Difference Between H1 And H2

How to Use H1, H2, and H3 Header Tags for SEO Effectively

If you're trying to grow traffic organically, you're probably looking to use SEO to your advantage. So, when it comes to H1, H2, and H3 headings—just how helpful are they for SEO? While they may show mixed results in higher search engine ranking, these tags are highly valuable to your content.

How to Use H1, H2, and H3 Tags for SEO

How to Use H1, H2, and H3 Tags for WordPress SEO

To put it into perspective, think of your heading tags as ranks of duty. H1 tags are most important—then H2, and so forth. Each subheading will provide different information, but relate to the main topic. You can use a series of short-tail and long-tail keywords, which search engines then pick up on.

While proper headings don't have a massive impact on SEO alone, they do have many perks. The more direct your headings are, the better value you give to your readers. You want to make titles straightforward, and you need the content to deliver.

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It's no secret that people bore easily. When someone is searching for a subject, they are looking for direct answers. If you clog your writing with useless information—or you dance around a topic without getting to the point—they'll likely move on.

Labeling each heading according to its contents will help your reader get the most out of the knowledge provided.

What Do H1, H2, and H3 Tags Do?

Your H1 tag is your head-honcho, containing the target keywords for your post. This is the first impression people get when they spot your article in a search engine. For this reason, it has to clearly state what the reader will learn by viewing your article.

Because it tells the reader the subject matter up front, you must deliver content directly relating to this topic. You wouldn't want to click on an article titled, "How to Take Care of an Orchid Plant" only to read about how many types of orchid plants exist instead. That's misleading and incorrect.

Use H1 tags as a means of showcasing everything a person will get when they click on the title. All of your main keywords should appear in a sequence to attract your target audience.

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Then, you utilize H2 tags as subheadings for your text. You can think of these as individual chapters that make up the whole story. Each H2 tag will include keywords relating to the main keywords but offer a particular focus.

Your H3 tags should follow suit as well, relating to each H2 heading. That way, you can better categorize your material. You can define specific points to give better clarity. H3 tags are also excellent additions when you have moderately long H2 sections.

To break it down, remember:

H1 = Main keywords and subject matter, what the overall post is about
H2 = Sections to break up content, using similar keywords to the H1 tag
H3 = Subcategories to further break up the content, making it easily scannable

How Many H1, H2, and H3 Tags Should You Have?

When it comes to H1 settings concerning SEO, there are some conflicting reports on the subject. In general, there is little evidence to say for sure that your H1 tag helps you rank higher in Google. Results are inconsistent at best.

There has also been some confusion on how multiple H1 tags in a post actually impacts SEO. It used to be a giant no-no to have more than one because it can come across as spam, negatively affecting the rating.

As a general rule of thumb, having only one H1 tag creates a clear, direct outline about your article with no confusion. So, if you're trying to decide, you may be better of sticking with a singular H1.

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H2 tags are a bit different. Having multiple sections per post makes your content easily digestible. Each aspect of the post should have its own H2 tag. You're letting your reader know what that section offers, allowing them to find the information they seek quickly.

H3 tags can break up your text that much more, further compartmentalizing the paragraphs. No one wants to read large blocks of text if they're trying to find something specific. The more precise you are, and the more you break up your writing, the better people can navigate through it.

There is no right number of H3 tags, as it much depends on the article. You can also use H4, H5, and H6 tags—but this is less common and not always practical.

Creating Excellent H1, H2, and H3 Tags for SEO

When you're creating your post, map out the subject to find out what keywords are most beneficial. Make sure your title tells your audience precisely what they will read.

Catchy H1, H2, and H3 headlines that leave a reader wondering what the article is about may work in some cases. But you'll likely have better luck if you are forthright. Being elusive can make it easy for people to skip past your title, even if your post contains exactly what they need to know.

Summarize the whole article with one keyword-rich, confusion-free H1 tag. With each H2 tag, expand on the different elements of your H1. Then, to help with readability, use your H3 tags for additional segments.

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For SEO effectiveness, keep each tag on track and straight to the point. Follow up each tag with information relating to the main heading. Use keywords naturally and don't make the terms sound forced, clunky, or nonsensical.

Try not to jam a ton of keywords into your work needlessly. Search engines like Google can—and will—pick up on this as their web crawlers scan your content. Trying to pull the wool over Google's eyes will not benefit your ranking.

Optimizing Your SEO Strategy with H1, H2, and H3 Tags

When strategizing SEO effectively, well-constructed content is more valuable than anything. Make your post informative and applicable to readers. If your post makes a promise to teach the reader about a topic, hold to that.

Remember, your H1, H2, and H3 tags aid in communication. The better your content addresses their main points of interest, the more likely they are to read on. Quality should always take precedence over excessive keyword use or irrelevant jargon.

Getting Help with SEO Effectiveness

If you need assistance with your SEO strategy, our Denver SEO agency would love to discuss the best options for you. Together, we can figure out the best plan to expand your outreach.

Let's explore how we can help grow your business. Contact us today.

Ron is the Founder of Clicta Digital - a Denver digital marketing agency. He has over 10 years of digital marketing experience and is extremely passionate about the great outdoors. Outside of work you can find him passing time with his life partner and two schnauzers.