Header tags: How to use them for SEO

By Jorge Melo

Introduction

A study from the Nielsen Norman Group once revealed something every business owner should take seriously: people read online content by scanning, not by slowly absorbing every word. And scannable pages are nearly 60% more effective in helping readers understand information. That single statistic explains why some pages feel clear and polished, while others feel confusing or overwhelming. One small on-page element determines most of that difference: header tags.

If you’ve ever wondered how to use header tags for SEO, the short answer is simple — you use them to structure your page so users and search engines can instantly understand your content. A clean hierarchy starts with one H1, followed by H2s for major sections, and H3s/H4s for more specific details. When done correctly, your content becomes easier to read, more organized, and — importantly — more likely to rank.

This is something I learned firsthand early in my SEO career. When I began writing blogs, I didn’t know the rules. I used multiple H1 tags. I treated headings like design elements. I didn’t understand the relationship between structure and ranking. Once I fixed my header usage, I immediately noticed stronger on-page SEO visibility. Later, when I began implementing proper heading hierarchy for clients, we saw the same thing — improved rankings, improved crawlability, and better user engagement.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to use header tags the right way. You’ll also see real examples, advanced SEO techniques, and a behind-the-scenes case study of how fixing header tags helped one local business dominate Google in just weeks.

Let’s get into it.

What Are Heading Tags? & Why They're Important for SEO

What are H1 tags?

The H1 is the single most important heading on your page. It tells both readers and search engines exactly what the page is about. There should only be one H1 on each page.

It usually includes the main keyword and acts like the “title” of the page’s content. In Wix Studio, your blog title is typically the H1 by default.

What are header tags in HTML?

Header tags are HTML elements used to structure page content. They signal the order of importance from H1 through H6, with H1 being the main heading that describes the page and the remaining tags used to organize supporting topics.

Example:

H1: How to Choose the Right Smartwatch
H2: Key Features
H3: Battery Life
H3: Compatibility
H2: Top Recommendations

When used correctly, header tags improve readability, help search engines interpret your page, and make your content more accessible.

How many header tags are supported by HTML?

HTML supports six header tags:

• H1

• H2

• H3

• H4

• H5

• H6

Most websites only use H1 through H3, with occasional use of H4 for deeper technical or structured content.

How to use headings effectively

Using headings properly is essential for both users and search engines. The structure must be logical, predictable, and helpful.

Structuring your headings

Proper structure improves readability and SEO. Always follow a clean hierarchy:

How to structure your headings

Correct order:

H1 → H2 → H3 → H4 → H5 → H6

Incorrect:

H1 → H4  
H3 → H1  
H2 → H6

Avoid skipping levels. Avoid using headings only for styling. Every heading should introduce the section that follows.

Good headings make your page scannable, accessible, and easier for Google to interpret.

Why you should use heading tags

Header tags offer several benefits for both user experience and SEO.

Use headings to show text structure

Visitors use headings to navigate content quickly. Without headings, long pages can create “walls of text” that push readers away.

Helping readers scan your content

Most users skim. Strong headings guide them to the section they need, which improves engagement and reduces bounce rates.

Helping search engines understand your content

Google scans headings to:

• Understand the topic

• Identify important subtopics

• Determine keyword relevance

• Extract content for featured snippets

• Support passage indexing

Strong heading structure = stronger on-page SEO.

Improving accessibility

Screen readers depend on proper heading hierarchy. When headings are structured correctly, visually impaired users can easily navigate your page using keyboard shortcuts and text-to-speech readers.

How to use heading tags effectively

Incorporate keywords

Your primary keyword should appear in the H1.Secondary keywords can appear in H2s and H3s as long as they flow naturally.

Include phrases like:

• heading tags SEO

• html header tag

• h tags and Seo

• h1 heading Seo

• on-page Seo

Always avoid keyword stuffing.

Be clear and direct

Weak heading: Understanding how header tags relate to SEO in different technical situations

Strong heading: How header tags improve your SEO

Short, clear, and to the point.

