H1 tag

What H1 tags do

The H1 tag marks the main heading—typically the largest, most prominent text on the page. It tells visitors and search engines what the page covers. Each page should have exactly one H1 that clearly communicates the primary topic.

H1s signal topic focus to search engines. Including your target keyword naturally in the H1 helps rankings for that term. But keyword stuffing damages readability and trust—write H1s for humans first, search engines second.

H1 best practices

Keep H1s concise and descriptive—typically under 60 characters. Make them specific enough to differentiate this page from others on your site. "Services" is too vague; "Astro Website Development" clearly describes the page's focus.

The H1 doesn't need to match your page title tag exactly, though they should align. Title tags target search results; H1s target visitors who've already landed. Both communicate the same core topic with slight variations in wording.

H1 and heading hierarchy

After the H1, use H2s for main sections, H3s for subsections under those H2s, and so on. This heading hierarchy creates logical structure that aids both accessibility and SEO.

Screen readers use heading structure to navigate pages. Visitors scanning content rely on headings to find relevant sections. Search engines use headings to understand topic organization. Proper hierarchy benefits everyone.

Common H1 mistakes

Multiple H1s confuse topic focus. Logos or site names as H1s waste the tag's SEO value. Generic H1s like "Welcome" or "Home" communicate nothing about page content. H1s that don't appear visually prominent mislead visitors about page hierarchy.