The H1 Tag is the name of your web page that regular users see when the land on the page. It's like the name of a chapter in a book - it provides a concise explanation what this page is about.
An H1 header is the largest and most prominent heading on a web page. An H1 header is best seen in it's natural environment: HTML. This is what an H1 looks like within the HTML that is behind most web pages:
Sidenote: An H1 tag refers to "tags" that are basically the building blocks of HTML. Every webpage is structured within these tags. If you see words or acronyms wrapped in < > then it's very likely a HTML tag. So the H1 tag is one of those more important HTML tags you want to be aware of.
The H1 acts as the visual header of the page. Whenever you visit a website - it simply tells you what to expect in the upcoming content and gives you some context. Road signs are a great example of how we use indicators in our everyday lives. Signs help us quickly understand what is coming up. The H1 header is a sign and indicator of what's coming next.
In short, H1 headings are important for human readers so search engines also use the text within the H1 as a strong signal. This is one of few times you can directly tell Google and Bing what your page is about. H1 headings and Title tags are two of the most important on page factors that you have 100% control over. It's a rare chance as a content owner.
Imagine Google were really lazy and all they did was partially scan content (hint, they actually do this sometimes). Just like a lazy human reader they are going to scan titles, headings, and sub headings. Based on these concise snippets of data it will draw a rough conclusion.
The H1 header really has two purposes on the visual page:
Most content we create has a title or description. The H1 header is the best opportunity to describe what your page is about. You can use a brief phrase or a full sentence - neither is right. A good rule of thumb - use direct, simple language (no run-on sentences). You want to concisely and descriptively give your site visitors the 411 on what they are going to find on your page.
Headers also provide a visual structure to written pages. There are actually several levels of headings from H1 to H6. If you've ever written a basic outline then you understand the concept already. Just like an outline - headers break up your content into sections and sub-sections.
Overall the H1 header is the best way to tell people (and robots) about your content. It's a great big sign post that gives visitors a clue what the following content will be about.
You'll need to do a few things first before you start re-writing or editing.
Also, it's usually best to look at you're whole site, then prioritize where it makes sense to make improvements. If you have headers that are completely missing or one-word H1 headings (i.e. 'Home' or 'About') you have some opportunities to improve. But don't' worry just follow the steps below and we'll have you optimized in no time.
Remember H1s are one piece of the puzzle. A good H1 needs to be followed by great content that delivers to your readers. Pull all the stops - if your are truly delighting your readers - they will comment, link and mention the article. The H1 header is a great tool to help emphasize the core purpose of a specific web page.
Below are step-by-step directions on how to review and optimize your H1 headings. You can use this same approach for other headings as well. Remember only use one H1 per web page. Each page on your website should have an H1 header.
It's worth noting - that Step 1 through Step 4 are all preparation steps to help you optimize more effectively. Hope you find this useful.