Headings Best Practice: A Straightforward Guide to Structuring Your Pages

Background to the Issue: Why Headings Need Your Attention

Ever landed on a webpage and found it impossible to figure out where the real content starts? That’s exactly what happens when headings aren’t used effectively. Headings are your guideposts. They break up text into understandable sections so readers and search engines can easily see what each portion of the page is about.

Within HTML, headings range from <h1> (often the page’s main subject) down to <h6> (usually fine detail or sub-subtopics). Unfortunately, many sites either don’t use headings at all, skip levels, or overuse <h1> tags for purely stylistic reasons.

Take our tool ScanMySEO. It crawls pages looking for issues such as “Missing H1 Tag” or “Multiple H1 Tags.” The reason? Poor heading usage can confuse crawlers about the page’s main topic. It can also frustrate users if the content is difficult to skim. This article helps you avoid such pitfalls by using best practices gleaned from official sources like Google’s guidelines, as well as industry leaders like Ahrefs and Sitechecker.

Headings TL;DR

Use <h1> once to capture your core topic.
Go down the hierarchy (<h2>, <h3>, etc.) to structure sections and subsections.
Keep headings short, descriptive, and unique across pages.
Follow sentence case to align with modern writing standards.
Matching your <h1> and title tag is highly recommended (but small variations for length or branding are okay).

That’s your quick heads-up: consistent heading usage means a smoother user experience and clearer context for crawlers.

Why It Matters

User Experience. Well-chosen headings let visitors instantly see if they’re in the right place. People skim. If your page has a clear <h1>, followed by logical <h2> or <h3> subheadings, readers can jump straight to what interests them.

SEO and Crawlability. While Google doesn’t penalize you for multiple <h1> tags, it does use headings to understand what your page covers. An <h1> that matches the page’s main subject is helpful. Tools like Google Search Console and third-party platforms (for example, https://ahrefs.com/blog/h1-tag) also emphasize the role of correct heading structure in highlighting important concepts.

Accessibility. Many people use screen readers or other assistive tech. If there’s no logical heading structure, they can’t get a quick overview. Google’s official style recommendations (https://developers.google.com/style/headings) indicate headings should be used to guide, not confuse. Simply put, good headings create a better experience for all.

Brand Credibility. A neatly organized page looks more professional. Whether a user is glancing on mobile or an industry peer is referencing your site, headings clarify your expertise.

Latest Best Practices

Stick to a Single <h1> per Page

Google states (in various webmasters discussions) that multiple <h1> elements won’t tank your ranking. But it may cause confusion if you’re not using <h1> specifically for the main topic. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) also suggests that <h1> is the highest-level heading to introduce the principal idea.

Don’t Skip Heading Levels

Rather than jumping from <h1> straight to <h3>, fill in the hierarchy. For instance, if you have a major category, use <h2>. If there’s a subsection under <h2>, use <h3>.

Use Sentence Case

Instead of “CREATING AN INSTANCE,” write “Create an instance.” This follows standard writing guidelines from Google’s style doc (https://developers.google.com/style/headings). Fewer capital letters also enhances readability.

Match <h1> and Title Tag Whenever Possible

The official Google SEO Starter Guide says it’s fine if your <title> and <h1> differ slightly, but keep them consistent in topic. Shorter titles can help search engines display them fully in results.

Limit Punctuation in Headings

Commas or parentheses in headings can reduce clarity. If you need some punctuation, keep it minimal.

Descriptive, Not Generic

“Migration to Cloud” is clearer than “Migrating to Google Cloud?” or “Migrating to Cloud?.” If it’s a task-based heading, start with an action word: “Set up a local dev environment,” “Configure your site’s homepage,” etc.

Action Steps (How to Fix)

Implementing correct headings may sound complex, but it’s easy once you have a plan. Here’s a five-step process:

1. Identify Heading Issues
   
   • Run a scan with your preferred tool or the ScanMySEO crawler. Watch for “Missing H1 Tag,” “Multiple H1 Tags,” or suspicious heading jumps like going from <h1> to <h4>.
   • Tools such as Sitechecker (https://sitechecker.pro/site-audit-issues/h1-is-missing/) also provide a breakdown of pages that skip headings.
2. Rewrite or Insert the <h1>
   
   • Pick one main idea for each page. For example, if it’s a product page, your <h1> might be “Smart Home Security Device.”
   • If your CMS auto-generates an <h1> from your page title, ensure that title is short enough (50-60 characters is ideal).
3. Layer Your Subheadings
   
