The H1 tag is the main heading of a web page: the primary heading that tells search engines and visitors what the page is about.
Difference from the title tag
The H1 tag appears in the visible content of the page, not in the browser tab or the search results. Visitors see the H1 immediately after clicking; the title tag is what convinced them to click. Both must contain the keyword, but may be phrased differently.
Best Practices
- Each page has exactly one H1 tag. Multiple H1 tags are technically allowed in HTML5, but they confuse the hierarchy that search engines expect.
- Join the search intent: The H1 heading confirms to the visitor that they are on the correct page.
- Use H2 and H3 tags for the internal hierarchy of sections and subsections; do not skip any levels.
Header Structure as a Signal
The heading structure (H1 through H6) helps search engines understand a page’s structure and subject matter. A clear hierarchy also makes it easier for Google to apply page-level ranking, in which individual sections of a page rank for specific search queries.
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