Header tags are used in millions of websites across the internet, and have become a standard for good design. Header tags are an alternative method to highlighting key pieces of information throughout a webpage. Header tags act in the same way that a headline appears on the front page and on internal pages of a newspaper.
Header tags come in a variety of sizes from a H1 to a H6, which reflect the sizes of the header tags.
H1 = Biggest
H6 = Smallest
Then of course you have the header tags in between, from H2 to H5. Header tags appear as they are assigned, you can style header tags to appear the way you like them without losing the SEO impact.
H1 = This would be a H1 tag
H2 = This would be a H2 tag
H3 = This would be a H3 tag
H4 = This would be a H4 tag
H5 = This would be a H5 tag
H6 = This would be a H6 tag
** not to scale **
Header tags are easily assigned in webpages using tags in the following style:
<h1> Text Goes Here </h1>
Replacing the number will change the size of the header tag.
H6 is the smallest, H1 is the biggest.
You can also apply classes to header tags within CSS so you can style your header tag to use a specific font, colour etc. without losing the SEO impact. simplicity and positive SEO impact. The positive impact is reliant on other factors.
Using header tags can have a positive impact on SEO rankings, providing they are utilized properly. Using too many header tags, or stuffing them with keywords will actually have a negative impact on the pages/websites ability to rank.
This problem is known as over optimization, or on-site spamming and should be avoided at all costs.
So how do we use header tags in the proper fashion without over optimizing, yet gaining an effective value from them.
1. Moderation
2. Length
3. Use of Words
4. Semantics
It's easy, lets break it down.
1 Moderation:
The moderation encapsulates everything to do with header tags. Using header tags across a page is fine, even in numbers, providing that not all your header tags use the same keywords, and try to influence rankings by the tags alone.
Instead, a header tag should be utilized where the information needs to be highlighted, if you saw a newspaper with hundreds of big headlines, you would probably put it down, or avoid reading it to prevent a headache. This is the same for search engines.
A paragraph of information can be utilized with a header tag, and that header tag should use keywords relevant to the information that follows it, this is known as semantics.
If the page looks like it has too many header tags then it probably has too many header tags, avoid stuffing too many tags on a page, only use a handful of them as and where needed.
2 Length:
The length of a header tag should be a reasonable length, typically avoid making header tags too long, i.e. 15 - 20 words long. Instead, keep the header tags short and relevant between 1 - 10 words at most.
The header tag should be a length dictated by the content that follows it.
Header tags like a newspaper headline are kept short and relevant.
3 Use of Words:
The use of keywords, grammar and content are essential for the utilization of header tags. When writing content in a header tag, it should be spelt correctly and make grammatical sense.
There is no right or wrong keyword density; the keyword should be implemented in the header tag in a way that reads well to the end user.
4 Semantics:
Semantics are used in the placement of a header tag in relation to the content its relevant too. A header tag should be directly relevant to the content that follows.
The basic principles listed on the previous page are essential for good header tag usage.
Lets use the tropical fish scenario:
<h1>Tropical Fish Shop </h1>
<h2>Keeping your Fish Healthy</h2>
Above is a good example of structured usage, because the tags are relative, and not too long.
Here is a poor example:
<h1>Tropical Fish Shop Where You Can Buy Cheap Fish Online </h1>
<h2>Buy Tropical Fish Online, Buying Cheap Fish</h2>
Here the title tags are too long, and appear spammy.
Header tag usage should be regulated, avoid long tags filled with too many keywords.
Keyword Emphasis
Keyword emphasis acts in the same way as header tags, but keyword emphasis only makes selected items appear in bold. Keyword emphasis can be utilized in 2 ways, either using a bold or strong tag. In effect both tags do the same thing.
The 2 tags appear as:
<b> </b>
or:
<strong> </strong>
Both have the same effect.
Keyword emphasis will make the text selection appear in BOLD.
Keyword emphasis has a small effect towards SEO, but only when utilized in a regulated manner. When highlighting keywords in content, it should only be done in a few places, where the keyword or keyword selection appears in bold to make it apparent to the end user that the keywords are important.
Keyword emphasis has diminished in value since its introduction during the web standards development. It can have a positive impact towards SEO only when used in regulation.
Remember, when implementing strong or bold tags, only use them a few times throughout the page, do not highlight complete sentences, and don't make every keyword appear in bold.
