Introduction
Every day, the web spews an unimaginable amount of content. And every day, web users and search engine crawlers have to sort through all of that data.
Content on websites is highly actionable; the users actively choose their own online experience by following links and compiling information from the various sources offered by search engines.
We can help users, as well as search engines, find and navigate our content by using
What are header tags in HTML?
Header tags (also called “headings”) are short HTML elements that emphasize text. When applied to titles and subtitles, you give the search engine and the user clues to identify the essential topic and sub-topics in your copy. Headings also help you break up the content, so it is scannable and readable.
Header tags help with navigation and readability
Adding descriptive and thoughtful header tags helps guide the reader to the content. When web-users can easily identify the pieces of information they want, they will be more willing to consume the information. Web crawlers also scan headings to establish the main topic of the copy and the structure of the text. If we use topic-centric header tags, we help search engines provide pertinent answers to the users when they ask questions. All and all, we have the power to help users as well as search engines find and navigate our content by adding topic-centered headings.
What do header tags look for users and crawlers?
Headings style titles and sub-titles for human readers
Going from <h1> to <h6> each tag has a particular size and styling. H1 should be used for the main title, while the other tags should be structured logically for subtitles and subtopics.
Headings create a structure for web crawlers
Header tags create a hierarchy of topics and sub-topics. They tell crawlers that the information tagged with H1 is more important than H2, and so on.
Best practices using header tags
- Add headings every 250 to 300 words.
- Only one <h1> tag per document. Insert the main topic keyword as close to the left as possible.
- <h1> should contain the keywords of the main topic.
- Do not jump from <h1> to <h3>, and so on. <h2> should be the sub-topic of <h1>, and <h3> is the sub-topic of <h2>.
- Try to put the pertinent keywords in the first three words of the heading. Use related vocabulary to the topic of the copy.
- Minimize the use of headings like “Intro” or “Conclusion.”
- Take the process of writing header tags as a creative challenge!
Contact the Jindal School SEO Web Content Writer with your questions or suggestions.