Help readers fulfill their goals

Know what the user wants. For this topic, the intent is:

“How do you use header tags for SEO?”

That is why this question is answered immediately in the introduction.

Target question keywords with your headings

Great question-based headings include:

• How do header tags affect SEO?

• Can you use more than one H1 tag?

• Should you skip heading levels?

These help your page rank in People Also Ask and Featured Snippets.

Find and fix heading tag errors

Many websites accidentally:

• Use multiple H1s

• Skip levels

• Use headings purely for styling

• Add giant blocks of text under a single heading

• Use vague headings that don’t match search intent

Tools like Site Audit and manual on-page review help identify errors quickly.

Heading hierarchy

The most important rule: Don’t skip levels.

Good example:

H1  
H2  
H3  
H2  
H3  

Another good example:

H1  
H2  
H2  
H3  
H4  

Bad example:

H2  
H4  
H1  
H3  

Heading sizes

Even though Wix Studio controls styling separately, your visual sizes should still reflect hierarchy. H1 should be visually largest, H2 slightly smaller, and so on.

Heading order in HTML source

Even if your HTML loads differently in the source code, what matters is the rendered order the user and search engines see on the page.

Multiple H1 headings? Not even in HTML5.

While HTM

L5 originally discussed supporting multiple H1s, modern SEO still follows one simple rule:

Use one H1 per page.

Search engines don’t interpret multiple H1s as well as a single, clear H1.

Other uses for the H1 heading

If your page title is missing or low-quality, search engines may use your H1 as the title snippet in search results.

H2–H6 subheadings

Use H2s for major sections. Use H3s for details within those sections. Use H4s only when the content requires deeper breakdown.

Do headings really improve my rankings?

Yes. While headings alone won’t make you rank #1, they significantly improve:

• Relevance

• User engagement

• Snippet extraction

• SEO clarity

• Crawlability

Together, these factors absolutely influence ranking performance.

Can my page title and H1 heading be the same?

Yes — but it doesn’t have to be. Choose clarity over creativity.

Can I use multiple header tags?

Yes — you can use H2 through H6 as much as needed for organization. Only limit H1 to one.

Can I have two H1 tags?

No — stick to one H1 for clarity and SEO consistency.

Is it okay to skip heading levels?

No. Skipping levels confuses screen readers and content structure.

What is the purpose of heading tags?

The purpose of heading tags is:

• To structure content

• To create clarity

• To support SEO

• To help readers scan

• To help search engines understand intent

Strong headings anchor your entire on-page SEO strategy.

What is the correct HTML tag for the largest heading?

The correct tag is:

<h1>

Can you have more than 6 sizes for headers in HTML?

No. HTML only supports H1 through H6.

How to make something heading 1 in HTML

Use:

<h1>Your Text</h1>

In Wix Studio, the blog title automatically becomes the H1.

Advanced section: good vs bad heading tag usage

Bad example:

<h1>Header Tags SEO</h1>
<h1>How to Use H2 Tags</h1>
<h4>Why SEO Matters</h4>
<h2>Meta Descriptions</h2>

Issues:

• Multiple H1s

• Skipped hierarchy

• No logical flow

Good example:

<h1>Header Tags: How to Use Them for SEO</h1>
<h2>Why header tags matter</h2>
<h3>Helping search engines understand content</h3>
<h3>Improving readability</h3>
<h2>How to use header tags correctly</h2>
<h3>Create a clear hierarchy</h3>
<h3>Use keywords naturally</h3>

Advanced section: header tag SEO checklist

• One H1 per page

• Use H2s to break major topics

• Use H3s for details

• No skipped levels

• Add keywords naturally

• Keep headings under 60 characters

• Match search intent

• Use questions for SEO

• Check accessibility

• Re-audit headings each quarter

Advanced section: troubleshooting guide

Problem: Content not ranking

Cause: Weak headings or skipped levels. Fix: Rewrite to match intent.

