It’s no secret that a powerful heading grabs a user's attention and compels them to read further. A heading provides a brief, effective overview of a page and its topic so you can assess if it’s right for you before you read any further. Most articles feature a main heading and several separate headings that briefly describe the following sections. Google’s six levels of HTML headings range from H1 to H6 in the order of most to least important.
Heading hierarchy helps visually impaired people using screen readers navigate websites more effectively. Search engines also use headings to navigate the structure of a page and the topics it covers. So, is heading hierarchy critical for SEO, or is it irrelevant to your search engine rankings?
Google’s Gary Illyes recently answered a question about HTML heading hierarchy and its value for SEO, and his answer shed some light on the role it should play in your own digital strategy. Here’s the Anchor guide to the purpose of heading hierarchy accessibility.
Heading Hierarchy Explained
Headings should be structured logically and sequentially, with the main headline being the most important part. As the reader makes their way down the page, headlines should decrease in size to represent their increasing specificity about the main topic. It doesn’t matter which order your headings follow in the HTML source itself; what counts is how they appear on your page. Search engines draw upon these headings to index the content and structure of web pages.
The different levels of heading hierarchy SEO include:
H1
H1 headers or blog post titles focus on a webpage, article, or blog post's overarching concept or idea. Based heavily on keywords, they’re designed to grab the reader’s attention.
H2
H2 tags introduce major subsections. They are used when introducing a new section or major topic directly related to the page's main heading. The right keywords can help draw a distinction between the sections while also helping each section more effectively connect to the main concept.
H3
These subsections are typically included to clarify further the points made in the H2 section, and they can also be used for lists.
H4
These headings continue the previous work in the section while further clarifying the points made on the webpage or in the article so far.
H5 & H6
These are the least commonly used heading variations and are typically used for the finest and most minute levels of detail on the page.
HTML headings provide semantic context to the document, indicating which elements of the text are sections and which are subsections. This provides greater clarity to both readers and search engines regarding the structure of the document.
The Importance of Sequential Heading Hierarchy For Accessibility
A well-organised heading hierarchy is helpful for everyone, including screen reader users. Headings are one of the most important aspects of accessible website navigation. While clearly labelling the page makes it easier for everyone to navigate, there are some ways that headings can be uniquely beneficial for users with various disabilities. Some examples of heading hierarchy accessibility include:
Helpful for screen readers
A screen reader is software that allows blind people and people with low vision to use their computer or device to read information on a website. Essentially, the screen reader uses a synthesised robot voice to read the items and text on a screen aloud. Depending on the screen reader, you can ask it to spell a word, read a line or full screen of text, or read out website menu items.
When headings are appropriately laid out, web users can use screen readers to scroll down to the section they want to read. If headings aren’t used or used too infrequently, the reading experience becomes more challenging and less pleasant for those with vision impairments. A sequential layout makes it easier for users to skip to sections they’re interested in rather than having to read through or listen to all of the content in its entirety.
Clearer and easier to focus on
Heading hierarchy accessibility isn’t just for the visually impaired. Because it makes it easier to navigate the various sections, it can provide a clearer reading experience for those with ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurodivergence. It breaks the information into more concise chunks that are easier for people who struggle with focus to manage.
Context and consistency
The proper structure provides context and organisation for the content, while the consistency of the experience lets users know what to expect and reduces their cognitive load.
The SEO Value of Sequential Heading Hierarchy
When Gary Illyes from Google answered a question about The SEO value of sequential heading hierarchy, his answer provided insight into heading elements for digital marketing.
On an episode of the SEO Office Hours Podcast, a user commented that the latest edition of Google’s revised SEO Starter Guide recommends using header elements in “semantic” order for people who use screen readers but that otherwise, it wasn’t important for Google. They said this advice was at odds with a non-Google SEO tool with a different recommendation.
Gary clarified that the SEO Starter Guide was a trustworthy source on the matter and that heading hierarchy was still worth the effort. In his own words: “Just because a non-Google tool tells you something is good or bad, that doesn’t make it relevant for Google; it may still be a good idea, just not necessarily relevant to Google.”
So, while heading hierarchy may have a minor (although not insignificant) impact on SEO, it should never be overlooked as an element in webpage optimisation. It improves user experience in many ways, and that in itself is enough to shift Google's rankings positively.
SEO-Friendly Content at Anchor
With our search engine optimisation services, Anchor can make sure the techniques you use are always SEO-friendly, whether they involve headings or any other method for making your site more user-friendly. Among Google’s 200+ ranking factors are site speed, link quality, content quality, and length, and Anchor ensures no relevant area is neglected. We stay on top of new developments and keep up with the changing SEO landscape while remaining true to the timeless principles that have always worked and always will. Optimised for human eyes and not machines, our SEO techniques nevertheless please the search engines as well.
Content marketing is the process behind creating quality content, and it comes in many forms, from websites to blog posts, social media posts, and press releases. Anchor covers all aspects of quality content marketing, from copywriting to social media to paid advertising content marketing. Anchor can conceive a strategy that underpins your content campaign with clear KPIs, planning and metrics. Our strategy includes in-depth research and precise audience targeting so that none of your marketing efforts will go to waste. And we’ll keep you in the loop every step of the way with transparent reports that lay out the results of our marketing efforts.
For SEO-friendly content that helps you become even better at what you do, contact the Anchor team.
