Headers are pieces of HTML code that highlight sections of text on a webpage, making it easier for users and search engines to recognize what the content on the page is about. H1s specifically act much like a newspaper headline would – it is usually larger and more pronounced than other words on the page and is typically the first thing a user reads once they arrive on your page.

Why are Good Headers Important?

A well-written H1 header paired with an organized heading structure can very be beneficial for your website. H1s not only help search engines decipher the content and context of your page but can help your users quickly do the same.

H1 Headers are the Most Notable Visual Content on Your Page

When a user lands on a webpage, the H1 – or headline – is most often the first thing they see. Why is that? H1 headers are the highest level tag that details what your page is about. They are designed to be more recognizable and stand out on the page. This can be done with a larger font, darker color, and placement. Without these visual cues, an H1 may be overlooked and users may not know what page they are on or what the copy is about.

Headers are Important to Consider for SEO Rankings

Utilizing keywords in H1 headers used to be a ranking factor, but search engines have shifted away from that line of thought. H1s now help with ranking factors in a more indirect way – and in a way that puts the user first.

Good H1s help search engine crawlers better understand the context of your webpage. The H1 header tells the crawler what your page content is about and how relevant it is for a topic. From there, the web crawler will begin to send more users to your page who are looking for that specific content. This in turn helps boost your click-thru rate and traffic on your website, resulting in better SEO rankings.

What Does a Well-Written H1 Look Like?

To be most effective, H1s should be present at the very top of the page before the copy begins. They should be bold and stand out against the copy text. But what else do H1s need to be the most effective for relevant traffic and conversions?

Consider the User Intent and the Context of the Page

While it is important to think about keywords while writing H1s, we should not only rely on them for our headers. We need to consider the context of the page as a whole and why a user should continue reading.

For example, if a visitor uses search engines to find instructions on how to assemble a pneumatic valve demo kit, they hope to see results and pages that match their intent. If a user lands on a page but the H1 reads “Pneumatic Valve Kits”, the visitor may think this is a product page to buy a kit and may leave the page, driving up the bounce rate.

Writing an H1 along the lines of “Pneumatic Valve Kit Assembly Guides” would be a better fit for both the context of the page and the user’s intent. If your H1 header does not match the users’ intent, your page may not perform as well in the search engines – and your sales may suffer.

Keep it Simple and Avoid Unknown Words

To avoid confusing users, H1 headers should be simple and descriptive without using unclear language. Try to avoid using abbreviations, part numbers or product names, and unfamiliar jargon-heavy terms or phrases. To maintain simplicity, ask yourself if you can make the H1 shorter without losing context. Is the H1 straight to the point? Does it convey what my page is about and why a user should care about reading the rest of the page? If so, you are one step closer to convincing users to convert.

Update Your H1s with Ecreative and See More Conversions

Updating headers, especially H1s, across your site can be an effective tool to narrow in on your ideal customer and convince them to convert. User intent and searching habits naturally change over time, and maintaining effective H1 headers is the first step in staying relevant to your users. Please email Ecreative today for assistance with header optimization. With our help, you may begin seeing a higher number of relevant leads through your site.