What Is The Difference Between H1, H2 & H3 Tags?
The structure of a page is crucial for your SEO performance. Knowing what the difference is between H1s, H2s & H3s is an important part. A solid structure keeps the reader on your page longer, this sends positive signals to search engines. In this article, you’ll discover what the differences are between H1, H2 & H3 tags and why they are important for SEO.
If you’re serious about your SEO, I recommend you to read the full on-page SEO guide to optimize your pages.
What’s An H1 Tag?
The H1 tag is your main title of your page or blog post. Your H1 sets the context for everything that follows on the rest of your page.
For your SEO, it’s important to only use one H1 per page/blog post. If you use more than one H1 on your page, you risk sending mixed signals to search engines about what your page is really about. With one clear H1, you inform both the reader and search engines about the subject of your page.
Always remember to keep it human-friendly and use your keyword in the title.
What’s An H2 Tag?
An H2 tag is the subheading that breaks your main topic into clear, logical sections. Contrary to the H1 title, you can use several H2 tags for each page/blog post. Don’t use the same H2 title and you’re good. Make sure each H2 is a new section.
These H2 tags help your readers skim the page and find out if this page is a good fit for them. If your page has clear, logical H2 tags, people will stay on your page longer. These will send positive signals to search engines.
They also help search engines understand the structure and main subtopics of your page.
A little tip when writing a blog post, start with outlining your H2 tags to create a solid, clear structure.
What’s An H3 Tag?
An H3 tag is the level under the H2 tag. It adds depth to your page. Think of it like subtopics within a certain section.
You can use H3 tags to organize supporting points, examples or steps that belong to an H2 section. This keeps your content structured and skimmable.
H3 tags aren’t a must on your page, only use them when you really want to go deeper into a certain subject.
Why are headers important for SEO?
When you use heading tags the right way, you help search engines understand your content context better. Not only will search engines understand your content better, but also readers will understand it better, which keeps them on your page longer. Use these best practices for an optimal heading structure.
Readability & user experience
User experience is a crucial part of SEO. When users have a positive experience, they will stay longer on your page. This is a positive signal to Google that your page has an answer to the query of the searcher, which will boost your rankings.
Most people scan the page first, and if it fits their needs, they will read it. Your headings are important as they:
- Tell readers what each section is about.
- Help visitors jump straight to the information they need.
- Break long blocks of text into smaller parts that feel manageable.
That’s why your text needs to be skimmable.
When readers quickly find what they came for, they will trust your website and have a positive experience. This may result in clicking internal links and coming back to your website for more information.
Content structure & hierarchy
Search engines rely heavily on a clear structure to understand your content’s context. Here is once again a small overview of how it works:
- Your H1 explains the main topic.
- Your H2s explain the subtopics.
- Your H3s break those subtopics into more detailed parts.
It becomes easier to understand which sections are important and which details support them. A strong structure can also help your page appear for more specific, long-tail searches.
