Creating unique, engaging content for both the benefit of users and search engines is a must today. With such fierce competition and vast quantities of quality content being produced on almost every subject, having the edge and making content stand out should be every website owner’s goal.
When creating your in-depth content, there will undoubtedly be a number of questions that you will be asking, to help refine your written content and produce exceptional content that will rank in organic search. A fairly common pattern, as discussed by John Mueller, is the use of multiple H1 headings on web pages. He emphasizes that Google’s systems can handle multiple H1 tags well, indicating that this approach is frequently observed across the web, and it does not negatively impact SEO when used appropriately for user accessibility.
Google’s John Mueller has confirmed that there are no restrictions on the number of H1 tags one can use, stating that pages can rank well regardless of whether they have H1 tags or not.
One of the most common questions we are asked as an agency is: ‘Are Multiple H1 Tags Bad for SEO?’
Firstly, let’s take a look at what H1 tags actually are. A H1 tag is a type of heading tag. Heading tags are used in HTML (website code that browsers use to display a web page) to identify a heading in written content. This helps search engines to learn the structure of a page and better understand the topic and sub-sections of text.
Heading tags are designated H1 to H6, which is generally used to signify heading importance within a page. You will usually find that H1 headings are sized in order, with H1 tags being the largest. This isn’t essential, but makes for a better user experience and layout. H1 tags demonstrate a hierarchy within a page and show search engines which headings should be categorised as sub-headings for a given topic or section.
Proper use of heading elements is crucial for structuring web content for SEO. These elements, particularly the H1 tag, should be used hierarchically to indicate the significance of the content, aiding both search engines and accessibility for users. Historical practices and Google’s evolving understanding of content emphasize that the correct use of heading elements remains essential for effective SEO.
We’ve demonstrated a basic blog layout below, making use of H1 to H3 tags to show heading order, importance and sub-headings.
To the important question: Are multiple H1 tags bad for SEO? The short answer is no. But it’s not quite that simple.
Previously it was considered bad SEO practice to include more than one H1 tag. These were used as a main page or post heading only, with H2 to H6 tags used to show a hierarchy throughout the page or post content. Many SEO tools will identify this as a technical SEO error, and flag this up for rectification. However, current guidelines indicate that using multiple H1 tags can make sense, especially when it enhances user experience and logical content structure.
Google’s John Mueller stated the following in a Google Search Central explainer video, posted in October 2019:
“Our systems don’t have a problem when it comes to multiple H1 headings on a page” John Mueller – Webmaster Trends Analyst | Google
John goes on to say that Google uses headings to better understand the parts of a page. It’s also noted that much of the web isn’t semantically structured, so Google basically have to work with what’s there. He also affirmed that using multiple H1 tags is perfectly fine and does not negatively impact SEO.
As we mentioned above, it’s not quite as simple as being able to use multiple H1 tags. The page content should still demonstrate a structure and hierarchy. For example, using a H1 heading tag for every heading because we know that multiple H1 tags are okay, isn’t what Google are looking for.
However you choose to use heading tags within a page or post, you must remember to show structure, which helps search engines to understand your topic and content.
While we consider our graphic above as best practice, you may choose find that you already have multiple H1 tags, but need to adapt this to better structure the web pages. Below is an example of heading tag structure when multiple H1 tags have been used. You’ll see that even though there are more than one H1 tag, the post still shows how subheadings are related to the heading above.
For the purpose of the graphic above, we have used H4 heading tags for the sub headings. This isn’t for any particular reason and doesn’t matter so long as the structure and hierarchy is demonstrated. The point is, important or main headings are a lower number tag, while sub headings increase to a larger number heading tag.
Remember: H1 Tags are usually the largest headings, are main or important headings, and have the lowest number.
It does not matter how many H1 tags you use on a single page, so long as they are not being added for the purpose or trying to increase search engine ranking. If you have six main headings, then six H1 heading tags are fine. It’s worth noting that more headings will not increase your chances of ranking for any given search term, so develop the content to be naturally written, structured and helpful. A obvious unbalanced ratio of headings to text could harm your SEO and organic ranking performance. There are ongoing debates within the SEO industry regarding the proper use of heading tags like H1, H2, and H3.
Using exact duplicate headings will likely harm your SEO and ranking. There should be no need to have a heading more than once, even if that heading is used with different heading tags. Duplicate headings of any type should be avoided in favour of unique, helpful headings. Additionally, maintaining a hierarchical structure for headings is crucial to enhance accessibility for users relying on screen readers.
There’s no set answer for this. If you need a long heading do describe your page or sub-section, it’s ok to do so. It’s important to put yourself in the position of the user trying to find the information they require, and judge this sensibly. Longer headings stuffed with keywords will have little or no benefit to ranking in search, so where possible, use brief yet descriptive headings. Additionally, ensure that your title tag complements the H1 tag hierarchy, as the title tag is crucial for informing search engines about the content and attracting clicks within search results.
When it comes to H1 tags, best practices are crucial for optimizing both user experience and SEO. Ideally, you should use only one H1 tag per page to indicate the title of the entire page. This H1 tag should be descriptive and accurately reflect the content of the page, providing a clear and concise summary of what the page is about.
Using H1 tags to break up long blocks of content can create a clear visual hierarchy, making the page easier to read and navigate. However, avoid using H1 tags for styling purposes; instead, use CSS to control the appearance of headings. This ensures that your H1 tags serve their intended purpose of structuring content rather than merely altering its appearance.
Effective use of H1 tags can significantly enhance both user experience and SEO. Start by using H1 tags to provide a clear title for the page, making it easy for both users and search engines to understand the content. This helps in creating a document outline, which search engines use to comprehend the structure and hierarchy of the page.
Highlight important keywords and phrases within your H1 tags, but avoid keyword stuffing, as this can negatively impact your SEO. Consistency is key; use H1 tags consistently throughout the page to create a clear and logical structure. Avoid using multiple H1 tags on the same page, as this can create confusion and negatively impact accessibility.
Use H1 tags in conjunction with other heading tags (H2, H3, etc.) to create a clear and logical hierarchy of information. Ensure that your H1 tags are descriptive and accurately reflect the content of the page. By providing a clear title for each section of the page, you make it easier for users to navigate and understand the content, enhancing the overall user experience.
In short, multiple H1 heading tags are not bad for SEO. But it’s important to remember that whichever tags you are using, they should help search engines understand your content.
Heading tags for SEO are a small part of the big picture, but getting this right can help when it comes to outranking competition with a similar quality or length of content. The most important thing to consider when writing content for your website, is to cover your topic as comprehensively as possible, answering the question that the user set out to find in the first place.
If you can demonstrate Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness within your content, you are halfway there, and will increase your chances of ranking in organic search results significantly.
Struggling with content for SEO, or need a complete solution for ranking your website higher in search?
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