<h> tags

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by Biztone, Mar 25, 2008.

  1. #1
    I write a blog on blogspot. Can I use <h1> tags on every new post? Or is this a really bad idea?
     
    Biztone, Mar 25, 2008 IP
  2. PHPGator

    PHPGator Banned

    Messages:
    4,437
    Likes Received:
    133
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    260
    #2
    You should really only use <h1> once based on my understanding. You can have multiple <h2>'s though. <h1> should essentially only include something similar to your title (containing the key phrase(s) you want to rank highly for).
     
    PHPGator, Mar 25, 2008 IP
  3. astup1didiot

    astup1didiot Notable Member

    Messages:
    5,926
    Likes Received:
    270
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    280
    #3
    As the OP asked, yes you can use the H1 tag on each post, just make it's only on the post page and not H1 in category, tag cloud, etc.
     
    astup1didiot, Mar 25, 2008 IP
    seojig likes this.
  4. icetrax

    icetrax Peon

    Messages:
    162
    Likes Received:
    4
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    Using <h1> will even help you, you can use h1 as a title for your article before the real text, and use accordingly h2 or h3 for the sub-titles. Be sure you include some of the main keywords of this article in the heading tag, might help. But since the natural article titles have a keyword within, I think you don't have to worry. Just use it, its not bad. Its one of the code-content related optimizations for SEO in general.
     
    icetrax, Mar 25, 2008 IP
  5. Biztone

    Biztone Peon

    Messages:
    226
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    But does it hurt to have too many on one page... even if they are used in different articles?
     
    Biztone, Mar 26, 2008 IP
  6. azlanhussain

    azlanhussain Active Member

    Messages:
    640
    Likes Received:
    7
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    60
    #6
    One of the main reason behind having only one <h1> in a particular page is to help search engine bot and mediabot to identify your actual title for your page. This in return will help them rank you better and serve a much relevant AdSense ads on your page. If you care about this then make sure help them to help you.
     
    azlanhussain, Mar 26, 2008 IP
  7. Snaps

    Snaps Peon

    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #7
    based on my experience you can use H1 tags for every post as long as there is only one H1 tag on that page.
     
    Snaps, Mar 28, 2008 IP
  8. seojig

    seojig Well-Known Member Affiliate Manager

    Messages:
    1,122
    Likes Received:
    93
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    140
    #8
    yes you can use it but not in home page but use h1 tag for particular page only. you can use h2 tag multiple time but dont use h1 multiple time on same page.
     
    seojig, Mar 28, 2008 IP
  9. Loy Maben

    Loy Maben Peon

    Messages:
    298
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #9
    ofcourse u cn use <h1> tag in each of ur posts. u r nt at any loss bt dnt try 2 use dem many a times in d same post.
     
    Loy Maben, Mar 28, 2008 IP
  10. Dan Schulz

    Dan Schulz Peon

    Messages:
    6,032
    Likes Received:
    437
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #10
    Sure you can. The best thing to do however is to make sure you have just one H1 heading on each page. So if each post is on its own page, you'll be just fine. However for the blog index (your index.php file if using WordPress), you're going to want the H1 to contain the site's title (and I do not mean the logo) if it's just being used as a blog (and if the design allows for it).

    The basic rule of thumb is to use one H1 heading per page (and to have that heading be the page or document "title"), with H2 through H6 headings coming afteword to "briefly describe and introduce" the content that will be following the heading as needed (these headings should also be used in multiples as well - no sense in having a H1, two H2s and a H3 since the H3 would be orphaned). Two great examples are an outline and a lengthy newspaper article.

    Right. And those keywords should be written into the page title as well.

    Precisely.

    That's exactly how they're used actually, and it has nothing to do with SEO. :eek:

    Their real purpose is to structure and "mark up" the Web page (they're headings - they should be marked up as such). And anyone who disagrees with me should stop what they're doing, head over to the W3C Web site and read the HTML 4.01 specification. :)

    Yes. Not to the search engines per se, but the people who use the page may find it harder to use the Web page, especially keyboard users and those who have to use a screen reader (or even those who have to use a browser that doesn't support CSS, such as many mobile device users).

    This falls under HTML semantics however, and it would be a very good idea to learn about them since the search engines tend to follow the same rules when trying to "understand" the context of the page content in a Web site.

    As I already said though, it has nothing to do with SEO. Yes, it helps since the search engines do tend to follow the same typographical conventions that the HTML specification uses, but that's more of a semantic issue than an SEO one.

    And you would be correct (semantically speaking of course).

    Every page should have a H1 heading since the H1 heading is often used by people (and I don't just mean people using assistive devices) to determine which page they're currently on (not to mention what the current page is about). Your pages will validate if you don't use them, but it doesn't mean they're "well formed" or written properly (something a lot of HTML coders fail to realize).

    I wouldn't go so far as to say there's no loss. Many people may not know where they're at or what the page is about.
     
    Dan Schulz, Mar 29, 2008 IP
  11. Biztone

    Biztone Peon

    Messages:
    226
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #11
    Thanks for taking the time to do that Dan! Rep added.
     
    Biztone, Apr 3, 2008 IP
  12. Dan Schulz

    Dan Schulz Peon

    Messages:
    6,032
    Likes Received:
    437
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #12
    No problem. I always do my best to give people the accurate information they really need, even when it means having to correct the mistakes others make (often made with the best of intentions). This way, everyone wins. :)
     
    Dan Schulz, Apr 3, 2008 IP
  13. GameOver

    GameOver Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,307
    Likes Received:
    35
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    140
    #13
    always use h1. I have found that in some cases it is more effective than description and keyword meta tags under some of my keywords.
     
    GameOver, Apr 3, 2008 IP
  14. enous

    enous Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,500
    Likes Received:
    16
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    158
    #14
    one h1,
    and then h2,h3.
     
    enous, Apr 3, 2008 IP
  15. delhidon

    delhidon Banned

    Messages:
    567
    Likes Received:
    8
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #15
    Agree with enous. One page should contain 1 heading then h2, h3, h4, etc....
     
    delhidon, Apr 3, 2008 IP