Heading Structure Analyzer
Analyze your HTML heading hierarchy for SEO best practices. Ensure proper H1-H6 structure for better accessibility and search rankings.
Heading Structure Best Practices for SEO
Proper heading structure is crucial for both SEO and accessibility. Headings help search engines understand your content hierarchy and assist users with screen readers in navigating your page.
The H1-H6 Hierarchy
- H1: Main page title. Use exactly one per page. Should include your primary keyword.
- H2: Major section headings. Use for main content divisions.
- H3: Subsections within H2 sections. Use for supporting topics.
- H4-H6: Further subdivisions. Use sparingly for complex content.
Key Rules for Heading Structure
- One H1 per page: Your H1 should be unique to each page and clearly describe the page content.
- Don't skip levels: Going from H2 to H4 skips H3, which confuses the hierarchy.
- Use headings for structure, not styling: If you need larger text, use CSS instead of heading tags.
- Keep headings concise: Aim for 50-70 characters maximum.
- Include keywords naturally: Place relevant keywords in headings where appropriate.
Common Heading Mistakes
- Multiple H1 tags: Each page should have only one H1 element.
- Skipping heading levels: Going from H2 directly to H4 breaks the logical hierarchy.
- Empty headings: Headings without text provide no value and confuse screen readers.
- Using headings for styling: Headings should indicate content structure, not visual appearance.
- Overly long headings: Keep headings scannable and under 70 characters.
Example of Good Heading Structure
<h1>Complete Guide to Email Marketing</h1>
<h2>Why Email Marketing Matters</h2>
<h3>ROI Statistics</h3>
<h3>Industry Benchmarks</h3>
<h2>Building Your Email List</h2>
<h3>Lead Magnets</h3>
<h3>Opt-in Forms</h3>
<h2>Email Campaign Best Practices</h2>
SEO Impact of Proper Headings
Search engines use headings to understand your content's structure and relevance. Properly structured headings can improve your chances of appearing in featured snippets and help Google understand your page's main topics. Pages with clear heading hierarchies tend to have better user engagement metrics, which indirectly supports SEO performance.
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