The Truth About Having Multiple H1 Headings On Your Webpage
Introduction
Having only one H1 per page has been common wisdom among SEO experts since the dawn of search engine optimisation.
But is it actually that important?
According to John Muller, webmaster trends analyst at Google, it’s not.
So, having multiple H1 headings on your webpage, or even none for that matter, will not DIRECTLY influence your ranking position.
However, there are still a couple of considerations to make if you want your website to be more appealing to search engines and, ultimately, drive more traffic.
What Is An H1 Tag?
Let’s briefly touch upon the basics.
An H1 tag is an HTML element used to define a webpage’s main heading.
It is the largest and most important heading on a page and is typically used for the title or main topic of the content.
Here’s an example of how the H1 of this page would look like in the source code:
How HTML5 Changed The Game
Before HTML5 entered the picture, having only one H1 tag on a page was considered best practice.
And for good reasons.
However, HTML5 introduced something called “semantic elements”.
These semantic elements allow both search engines and screen readers to make sense of the structure of a page.
By using the appropriate semantic elements instead of generic tags, developers can clearly divide a page into multiple independent sections.
If a page has multiple independent sections, it makes sense to have multiple headings.
Each section will have a different topic and, therefore, a different headline.
The point I’m trying to make is that, since the introduction of HTML5, having multiple H1 tags is considered perfectly normal.
Search engines won’t punish you for using multiple H1 tags on the same page. Neither will they if you have none!
However, there’s more to the story.
How H1 Tags Influence SEO.
I know that I’ve said H1 tags are not a ranking factor.
However, they can still influence SEO in three different ways:
H1 tags help search engines understand the site’s content
H1 tags improve the overall User Experience (UX)
H1 tags improve accessibility
Let’s look at each one of them in more detail.
H1 Tags Help Search Engines Understand The Site’s Content
What’s the first thing you do when you land on a website? Most likely, you read the title – just like everyone else.
But have you ever wondered why we always start with the headline?
The reason is simple: we use the title to quickly grasp what the page is about.
And guess what? Search engines work in a very similar fashion.
A clear headline is crucial because it helps both visitors and search engines understand what your page is about.
Remember that search engines must first understand what your page is about before determining if it’s relevant to what users search.
H1 tags improve the overall User Experience (UX)
A clear content hierarchy is one of the pillars of a good User Experience (UX).
It allows users to quickly skim your content to find what they’re interested in.
Google has stated that your website’s user experience is definitely something their algorithm takes into consideration.
Therefore, make sure you have a clear hierarchy within your content.
H1 Tags Improve Accessibility
Hundreds of millions of people suffer from visual impairment and, therefore, rely on screen readers to navigate the web.
Those people might have a hard time understanding your page’s content if it lacks a content hierarchy.
Your site’s accessibility contributes to its overall user experience, and, as we stated earlier, that’s a significant factor in SEO.
And even if it didn’t impact SEO, having an accessible website means broadening your audience size.
That sounds like a good strategic move to me.
Summary
Let’s summarise what we’ve discussed so far.
Having multiple H1 tags on the same page is not a problem on its own.
Instead of looking at the single H1, you’d be better off considering your whole content hierarchy.
A well-structured page will provide a better experience to users and will make it easier for search engines to understand what the content is about.
Both of which will help your ranking.
FAQs
Q1 - Can I Use Multiple H1 Tags On A Web Page?
Yes, you can use multiple H1 tags on a web page as long as you keep a clear content hierarchy.
Q2 - Do Multiple H1s Hurt SEO?
No, having multiple H1s doesn’t hurt your SEO. Since the introduction of HTML5, having multiple H1s on the same page is considered completely normal.
Q3 - Does It Matter Where The H1 Is On The Page?
While there’s no fixed rule, having your H1 on the top of the page where people can immediately read it when they land on your website is considered best practice for User Experience (UX).
Q4 - Should Your Page’s Title And H1 Be The Same?
While it’s true that they don’t have to be the same, it’s recommended to keep some sort of consistency between the two to provide clarity to both users and search engines.
Q5 - Can A Page Have No H1 Tag?
Technically, your page doesn’t need an H1 tag. However, it’s best practice to have at least one H1 tag to enhance user experience and accessibility.
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read the whole article. I hope you found it helpful.
If you need any assistance with your SEO campaign, please feel free to reach out with any questions.
If you’ve found this article helpful, I kindly invite you to share it with a friend who might benefit from it!
Introduction
Having only one H1 per page has been common wisdom among SEO experts since the dawn of search engine optimisation.
But is it actually that important?
According to John Muller, webmaster trends analyst at Google, it’s not.
So, having multiple H1 headings on your webpage, or even none for that matter, will not DIRECTLY influence your ranking position.
However, there are still a couple of considerations to make if you want your website to be more appealing to search engines and, ultimately, drive more traffic.
What Is An H1 Tag?
Let’s briefly touch upon the basics.
An H1 tag is an HTML element used to define a webpage’s main heading.
It is the largest and most important heading on a page and is typically used for the title or main topic of the content.
Here’s an example of how the H1 of this page would look like in the source code:
How HTML5 Changed The Game
Before HTML5 entered the picture, having only one H1 tag on a page was considered best practice.
And for good reasons.
However, HTML5 introduced something called “semantic elements”.
These semantic elements allow both search engines and screen readers to make sense of the structure of a page.
By using the appropriate semantic elements instead of generic tags, developers can clearly divide a page into multiple independent sections.
If a page has multiple independent sections, it makes sense to have multiple headings.
Each section will have a different topic and, therefore, a different headline.
The point I’m trying to make is that, since the introduction of HTML5, having multiple H1 tags is considered perfectly normal.
Search engines won’t punish you for using multiple H1 tags on the same page. Neither will they if you have none!
However, there’s more to the story.
How H1 Tags Influence SEO.
I know that I’ve said H1 tags are not a ranking factor.
However, they can still influence SEO in three different ways:
H1 tags help search engines understand the site’s content
H1 tags improve the overall User Experience (UX)
H1 tags improve accessibility
Let’s look at each one of them in more detail.
H1 Tags Help Search Engines Understand The Site’s Content
What’s the first thing you do when you land on a website? Most likely, you read the title – just like everyone else.
But have you ever wondered why we always start with the headline?
The reason is simple: we use the title to quickly grasp what the page is about.
And guess what? Search engines work in a very similar fashion.
A clear headline is crucial because it helps both visitors and search engines understand what your page is about.
Remember that search engines must first understand what your page is about before determining if it’s relevant to what users search.
H1 tags improve the overall User Experience (UX)
A clear content hierarchy is one of the pillars of a good User Experience (UX).
It allows users to quickly skim your content to find what they’re interested in.
Google has stated that your website’s user experience is definitely something their algorithm takes into consideration.
Therefore, make sure you have a clear hierarchy within your content.
H1 Tags Improve Accessibility
Hundreds of millions of people suffer from visual impairment and, therefore, rely on screen readers to navigate the web.
Those people might have a hard time understanding your page’s content if it lacks a content hierarchy.
Your site’s accessibility contributes to its overall user experience, and, as we stated earlier, that’s a significant factor in SEO.
And even if it didn’t impact SEO, having an accessible website means broadening your audience size.
That sounds like a good strategic move to me.
Summary
Let’s summarise what we’ve discussed so far.
Having multiple H1 tags on the same page is not a problem on its own.
Instead of looking at the single H1, you’d be better off considering your whole content hierarchy.
A well-structured page will provide a better experience to users and will make it easier for search engines to understand what the content is about.
Both of which will help your ranking.
FAQs
Q1 - Can I Use Multiple H1 Tags On A Web Page?
Yes, you can use multiple H1 tags on a web page as long as you keep a clear content hierarchy.
Q2 - Do Multiple H1s Hurt SEO?
No, having multiple H1s doesn’t hurt your SEO. Since the introduction of HTML5, having multiple H1s on the same page is considered completely normal.
Q3 - Does It Matter Where The H1 Is On The Page?
While there’s no fixed rule, having your H1 on the top of the page where people can immediately read it when they land on your website is considered best practice for User Experience (UX).
Q4 - Should Your Page’s Title And H1 Be The Same?
While it’s true that they don’t have to be the same, it’s recommended to keep some sort of consistency between the two to provide clarity to both users and search engines.
Q5 - Can A Page Have No H1 Tag?
Technically, your page doesn’t need an H1 tag. However, it’s best practice to have at least one H1 tag to enhance user experience and accessibility.
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read the whole article. I hope you found it helpful.
If you need any assistance with your SEO campaign, please feel free to reach out with any questions.
If you’ve found this article helpful, I kindly invite you to share it with a friend who might benefit from it!
Luca Da Corte is a freelance Framer Expert and SEO specialist. When he’s not working on some exciting projects, he curates a blog where he shares insights, resources, and experiences on everything regarding websites.
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