Problem: High bounce rate

Cause: Hard-to-scan content. Fix: Break up text with H2/H3s.

Problem: Google not understanding your topic

Cause: Vague headings. Fix: Add keywords naturally.

Advanced section: keyword research for headings

Use tools like:

• Semrush

• AnswerThePublic

• Mangools

Steps:

1. Choose a primary keyword

2. Pull related queries for H2/H3s

3. Shape headings around search intent

4. Add long-tail questions where possible

Case study: how J Melo Media helped New England Tree & Landscape dominate Google

When J Melo Media took over the SEO for New England Tree & Landscape (NETL), they were overpaying for a website that wasn’t updated, wasn’t optimized, and wasn’t generating real traffic. They assumed this was normal — until they saw what a properly structured website could do.

Their old site had:

• No structured headings

• Multiple H1s

• No targeted keywords

• No blog content

• No internal linking

• Outdated design

• No local SEO

• Slow performance

We rebuilt everything from the ground up. This included:

• A modern, fast, SEO-optimized website

• A correct H1–H3 heading structure

• Clear service pages

• Eight blog posts per month

• Strong backlinks

• Clean metadata

• Targeted on-page Seo

• Local Seo services across their service area

The result?

Within 2–3 months, NETL saw:

• A major increase in website traffic

• First-page rankings

• Consistent new leads

• Website compliments from customers

• Increased visibility in local searches

• Stronger brand authority

Then something happened that even surprised us:

NETL wanted to rank for two highly competitive keywords — hardscaping and lawn maintenance in their town. After two weeks of targeted optimization, NETL ranked #1 for both keywords.

Today, NETL dominates their local market and regularly outranks competitors thanks to structural SEO improvements, clean headings, strong content, and consistent optimization by J Melo Media.

This is what a real SEO strategy looks like when it’s done right.

We also run sophisticated ad campaigns on Meta and Google

In addition to SEO, J Melo Media runs advanced advertising campaigns that help businesses accelerate growth immediately.

Our ad services include:

• Google Ads

• Google Local Services Ads

• Meta Ads

• Retargeting

• Lead generation funnels

• Analytics & conversion tracking

SEO builds long-term growth. Paid ads create immediate results. Together, they create a complete marketing system.

FAQ: header tags for SEO

What are header tags used for?

To structure content and improve SEO clarity.

Do header tags help with SEO?

Yes, they improve relevance, crawlability, and user experience.

Can you have two H1s?

No, stick to one H1 per page.

Should every blog post use H2s?

Yes, every long article needs subheadings.

Are H4–H6 necessary?

Only for more technical or deeply layered content.

FAQ: J Melo Media

Do you offer affordable SEO services for small businesses?

Yes, we specialize in cost-effective solutions for local businesses.

Do you serve New Bedford, MA and Fairhaven, MA?

Yes, we proudly offer Seo services in New Bedford, MA, Seo services in Fairhaven, MA, and nearby towns.

What makes your Seo company different?

We combine clean, modern design with strategic SEO and real communication. We treat every brand as if it were our own.

Do you build websites and optimize them?

Yes, website design + on-page Seo + content strategy + local Seo.

Contact us

If you want your header tags, on-page SEO, and site structure fully optimized, I can audit your website and show you exactly what needs to be fixed.

Contact J Melo Media:

508-972-1223 | Jorge@jmelomedia.com | www.jmelomedia.com

Sources

Carmichael, Kayla. “Header Tags: What They Are and How to Use Them.” HubSpot, 2022.Toonen, Edwin. “How to Use Headings on Your Site.” Yoast, 2023.Silva, Carlos. “What Are Heading Tags? & Why They’re Important for SEO.” Semrush, 2025.Van Vessum, Steven. “H1-H6 Headings and SEO: Everything You Need to Know.” Conductor, 2025.Mmeje, Chima. “Header Tags: What They Are and How to Use Them.” Wix, 2022.