H1-H6 Heading Checker

Master Your Semantic SEO Structure

Heading structure is the skeleton of SEO. If your H1s and H2s are disorganized, search engines struggle to interpret the relevance of your content. A broken hierarchy—such as jumping from an H1 directly to an H4—confuses crawlers and severely impacts accessibility for screen readers.

This Heading Checker Tool scans your HTML to visualize the document outline. It detects critical SEO errors like duplicate H1 tags, missing headings, and illogical nesting. By correcting these structural issues, you help Google index your content more accurately and improve your chances of winning featured snippets.

How to Optimize Heading Hierarchy

1. One H1 Rule: Ensure every page has exactly one H1 tag that includes your primary keyword.
2. Sequential Order: Never skip levels. An H2 should be followed by an H3, not an H4.
3. Descriptive Labels: Avoid generic headings like "Read More." Use descriptive text that summarizes the section.
4. Logical Nesting: Use H2s for main chapters and H3s for sub-topics within those chapters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is proper heading hierarchy?

It is the logical ordering of HTML tags to define content importance. Start with one <h1> for the main title, use <h2> for major sections, and nest <h3> tags for sub-topics. This structure mirrors a book's table of contents.

Should I have multiple H1 tags on a page?

Technically allowed in HTML5, but avoided in SEO. Google prefers a single H1 to clearly define the page's primary topic. Multiple H1s dilute the thematic focus and can confuse ranking algorithms.

Why are heading tags important for SEO?

Headings act as signposts for crawlers. They help search engines understand the context of your content and determine which keywords are most relevant. A clear structure correlates with better crawlability and rankings.

Can I skip heading levels (H1 to H3)?

Avoid it. Skipping levels (e.g., nesting an H3 directly under an H1) breaks the document outline. This makes content harder to parse for accessibility tools and indicates poor coding practices to search engines.

How many headings should I use on a page?

Focus on structure, not quantity. Use one H1, enough H2s to cover your main points, and nest H3-H6s only when detailed sub-sections are necessary to break up dense text.