Is it ok to have multiple H1 tags on a website page?

I’ve noticed a lot of chatter online about how to properly use headings, like H1 and H2 tags, for SEO. It’s clear that not everyone’s on the same page.

What’s causing the confusion?

There was this Twitter poll conducted by Cyrus Shepard where a surprising majority thought Google suggests only one H1 heading per webpage. But that’s not what Google says.

Quiz: Does Google recommend using a single <h1> in your content for SEO purposes?

— Cyrus (@CyrusShepard) May 11, 2021

What does Google recommend?

John Mueller from Google, in an episode of Ask Google Webmasters clarified that you can use as many H1 tags as you want. He said, “Your site will rank perfectly fine with no H1 tags or with five H1 tags.”

But what’s the general consensus among SEO experts?

That’s where things get a bit messy. While many remember older practices from the early 2000s where H1 tags were seen as super important, times have changed. Back then, Google relied heavily on clues like headings to figure out what a page was about. But now, thanks to advancements in natural language processing, Google’s way smarter.

So, are headings not important anymore?

Oh, they still are! But their main job is to communicate what a section is about. John Mueller emphasized this, saying headings help Google understand page content. But you shouldn’t stress too much about whether it’s an H1 or an H2 tag.

So, what’s the best way to use headings?

I believe in a structured approach, with one main H1 for the page’s main topic and then H2s, H3s, etc., for subtopics. It’s also essential to think about those who use screen readers – a clear structure helps them navigate.

And what about keywords in headings?

While it was once a big deal to have exact match keywords in your headings, that’s not the case anymore. What matters now is relevancy. The main question to ask is, “What is this section about?” and structure your content and headings around that.

Got it! So, keep it structured and relevant, and don’t sweat the small stuff?

Exactly! Focus on your content’s overall message and how it benefits the reader. That’s the way forward in today’s SEO world.