When it comes to H1 tags and SEO—structure matters, readability matters, accessibility matters.

But somewhere along the way, basic HTML conventions got turned into rigid SEO rules—most of which don’t hold up under scrutiny. This post aims to reset expectations with evidence, not SEO folklore.

What is an H1 Tag?

The H1 tag is the primary heading element in HTML. It defines the main topic of a page and is typically the most visually prominent text on the screen. It’s important for structuring content clearly—for users, assistive technology, and search engines. It’s a helpful way to signal what the page is about, but it’s not the only way.

A page’s H1 tag can differ from its title tag (what’s typically used for the title link in search results). Often they’re similar, but they serve different roles—one is for the page itself, the other for how it appears externally.

For example, this page’s H1 is the article heading you see above: The Part You’re Supposed to Read First. Its title tag is: H1 Tags: SEO Best Practices and Common Myths.

Header Tag SEO Best Practices

We encourage you to follow these simple header tag basics:

HTML Header Tags Hierarchy — Proper heading structure

Use one clear H1 to introduce a page’s content.
Make it descriptive and relevant to the page topic.
Use proper heading hierarchy (H2s, H3s, etc.) to organize supporting sub-sections.
Write your headings for clarity, not keyword density.

These practices help with readability, accessibility, and logical page structure—all of which indirectly support SEO by improving user experience.

But let’s be clear: there is no magic SEO boost just for using an H1, or for including the right keyword in it. And Google is not going to penalize a page if you or your drag-and-drop CMS add multiple H1s.

H1 Myths You Can Ignore

Many misconceptions about H1 tags come from SEO tools and CMS plugins that still flag things like “multiple” H1s as problems. These warnings date back to a time when search engines relied more heavily on strict HTML structure to understand page content.

But today’s search engines use advanced language models to interpret meaning, context, and relevance—regardless of how perfectly a page follows old markup rules. A page can rank with multiple H1s, or even none, as long as the structure is clear and the content meets intent. Still, outdated assumptions—repeated by tools, checklists, and AI assistants—continue to drive the confusion many beginners have about headings.

Myth 1: You can only have one H1 heading per page. 

Reality: Google’s video from 2017 clearly states multiple H1s are “not a problem.” Yes, you should use headings to structure content clearly—but having more than one H1 is fine.

That might sound like news to some, but it’s been obvious to anyone who’s watched pages rank in the real world. This site, for example, has used an older template since 2013 that wraps the logo in an H1—meaning every page has technically had two H1s from the start. It never caused an issue, and we never lost sleep over it.

But since even direct statements from Google don’t seem to stop the checklist-style panic, we made this page with three H1s to drive home the point. And yes, the page still ranks. Because it simply doesn’t matter.

Myth 2: A page needs a keyword in the H1 tag to rank. 

Reality: Google has stated repeatedly that headings help with understanding page content—not rankings. Google doesn’t need a keyword in a heading tag to rank a page. What matters is how well the content answers the query—regardless of how the heading is phrased.

Notice the main H1 on this page—The Part You’re Supposed to Read First—contains zero keywords. No mention of “H1,” “SEO,” or “headings.” Yet here you are.

Nuances to Consider

Even though Google doesn’t require a single H1 or exact keywords in headings, a few best practices still matter in the real world:

Clean heading structure supports accessibility. Screen readers rely on heading levels to navigate content. Using one main H1 and logical subheadings (H2s, H3s, etc.) helps everyone—visually and technically.
Google might use your H1 as a title tag. While Google primarily shows the title tag in search results and Google Discover, it might use your H1 or other prominent text if:
- The title tag is vague, missing, or too long
- The H1 better represents the content
- There’s a clearer or more engaging headline on the page

So while your H1 doesn’t influence rankings directly, it’s still worth writing thoughtfully and in alignment with your content.

Headings shape comprehension—even without keyword stuffing. While rankings aren’t tied to H1s, strong headings can improve comprehension and engagement. That improves scannability, retention, and perceived quality.
Consistency helps at scale. If you’re managing hundreds of pages, a consistent heading structure can make maintenance and audits much easier.

At the end of the day, strong headings, consistent formatting, and clear structure all contribute to a more trustworthy page. The problem comes when these details are treated like checkboxes in an SEO audit. That turns useful structure into busywork. Focus on clarity, usefulness, and flow—then move on.