How can you use H1, H2, and H3 tags to improve your on-page SEO? (2024)

H1, H2, and H3 tags are HTML elements that indicate the headings and subheadings of your content. They are also known as header tags or heading tags. They help search engines understand the hierarchy and relevance of your content, as well as the main topic and keywords of your page. They also help users scan and navigate your content more easily, as they provide visual cues and summaries of what each section is about.

H1 tags are the most important header tags for SEO, as they tell search engines and users what your page is about. You should only use one H1 tag per page, and it should match or closely reflect your page title and SEO headline. Your H1 tag should include your primary keyword and be clear, concise, and catchy. You should also avoid using too many words or stuffing keywords in your H1 tag, as this can harm your SEO and user experience.

H2 tags are the second most important header tags for SEO, as they tell search engines and users what your main subtopics are. You can use multiple H2 tags per page, and they should follow a logical order and structure. Your H2 tags should include your secondary keywords and be descriptive, informative, and relevant. You should also avoid using the same keywords or phrases as your H1 tag or other H2 tags, as this can cause keyword cannibalization and confusion.

H3 tags are the third most important header tags for SEO, as they tell search engines and users what your sub-subtopics are. You can use multiple H3 tags per page, and they should be nested under the appropriate H2 tags. Your H3 tags should include your tertiary keywords and be specific, helpful, and coherent. You should also avoid using the same keywords or phrases as your H1 tag, H2 tags, or other H3 tags, as this can dilute your SEO and user experience.

Formatting your header tags for SEO is not only about selecting the right keywords and tags, but also making them visually appealing and easy to read. Different font sizes, colors, and styles should be used to differentiate header tags from body text and each other. It is recommended to use h1 , h2 , and h3 tags in HTML code, rather than b , strong , or span tags, as they are more semantic and SEO-friendly. Hyphens, colons, or pipes should be used to separate keywords or phrases in header tags instead of commas, slashes, or brackets as they are more readable and attractive. Title case, sentence case, or lower case can be used for header tags depending on style and preference; however, all caps should be avoided as it may look spammy and unprofessional.

Auditing your header tags for SEO is a good way to check if you are using them correctly and effectively, and to identify and fix any issues or errors. To do this, you should use a tool like Screaming Frog or Google Search Console to crawl your website and find all the pages with header tags. Then, assess the length, content, and structure of your header tags in comparison to your page titles, SEO headlines, and SEO descriptions. Look for any missing, duplicate, or irrelevant header tags, as well as keyword stuffing, cannibalization, or dilution issues. Make a list of the pages that need optimization or updating and prioritize them based on their importance and traffic potential. Once you've implemented the changes, monitor the results using analytics and ranking tools.

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