How to structure headings (one H1, logical order)
Headings tell search engines and screen readers how the page is organised. One H1, then H2 and H3 in order, without skipping levels.
Step by step, with screenshots: H1 tag: one per page, and a heading order that makes sense →
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What it is
Heading structure is the outline of a page built from its heading tags: one H1 for the main topic, H2 for each section and H3 for points inside a section. Browsers, search engines and screen readers use that outline to understand what the page is about and to let people jump between sections.
Screen reader users often navigate by headings first, so a skipped level or a missing H1 makes the page harder to use. Google says several H1s do not break anything for search, but a single clear H1 and levels in order give every reader the same, unambiguous outline.
OK looks like this: exactly one H1 that names the page, H2s for the main sections, and no jumps from H1 straight to H3. getReport counts the H1s and lists every place where a level is skipped.
What a passing site looks like
- The page has exactly one H1 headingwarning · −1.5 ptseffort S
- Heading levels follow a logical orderwarning · −1 ptseffort S
1. One H1 heading
Why it matters. One H1 tells search engines and screen readers what the page is about. Several, or none, blur that signal.
- Keep exactly one <h1> with the page's main topic; make the others <h2>.
- Check the theme: many put the site name or logo in an <h1> on every page.
2. Heading order
Why it matters. Headings are the page's outline. When it jumps from H1 to H3, screen readers and search engines assume a level of content is missing, and the structure is harder to follow.
- Use H2 for each main section and H3 for details inside it; never skip a level going down.
- Pick heading levels by structure and let CSS decide the size. In page builders, change the "HTML tag" of the heading block.
Questions people ask
What is an H1 tag?
An H1 tag is the top-level heading of a page, written as <h1> in HTML. It is the main headline visitors see and tells search engines and screen readers what the page is about. Most pages should have one H1 that matches the topic of the title tag, in slightly different words.
How many H1 tags should a page have?
One. Google has said several H1s do not hurt rankings, but a single H1 gives the page one clear main topic and makes the outline easier for screen reader users. Many themes accidentally wrap the logo or site name in an H1 on every page; change that to a normal element and keep the H1 for the page headline.
What is the purpose of heading tags?
Heading tags (H1 to H6) mark the structure of the content, the way chapter and section titles do in a book. They let visitors scan, let screen reader users jump between sections, and help search engines understand which topics the page covers. Choose the level by structure and style the size with CSS.
Are multiple H1 tags bad for SEO?
Not for Google, which has said it handles pages with several H1s. They are still worth avoiding because the page loses a single, obvious main topic and screen readers announce several top-level headings. getReport flags more than one H1 as a warning, not a failure, for that reason.
How do you use H1, H2 and H3 tags?
Use one H1 for the page title, an H2 for each main section, and H3 for sub-points inside an H2 section. Go down one level at a time and never skip from H1 to H3. In page builders, change the heading block's HTML tag setting rather than picking a level for its size.