What are Header Tags and How do they influence Search Rankings

As an SEO, we regularly hear or come across many times header tags. It is of great importance to learn and understand what are header tags and what is their role in placing our website in the best position for the relevant search terms. So, firstly lets see what are header tags.

What are Header Tags?

Header tags as the name itself explains are usually the headings in a post. They are the most emphasized wordings of the text and usually are the largest text to stand out.
For example, in this article the text highlighted above "what are header tags?" is the header tag as it is emphasized and is created as a side heading. To be more clear, Header tags are the phrases that break a post (or the information in a post) depending on the hierarchy of the topic being discussed.

Types of Header Tags

Instead of mentioning as types we can say number of header tags. Header tags usually range from H1 to H6 depending on the depth of heading used. You can have more but in most cases that may not needed. H2 is the secondary sub heading under H1, H3 under H2, .. Usually H1 is considered as the main heading of the most and remaining as sub headings under each other.

As you see in the above header tags hierarchy picture, the hierarchy continues with more sub-header tags under each other.

SEO importance of Header Tags

Having proper and necessary usage of header tags is always a good practice both for the user as well as the search engines. Because, it gives an idea for the reader of the importance of the topic as its emphasized. Also, users or search engines can easily understand what are all the topics being discussed at a glimpse of the headings directly. However, H1 tags do have a little direct impact on the rankings as they are the first emphasized text of the post that hits an importance to the bots, making bots consider and understand what is the post being discussed about and thus displaying the page in search results when some searches for the same topic as mentioned in the header tags.

Using Header tags is still a best practice if properly implemented. Rather than stuffing the header tags with keywords, use them properly with the proper context that the further content will be speaking of.

How to use header tags?

Using of header tags is not a big deal. Simply present the topic being discussed in a better way and you could definitely get benefited.

For example if your target keyword is 'Digital Marketing' then instead of writing a H1 tag as 'Digital Marketing' mention it as "What is Digital Marketing" and explain further about what actually digital marketing is then there are very good chances to win the race(while all other factors are also properly maintained). Relevancy always a point to consider while doing any SEO activity. 

If you plan to stuff header tags with keywords better dont use, as one day or the other your site gets hits by Google Algorithm updates. Instead if you use them perfectly, you definitely can experience the best benefits of using the header tags.

Start using them properly.

How many Header tags can be used?

You can use as many header tags, to be more specific as many H1, H2, H3, .. tags as you need but sure to be using them properly at places needed rather than for ranking purpose or for keyword stuffing.

What tools are used to check Heading tags?

There are various tools that are used to check heading tags through out a website. Few of the good ones include but not limited to SEMRush (specifically the SEMRush Audit Tool), SiteBulb Crawler, DeepCrawl, Screaming Frog or SEO Powersuite Website Auditor.