H1 Tags?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by JeffC, Oct 13, 2006.

  1. #1
    I admit, I am a newb to SEO. From what I understand, you should have your main keyword wrapped in H1s? While researching my competition I found that none of them are doing this. (no one on the first page for the keyword) Should I see this as an oportunity, and I should definetaly do this? Or I probably should'nt

    Thanks for the advice!
     
    JeffC, Oct 13, 2006 IP
  2. RRWH

    RRWH Active Member

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    #2
    If none of your competition has done the basics of on-page optimization - then of course this is an opportunity for you to do it.
     
    RRWH, Oct 13, 2006 IP
  3. BILZ

    BILZ Peon

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    #3
    H1 tags are an important part of on-page optimization. You should definitely use them.
     
    BILZ, Oct 13, 2006 IP
  4. axemedia

    axemedia Guest

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    #4
    I concur.

    Use an H1 at the top of the page, and H2 for any subheadings, and H3 for sub-sub headings.

    Use the H1 just the once. Place your main keyphrase in there.

    In the H2 or H3 headings use keyword variants, like plurals, ...ing, or slightly different but related phrases.
     
    axemedia, Oct 13, 2006 IP
  5. irka

    irka Well-Known Member

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    #5
    You shouldn't see this as an opportunity but you should use them! Accessibility content and html structure got to do something with google ranking anyway so i guess yeah H1 tags are important :p
     
    irka, Oct 13, 2006 IP
  6. Bestmiler

    Bestmiler Peon

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    #6
    ive always seen ppl relate to H1 and H2 tags for SEO but never H3 tags. Should we even bother with H3 tags?
     
    Bestmiler, Oct 13, 2006 IP
  7. irka

    irka Well-Known Member

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    #7
    H1 > H3 are the most important ones. Directories like http://www.nodangers.com use <h1> tags for links and <h3> tags for titles :p.

    I really don't know about H4, H5, H6 tags though
     
    irka, Oct 13, 2006 IP
  8. Smyrl

    Smyrl Tomato Republic Staff

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    #8
    As every one said by all means use H1 tags and control their size in your css.
     
    Smyrl, Oct 13, 2006 IP
  9. bnts

    bnts Well-Known Member

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    #9
    You should definitely use H1 tags and make sure google will read the headings first by making it the first cell from the left in your template Table..
     
    bnts, Oct 13, 2006 IP
  10. axemedia

    axemedia Guest

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    #10
    Any H tag signifies a heading with H1 being the most important, then H2, then H3 and so on. I'm not sure how low it goes till it has very little importance in the google algorithm but I'm sure going to H3 is good.

    When using H tags, write your content so it is broken into sections. Mark those sections with headings and sub headings. If your content is structured in such a way as to go too sub-sub-sub-sub headings (that means all teh way to H5) then by all means use the H4 and H5 tags.


    for exampe:

    <h1>TITLE</h1>

    ....<h2>Sub Heading</h2>

    ........<h3>sub-sub heading</h3>

    ........<h3>sub-sub heading</h3>

    ....<h2>Sub Heading</h2>

    ........<h3>sub-sub heading</h3>

    ............ <h4>sub-sub-sub heading</h4>

    ........<h3>sub-sub heading</h3>

    ........<h3>sub-sub heading</h3>

    Though I'm sure its pretty rare to go beyond h3 and if your going all the way to h8 then your just plain weird.
     
    axemedia, Oct 14, 2006 IP
    MrX likes this.
  11. JeffC

    JeffC Well-Known Member

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    #11
    Thanks guys I really appreciate the input!
     
    JeffC, Oct 14, 2006 IP
  12. newman06

    newman06 Peon

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    #12
    should i put the <H1> tags in a .php page?
    and how to do write it?
    thank u
     
    newman06, Oct 14, 2006 IP
  13. Bestmiler

    Bestmiler Peon

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    #13
    is it ok if there are 2 (or more) h2 (h3, h4,etc) tags in one page?
     
    Bestmiler, Oct 14, 2006 IP
  14. axemedia

    axemedia Guest

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    #14
    Yes, it is fine. In a long article there would be multiple sub-headings. Mark these with h tags as would be appropriate. Mix your key phrases around inside these tags.
     
    axemedia, Oct 14, 2006 IP
  15. axemedia

    axemedia Guest

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    #15
    Yes, The html portion of content generated by your php pages should be optimized the same as any html page.

    For a dynamicaly generated page you can do something like this;

    <h1><? echo $some_variable; ?></h1>

    or if your mixing some static content with the dynamic;

    <h1><? echo $some_variable; ?> Static Text Here</h1>

    Google bot reads the html pages that are generated by your php code. They see what users see in the browser, not the php code itself. This <h1><? echo $some_variable; ?></h1> becomes this <h1>Keyword Rich Title</h1> when your page loads in the browser. This is what the bots see too.
     
    axemedia, Oct 14, 2006 IP
  16. DFischer

    DFischer Peon

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    #16
    H1 is good for SEO and should be used for headings. Basically confirming what the others have said :).
     
    DFischer, Oct 14, 2006 IP
  17. rosiee007

    rosiee007 Notable Member

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    #17
    Looks like the keyword you are trying to search and optimize is not a highly searched / competitive keywords (since people are not optimizing for it). You should use heading tags for it and should be doing good.
     
    rosiee007, Oct 14, 2006 IP
  18. SEO Tutor©

    SEO Tutor© Peon

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    #18
    Headings are a powerful influence to page weight and as such should be used cautiously and wisely. H tags must be used sparingly and placed only to provide a brief summary of the contents that follow.

    H1 tags have earned somewhat of a bad rap as they've been exploited by search engine spammers in the past -- though if used correctly and sensibly, heading tags afford the webmaster effective SEO benefits without negative consequences.

    H Tags - Words Of Caution


    • Do not use headings unscrupulously as a page "weighting scheme" to trick search engines
    • Never use heading tags only for their bold font size (i.e. for page formatting)
    • Consider using H2 - H6 tags, since H1 has been the most abused by spammers
    • Do not use more than 10 - 12 words in any given H tag (4 - 7 words is best)
     
    SEO Tutor©, Oct 14, 2006 IP
  19. shadav

    shadav Active Member

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    #19
    Ok well i also have a question about this...i'm using meta-tags is it still important to use h1 tag? and if so can the h1 tag be inside the meta tags?
     
    shadav, Oct 14, 2006 IP
  20. SEO Tutor©

    SEO Tutor© Peon

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    #20
    H tags and META tags are two completely separate attributes. Meta tags are placed inside your <head> tags (invisible to humans), whereas H tags are elements used to designate a page's textual content -- as well as for search engine optimizing the document.
     
    SEO Tutor©, Oct 14, 2006 IP