How to Use H1 Tags in SEO
Every website owner wants to make sure that their site can be found by potential customers through search engines. The term “search engine optimization” (or “SEO”) is used to refer to the process of formatting and providing content on a website in a certain way, so that the search engines will place the website higher in search results pages for certain keywords and phrases.
Stay on Top of Changes
In many ways SEO is a moving target. Search engines are constantly changing and refining their algorithms for evaluating websites, so a website that appears high in the results page for a search on a particular term today might not place as high (or might place higher) during the following month. But there are some general techniques for improving your website’s placement that have worked well over the years. One of these SEO techniques is proper use of “H1 tags” in your website code.
Using H1 Tags
An H1 tag is simply a marker in your website’s html (“<h1>” is the opening tag, and “</h1>” is the closing tag) which indicates that the text within the tags is more important than the text that immediately follows it. This emphasis is often shown to the website visitor in the form of different visual styling, such as a larger font, and bolded or underlined text.
Because the website is indicating that the text within the H1 tags is more important, search engines also give extra weight to that text in determining what that webpage is about, and its relevance to certain keywords and phrases that people may be searching for.
Focus on Your Primary Keywords
At a minimum, make sure that your primary keyword or phrase for the page is enclosed in an H1 tag. But the text within the tag needs to be a headline or sentence that sounds natural when read aloud. Also make sure that your H1 text is near the top of your page; the best place is right after the opening <body> tag.
Pay Attention to Best Practices
Google has indicated that there are some best practices regarding the use of the H1 tag. Their most useful piece of advice for writing your web pages is to pretend that you’re writing an outline. What are the main points of your page? What are the sub-points? Use the imagined structure to guide you in selecting text for the H1 and other level header tags.
However, don’t use header tags for text that doesn’t help define the structure or purpose of the page. In the early days of the web, header tags were almost exclusively a styling tool (to make text more prominent on a page). However, that job now falls primarily on your webpage’s Cascading Style Sheets, so don’t think of your H1 tag as being anything other than a semantic designation of what’s important on your webpage.
Be careful to use your header tags sparingly and appropriately. You might think it a clever idea to simply put your entire webpage within a set of H1 tags, since the search engine will then give the entire page extra weight, right? Unfortunately, Google and the other search engines have long been able to see through that and other transparent techniques for tricking the system. Be clear and accurate in your use of H1 tags and the search engines will reward you accordingly.
Here are more sources for further study of H1 tags, other tags, and more SEO tactics and strategies.
Search Engine Optimization (Seo) How To Optimize Your Website For Inte
Price: $38.56
This book shows you how to increase your web popularity, page rank, website visitor retention and internet sales through building backlinks, using link exchanges, search engine submissions, directory manual submissions, social media (i.e. RSS, forums, groups, blogging, vlogging, photoblogging, social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace etc), paid inclusion, pay-per-click, paid submissions, banner advertising, banner exchanges, news and PR article submissions, podcasting, doorway pages, referrals, affiliate networks and affiliation, eCourses, eBooks, foreign language search engines, free and low cost advertising websites, conventional marketing methods (such as, billboards, building wrapping, inflatables, vehicle wrapping, aerial banners, posters, radio and television), campaign monitoring, SEO campaign fine-tuning and more.
The Art of SEO
Price: $37.4
Written by four experts on search engine optimization (SEO), this book provides guidelines for planning and executing a search engine strategy for websites. The book is for anyone interested in becoming an SEO practitioner, and people already working in the profession. For novices, it’s a complete and thorough education on search engine optimization – SEO 101. For experienced SEO practitioners, this book serves as an extensive reference volume to support ongoing engagements.
SEO Made Simple: Strategies For Dominating The World’s Largest Search
Price: $24.95
MarketingScoop, LLC, Hardcover, English-language edition, Pub by MarketingScoop, LLC
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Secrets
Price: $22.15
Tips, tricks, and little-known methods used by professional SEO consultants to rank in some of the most competitive search phrasesSearch engine optimization (SEO) is the process of creating, formatting and promoting web pages in a manner that ensures that they are ranked highly for chosen keyword phrases after a user performs a Web search. This unique book taps the relatively unknown market of advanced SEO knowledge, and reveals secrets used by only the best SEO consultants. You’ll take your Internet marketing skills to the next level as you gain a thorough understanding of standard SEO techniques such as on-page optimization, off-page optimization, and link building. Packed with real-world examples, this essential guide demonstrates how real SEO consultants work with Fortune 500 companies to get the results they desire
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