Header Tags

What Is a Header Tag?

A header tag, or HTML tag is used to divide up the different headings in a page’s content. They are hierarchically structured from H1- H6 with H1 being the main header and the subsequent tags being the subheadings.

Why Are Header Tags Important?

Header tags are essential components for good SEO, this is due to a range of reasons.

• They improve UX (User Experience) by making content easier to read. They guide users through the navigation of the text in a chronological manner and help them find their way if they get lost. This in turn contributes to page readability.
• Header tags also make your content more accessible for those who use a screen reader. Due the tags being integrated into the HTML, the user can audibly hear the tags and decide whether or not the article is useful for them and their query.

Header tags also aid Google Crawlers with their crawling and indexing of your site and help them understand whether or not your page is relevant to the searcher’s query. Webmasters can use header tags to cater to search intent.

How Can You Optimise Header Tags?

There are some best practices to follow if you want to get the most out of your header tags.

1. Use Your Headers to Structure Your Content

This is important. You can’t have more than one H1 tag, this should be used to introduce all of the content on a single page. Make sure every page has a H1 tag too, and don’t let them dominate the page. Adjust the font size so it doesn’t overwhelm the content.

H2 tags break up the text further and zone in on the different topics included within the content. The rest of the headers are supplementary subheadings that delve into subtopics.

2. Integrate Keywords

While this won’t have a huge impact, it’s still worth doing because the crawlers will pick up on it. However, don’t keyword stuff the header text, instead conduct in depth keyword research and integrate the relevant target keywords into your header.

3. Tailor Them to Be Included in Featured Snippets

Optimising header tags is a really great way to appear in featured snippets. Targeting long-tail keyword search terms, and providing comprehensive but concise answers to these search terms largely increases your chances. 

4. Don’t repeat H1 tags

Make sure that every H1 tag that you use is unique. Duplicated content is always a no-no. Keep it fresh and original, and don’t be afraid to get creative with it. Compelling content leads to more engagement and higher dwell time.

Are There Tools to Help You?

There are a few different tools out there can help you check your header tags.

• SEO Site Checkup
• AdResults
• SEOptimer

How Can We Help?

Think your formatting needs some serious work? Get in touch and we’ll pair you with an awesome team that will give your site the once over and help improve your UX and SEO.

In the meantime, you could take a look at our training courses where you can learn some of our best SEO techniques and implement them in your own business.