One thing that matters for a website is SEO, or Search Engine Optimization. This ensures your website appears when someone searches for you in Google.
The way you format your website content influences SEO. The text headings you use on a page, like when you select Heading 1 vs Heading 2, influence SEO too.
Heading hierarchy refers to the way you add headings to your page content - the order of when you use which headings where.
Why it matters
Websites benefit from heading hierarchy for SEO because it organizes content, making it more accessible to both users and search engines. Clear heading structure helps search engines understand the page's main topics and keyword relevance, improving the chances of ranking well in search results.
Additionally, heading hierarchy enhances user experience by making content easier to read and navigate, reducing bounce rates, and increasing the time users spend on a page - all of which are positive signals for SEO.
Heading hierarchy is also crucial for web accessibility, ensuring that all users, including those with disabilities, can access and understand the content - like if your website is being read aloud with a screen reader. Accessibility benchmarks are really important for being ranked in Google search results.
What you need
For each page on your website, follow these rules to make sure you're implementing Heading Hierarchy:
- Start with a single Heading 1: You should only have one Heading 1, and it should be in your Page Header with your title text. We handle this for you - the Page Header uses Heading 1 automatically.
- Follow hierarchal order: Headings should follow a hierarchical order, with each subsequent heading indicating a subtopic or subsection of the previous one. For example, Heading 2 follows Heading 1, Heading 3 follows Heading 2 and so on. This article has a title in Heading 1, and each subsection is a Heading 2.
- Use headings for content sections: Headings should be used to divide your content into meaningful sections or topics. Each heading should introduce a new section or subsection, making it clear to users what to expect in that portion of the content.
- Optimize for keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords within your headings. This helps search engines understand the page's content and improves SEO.
- Don't overdo it: You might be tempted to write longer portions of text as a heading because you like the font styling. Don't do this! You need to use headings for meaningful titles, as described in this article, if you want your site to show up in as many search results as possible.
- Regularly review and update: As content evolves or changes, review and update the heading hierarchy accordingly to maintain its relevance and accuracy.
© 2023 Winnable PBC