I don't think it does any serious harm, but I do try to make them at least slightly different just in case
I make them the same... I don't see how they would bash you for that... H1 is the main page title for the user no? Using <title> as the title for your listing in the serps is just normal... do you think it'd be more normal to show a different serps title than the one used on the page. I don't think so... but it's just my opinion... maybe I'd rank better making them different...
Agree with Jocelyn. H1 is for visitors to see the title of your page, while title tag is for browsers and search engines. Use the same and different doesn't make any sense. Google will not ban a site with repeating content, instead they will not ban sites cheat them (for example, ban some sites using doorway pages and cloaking).
For title, longer title is more dilute your important keywords in your title, should not over 80 chars and put most important keywords in your first 20 chars is better. For H1 Tag I don't think spam this tag will harm you, even use CSS to make it look better but use shorter is better, use longer will dilute important in your content keywords in H1 tag.
Personally, here's how I do it and I have 5 PR6 sites with #1 single word rankings - so it must be something right. My H1 and My TITLE are identical with the exception of this: H1 - Whatever Blah Blah Blah TITLE - Whatever Blah Blah Blah | Site Name Then I repeate the "Whatever Blah Blah Blah" in the first paragraph I'm posting. Hope this helps. I've never been penalized by Google or any other one. But as you know everyone has an opinion and a theory, so you say po-tay-to, I say po-tah-to. Right?
Hey thanks to you'll... man... I love this forum... am learning so much from it... With the company of so many experts, I'll surely advance in SEO.
I just spent the past 2 weeks tweaking my site for Google and optimising my site. My 2c worth only use 1 H tag and make sure your keyword is in this tag with the same keyword being used for your webpage name, title and description. If you need to add 2 H1 Text tgs I would create 1 in Photoshop. Cheers Joe
At me usually it turns out that on page there are some headings H1, and even one of them coincide with TITLE. I do not think what is it have negative influence.
Follow Savvychicks guide its what I was saying but she explained it a little more clearly. Also add the identical keyword in your meta description followed by a comma and another keyword and add the meta site description as well with the keyword in the first 3 words. The only thing you watch for is how big your pages are. If they are under 300 words its fine if they are between 300-500 add the keyword again. Word of warning if your keyword is for example "website design" and you need to talk about this and add these words a few times add them like this "website-design" so your not overloading your page with the keyword "website design". Good Luck with it Joe
If you were to penalise someone for using the same title and h1 tag can you imagine the amount of new webmasters who would just use the same phrase for ease? I think you can rest assured that you will be fine doing this.