   • If you have subtopics, group them under <h2>. For deeper detail, use <h3>.
   • In WordPress, you can choose heading levels in the editor. If in raw HTML, add <h2>…</h2> or <h3>…</h3> around relevant subtopics.
4. Check for Consistency
   
   • If you see multiple <h1> tags, decide which heading is actually the page’s main subject. Change the rest to <h2> or <h3> as needed.
   • Confirm you’re not randomly skipping levels. For example, if your <h2> covers “Required Tools,” your next heading might be <h2> for “Configuration Steps” or <h3> for a sub-portion of the “Required Tools.”
5. Validate the Fix
   
   • Re-scan your site or manually “view source.” The newly structured headings should appear in order: <h1> on top, then <h2>, <h3>, etc.
   • Keep an eye on your analytics. Better-structured content often leads to lower bounce rates and more time on page.

Extra Tips & Quick Wins

• Use a Single Theme or Template: If you run a CMS like WordPress or Wix, pick a layout that auto-applies proper heading tags to your main title. This automates a lot of the heavy lifting.
• Keyword Placement: Don’t stuff your headings with keywords. Instead, place the main keyword in your <h1> and relevant synonyms or secondary keywords in subheadings. Ubersuggest’s site-audit advice about “Missing H1 Headings” (https://ubersuggest.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/18895086232987-Missing-H1-Headings) confirms that headings are a prime place to highlight main terms.
• Avoid Using <h1> for Styling: HTML headings shouldn’t be used just because they look big and bold. Instead, style text with CSS. That way your structure remains logical without confusing the content hierarchy.
• Be Mindful of Accessibility: Make sure each heading accurately conveys the topic that follows. That’s a huge help to screen readers, as also mentioned by Ahrefs (https://ahrefs.com/blog/h1-tag/) and other accessibility resources.

Transforming a Cluttered Page into a Clean One

Before

<h1>The Best Way to Cook Pasta</h1>
<h1>What You’ll Need</h1>
<h2>Boiling the Water</h2>
<h4>Tips for Al Dente</h4>
...

Everything is out of order. There are two <h1> tags, which confuses both readers and crawlers. The “Tips for Al Dente” is under <h4> when it’s actually part of the “Boiling the Water” section. The entire structure looks random.

After

<h1>The Best Way to Cook Pasta</h1>
<h2>What You’ll Need</h2>
<h2>Boiling the Water</h2>
<h3>Tips for Al Dente</h3>

Now there’s a single <h1> capturing the main topic: cooking pasta. Subsequent headings use <h2> for major sections, and <h3> for the subtopic.

Visually, it’s cleaner. Users see right away which parts of the page they want. Google sees the correct hierarchy.

Wrap-Up & Next Steps

Proper heading usage saves you time and headaches. Readers appreciate the clarity. Search engines appreciate the structure. And your own workflow is simpler because you don’t have to constantly fight with style overrides or random skipping of heading levels.

Next Steps:

1. Scan your site with a tool (or do a manual check) to locate where headings might be missing or misused.
2. Adjust your <h1> to match your page’s main subject, ensuring a single <h1> per page.
3. Create logical <h2> and <h3> headings to outline subtopics.
4. Keep an eye on your bounce rate, time on page, and search performance. Watch for improvements in engagement once headings are fixed.
5. If you spot major improvements but still have a ways to go, consider advanced on-page optimization: meta descriptions, internal linking, or structured data.

9. Quick Reference: Checklist and Useful Links

Summary Checklist

• Keep only one <h1> tag per page, focusing on the main topic.
• Use <h2>, <h3>, and so on in a hierarchical sequence.
• Write headings in sentence case for clarity.
• Match your <h1> closely to your page’s title tag (avoid big mismatches).
• Don’t use headings for style alone, apply CSS instead.
• Aim for short, descriptive headings without cluttering punctuation.

Relevant Resources

• Google’s Official Style Guide for Headings
• Ahrefs’ Guide on H1 Tags
• Sitechecker’s Insights on Missing H1
• Search Engine Journal on H1-H6 Clarifications

Adopting these heading best practices simplifies page structure and helps visitors (and bots) get the most from your content. If you want to see if you’ve successfully addressed heading issues, try running a crawl with ScanMySEO. It’s a quick, straightforward way to confirm you’re on the right track and to highlight any straggling pages still missing proper headings. Once those are in order, you’re well on your way to better user experiences and stronger SEO signals.