What is an H1 Tag?

The H1 tag is the main heading on your page. In blog posts, it's typically your title - the biggest, most prominent text that tells readers what the post covers.

Every page should have exactly one H1. It's the most important heading on the page, signaling to both readers and search engines what the content is about.

Why the H1 matters for SEO

Your H1 serves two audiences. For readers, the H1 sets expectations - it's often the first thing they see after clicking from a SERP or social media. A clear H1 helps them confirm they're in the right place.

For search engines, the H1 is a strong relevance signal. Google uses it to understand what your page covers. Your target keyword should appear in the H1, ideally near the beginning.

The H1 and the meta title (title tag) are related but different. The meta title appears in search results and browser tabs. The H1 appears on the page itself. They're often the same but don't have to be. Your meta title might be shorter to fit search result limits (under 60 characters) while your H1 can be longer.

H1 best practices

Keep your H1 clear and descriptive - someone reading just the H1 should know exactly what the page covers. Include your primary keyword naturally. If your keyword is "blog post structure," a good H1 might be "How to Structure a Blog Post for Readability."

Use only one H1 per page. Multiple H1s confuse the hierarchy. After the H1, use H2 and H3 tags for sections and subsections. Aim for 20-70 characters - long enough to be descriptive, short enough to be scannable.

Common mistakes include using multiple H1s on a single page (stick to one), making the H1 too vague ("Welcome" tells readers nothing), and forgetting to include your keyword. Most blog platforms automatically wrap your post title in an H1 tag.

After publishing, view your page source to verify. Search for <h1> - you should find exactly one instance containing your main title and target keyword. Tools like SEO crawlers can audit your entire site for H1 issues across all pages.