What are SEO heading tags (H1), and how to use them?

Header tags also referred to as heading tags, are mainly used to divide the headings and subheadings that we use and see on any web page. Depending on the significance, these tags are represented from H1 to H6. The header tags help increase a web page’s ranking and readability during a query raised in any search engine.

When we write “H” while representing H1, H2, etc., it denotes the “heading element.” In SEO language, these are referred to as “header tags.”

What are H1 or heading tags?

The H1 is an HTML tag indicating the heading of a website.

Let us simplify it:

• HTML: is the abbreviation for Hypertext Markup Language. This is the language and is technical and used to construct web pages on most websites.
• Tag: An HTML tag is a fragmented code instructing your web browser to display the content.
• The heading tag is H1; depending on the significance, these headers are divided.

H1 — It represents the post’s title. They’re usually keyword-focused, on a webpage or post’s “main concept,” and written to pique a reader’s interest. Many various tactics are used in good SEO. Another significant aspect of “on-page SEO” is HTML to format the page. H1 tags on your pages are an essential element of this. It’s critical to understand how to use these H1 tags because they’re one of your site’s most essential search engine ranking elements.

Heading tags in HTML are used to format your page’s headings in order of priority. The H1 tag is the first one on the page, and it tells search engines what to expect from the rest of the page.

To elaborate on what an HTML tag is, HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is a website-building language. An HTML tag is a simple code that directs a search engine (such as Google) to display the material on a page.

How to write H1 tags?

An H1 tag is produced by sandwiching the heading between two lines of HTML formatting, as shown below:

• <h1>the content comes here <h1>
• <h1> informs the search engine that the tag begins here, and <h1> informs the search engine that the tag ends here.

What is the importance of H1 tags?

In SEO, H1 tags are essential. It’s the second-most crucial ranking element, according to SEO experts.

• H1s stand out on the page because of their size, and they inform readers about what they may expect to see on the remaining page.
• Over time, SEO has evolved to focus more on accessibility and usability and provide a positive experience to the readers, rather than simply meeting all of the technical requirements. An H1 tag, unlike an HTML title tag, does not just instruct search engines or web pages what to display. However, it impacts the user experience, which is crucial for SEO.
• The page title is essentially the H1 tag. The title tag appears on search engine results pages, whereas the H1 tag appears on the page itself. Many individuals utilize the same HTML title tag – H1 so that when a user clicks through to the website, everything matches, and the user lands on that particular webpage and the ranking of the page.
• H1 tags that are appropriately chosen and formatted can significantly impact how well your content ranks in search engines and how well searchers respond to it.
• Through the header, the search gets simplified and streamlined. Readers can enable shortcuts to jump between marked headers, navigation easier.
• Another reason headers are crucial for SEO is that they let users traverse the page more quickly.

SEO Best Practices for the H1 Tag

• The H1 tag should be the same as the page title or minor differences because CMS is set up in this manner.
• The keywords must be present in the heading. The keywords must be present in both the header and the title. Tactfully, the main keyword must be used in the title, and related keywords can be used in H1 if the content creator has a different title and heading.
• It is important to remember very long headings must be strictly avoided as they must not exceed 65 characters. Instead, the short heading must be made descriptive.
• It is essential that the H1 tag is accessible and readable to searchers and not hidden. Some themes in WordPress generate H1 tags, but these hide the keywords. Further, the users cannot see the page in the related search.
• The presentation and the style of the H1 should be distinct from the remaining headings.
• Organize your headings in a hierarchical order; otherwise, you risk confusing both search engines and users. If we simplify the words, the <h1> tag should be first in the HTML code, followed by h2, h3, and so on.
• Only one H1 tag must be there on a page to avoid confusion.
• The user’s intent should be reflected in the H1 tags. If the user does not find the H1 tags interesting, they will leave the page, negatively impacting the SEO, and the customer is lost.

Evolution trend of using the H1 tags:

Google’s algorithms are updated regularly, affecting the ranking of the web pages. It should be taken into account that H1 headings have changed throughout time, as have the best practices for using them. According to the earlier method, you were only intended to have one H1 per page. The H1 should have been the most prominent text on the page, including the long-tail keyword. Still, the recent update says to increase the CTR and the ranking, and the H1 tags must be catchy, descriptive, user friendly yet short ( kept within 65to 120 characters); otherwise, it is not reflected in the search engine.

Bottom Line: H1 tags should be used on all of your site’s primary pages to pull the reader in and give a clear indicator of the page’s content. It can significantly impact SEO performance if you have great H1 tags, especially if they match your title tags.