What Is The Correct Use Of H1 Tags?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by jvfconsulting, Jul 23, 2008.

  1. #1
    I've recently noticed how h1 tags greatly increase the rankings on some of my sites, but I want to make sure I'm using them correctly. Is it best to use your entire website title or just your main keywords? How many h1 tags should I use?

    This site is using the entire title as an h1 tag, is this wrong? http://www.peterbrucephotography.com

    This site is also using the entire title as an h1 tag, but its also his main keywords. http://www.andypark.com
     
    jvfconsulting, Jul 23, 2008 IP
  2. askloz.com

    askloz.com Peon

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    #2
    Just use H1 tags once on any one page.

    Then use CSS to control the size of it, works well in Yahoo & MSN when you make 'em smaller.
     
    askloz.com, Jul 23, 2008 IP
  3. jvfconsulting

    jvfconsulting Active Member

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    #3
    Thanks for the answer askloz.com! Is using the entire title of my site in a h1 tag not good, should I limit it to only my keywords? Here is an example...

    Here is the title of my site
    <title>San Francisco Wedding Photography & Videography | Fine Wedding Portraits By Peter Bruce</title>

    Which h1 tag would be most effective?
    <h1>San Francisco Wedding Photography & Videography | Fine Wedding Portraits By Peter Bruce</h1>
    or
    <h1>San Francisco Wedding Photography</h1>
     
    jvfconsulting, Jul 23, 2008 IP
  4. askloz.com

    askloz.com Peon

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    #4
    <title>San Francisco Wedding Photography & Videography, Fine Wedding Portraits By Peter Bruce</title>

    Would be just fine, using pipeline characters is no different than using commas, plus it looks a lot more natural and neater to the visitor.

    <h1>San Francisco Wedding Photography & Videography | Fine Wedding Portraits By Peter Bruce</h1>

    Not wise to put a pipeline character in your H1 tag, remove it.

    Try this.
    <h1>San Francisco Wedding Photography & Videography</h1>
    <h2>Fine Wedding Portraits By Peter Bruce</h2>
    (control the size of the h1 and h2 tags via css)

    For as long as your title text matches all, or some of the H1 tag, first paragraph also contains the same keywords, while using related keywords throughout the entire document, and focusing on proximity of these related keywords to your main keyword, you'll be fine. :)

    then repeat and spin. :)
     
    askloz.com, Jul 23, 2008 IP
  5. jvfconsulting

    jvfconsulting Active Member

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    #5
    You're the man asloz.com! Thanks for all your guidance!
     
    jvfconsulting, Jul 23, 2008 IP
  6. askloz.com

    askloz.com Peon

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    #6
    No Probs. :)
     
    askloz.com, Jul 23, 2008 IP
  7. catanich

    catanich Peon

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    #7
    It would also help you to move the <h1> tag to the top of the page some how. Since the page does not have much text on it, this would help (both sites).

    I try to keep the <title> and <h1> as close as possible and use <h2>s to very up the scenarios.

    Just a suggestion, remove " By Peter Bruce" from the <title> and focus your " By Peter Bruce" branding on a Profile (250 words on of Peter Bruce, training, awards, etc.) page (i.e <title>Peter Bruce : Wedding Photography, Event Videography and Fine Wedding Portraits - San Francisco CA</title>

    As for the current title, though...
    Now
    San Francisco Wedding Photography & Videography | Fine Wedding Portraits By Peter Bruce​

    Change
    Wedding Photography, Videography, & Portraits of Weddings - San Francisco CA​

    This will left justify all keywords, and give you a higher Keyword Density within the title. Notice wedding vs. weddings.


    The quality of the top 10 San Francisco "local search" SERPs is poor so by moving the "San Francisco" to the end should help you with the other keywords as well.

    In addition, Google states that there is a very low search traffic for the term "San Francisco Wedding Photography" but does return traffic for the term "Wedding Photography San Francisco"

    Also, put your address in the footer of all your pages. This will help with your "local search" marketing.

    Contact us for help...
     
    catanich, Jul 23, 2008 IP
  8. lightlysalted

    lightlysalted Active Member

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    #8
    yep just use the H1 tag once on your page and then H2, H3, H4, H5, H6 thereafter
     
    lightlysalted, Jul 23, 2008 IP