3 - H2 - H3 - H3
H1 - H2 - H2 - H2 is a recommended structure
H1 - H3 - H4 - H2 - H4 - H4 is not a recommended structure
Similar to a dissertation, the Hn structure mirrors your logical thinking, argumentation, or the hierarchy of information.
Let's use this theme as an example.
For this article, we could have employed the following structure:
H1: Structuring Blog Articles with Hn Tags
<Introduction>
H2: Understanding the Purpose of Hn Tags
H3: Significance of the H1 Tag
H3: SEO Implications of H2 Tags
H2: Guiding Readers with Apt Titles and Subtitles
H3: Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis: A Structure Typically Reserved for Dissertations?
<Conclusion>
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Hn Tags
Regrettably, it's commonplace to encounter illogical Hn tagging in the composition of certain webpages. These out-of-place Hn tags can clutter your pages, confuse readers, and adversely affect your rankings. This primarily pertains to H tags located outside the content body (<body>) in areas such as menus, super-menus, columns, or footers.
For instance, Hn tags within menus or footers will be duplicated across the site. However, as they are excessively prevalent and ubiquitous, the significance of your page titles - the ones you've meticulously crafted - will diminish. They will lose importance, essentially being "lost in the crowd." For both Google and your readers, it's essential to focus on the essentials. Include only relevant titles that align with the subject matter of each webpage.
Remember, heading tags aren't intended for aesthetic enhancements of your pages. They aren't meant to enlarge sections of content but rather to structure the ideas within your text. If you wish to emphasize specific phrases within your content, utilize CSS classes (bold, italic) or employ appropriate punctuation. Ensure your sentences maintain rhythm and liveliness, and consider having someone else review your work if needed.
Assessing the Quality of Your Hn Tagging
To assess the headings on a webpage, you can utilize free tools like browser extensions designed for SEO or directly inspect the source code.
Here's an example of what such a tool might reveal for a page that ranks prominently on Google for the search query "content pruning":
The tool provides insight into several aspects:
The H1 tag is the initial tag on the page;
There's only one H1 present;
The H1 tag incorporates the primary keyword "Content pruning" at
the beginning of the tag;
The content within the H1 tag accurately represents the article's content;
Related terms to the primary keyword are included in the Hn tags: "content removal," "remove content," "content to remove," and "removal of a page";
The order of the Hn tags adheres to best practices;
No extraneous Hn structures (e.g., in menus, footers, etc.) are found on the page.
If a comprehensive analysis of your entire website's markup is necessary, consider using a web crawler. Such software can extract valuable data for thorough analysis.
The Screaming Frog crawler, available in its paid version, facilitates this analysis, among other capabilities. Once configured, it provides the count of H1, H2, H3, H4... tags per page. It also allows you to extract the content within these tags to assess the semantics employed. This crawl can uncover issues like missing titles or duplicated content found across multiple pages.
An SEO expert specializes in organic search optimization. They can assist in identifying your website's strengths and optimizing each page to attract an expanding audience.
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