H1-H5 heading scenarios

---

Overview

Heading tags create the document outline for readers and search engines. Good heading structure improves readability, accessibility, and content organization.

Heading Scenario Comparison

Scenario	SEO/UX Impact	Recommendation
Only H1 tags	Confusing hierarchy and poor structure	Avoid. Use one H1, then H2-H3 sections.
H1 and H2 only	Acceptable for simple pages	Use for short content with few sections.
H1, H2, H3	Strong structure for most articles	Recommended default.
H1 and H5 only	Broken hierarchy	Avoid skipping levels for styling.
H1-H5 used logically	Useful for deep guides	Use only when content depth requires it.

Best Practices

• Use one H1 for the page topic.
• Use H2s for major sections.
• Use H3s for subsections under H2s.
• