You probably know that your website’s content needs to have keywords and header tags. But do you know why and what they do? Let’s find out.
Having a thorough SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) plan is crucial when you’re trying to drive traffic and visibility for your website. An effective SEO strategy should use both off-page and on-page techniques. Off-page SEO strategies like link building are equally as crucial as on-page strategies like header tags and strategically placed keywords. Old SEO strategies such as keyword stuffing are extremely outdated and it is always painfully clear when someone has written content on their website for machines and not for the humans reading it.
Header tags won’t make or break your rating, they are still an important element of your SEO activities and we highly recommend using them properly in order to get the most benefits from them.
The key thing to remember is that each tag serves a purpose, whether you use meta tags with title and description or other tags to organise content.
Let’s deep dive into each tag’s function and determine how important it is for SEO.
Using Header Tags for Structure
Each heading should give the reader a sense as to what they can expect to learn in the section.
- H1 introduces the subject of your page, much like a title would.
- H2 is meant to be the main subjects of the article
- H3s to H6s serve as extra subheadings, similar to how a book chapter may be divided into several subtopics.
Include Keywords in Your Header Tags
Google examines your page’s headers to determine the context. Although headers by themselves do not significantly affect SEO, adding keywords can improve your ranking. This means that while you should change your headers to include keywords, you shouldn’t force them into spaces where they don’t naturally go. Make sure your headers are readable and naturally contain keywords by reading your page again.
Breaking Down Header Tags
Heading tags in HTML are used to separate headings and subheadings from other forms of text inside your content. From H1 to H6, H1 is the most “important” tag in the hierarchy.
There is much discussion surrounding the use of heading tags, and opinions on the subject differ. However, H2-H6 tags aren’t typically thought to be as crucial for SEO as H1 tags.
H1 Tags:
The proper use of H1 tags has been researched throughout the sector, with the observation that improper use of H1s can prevent sites from ranking and traffic growth.
You might be tempted to employ H1 tags throughout your material now that you know they are the most significant. However, they must only be utilised once each page.
H2 Tags:
After H1 comes H2. Since they are the second largest and second most significant.
H3 Tags:
Consider utilising H3 tags to denote additional chapter themes. They are frequently used as bullet points or to format lists.
H4-H6 Tags:
According to HubSpot, H4 tags are “subsections that further elucidate the ideas stated in the H3.” They can also be utilised to format lists or bullet points.
Best SEO practices for tags:
Small adjustments can have a major impact on user-friendliness and SEO. The best SEO techniques are as follows:
- Give each page a distinct H1 that reflects the subject it deals with and includes your main keywords.
- Use H2-H6 tags with secondary keywords pertinent to each paragraph when necessary (usually, H3 tags are sufficient).
- The tags and keywords in them shouldn’t be overused. Maintain readability.
When done correctly and with the searcher in mind, on-page SEO optimisation is a continuous process that aids in improving your ranking. Don’t overlook minor adjustments that build up to significant effects – it’s a bit like going to the gym for your website.
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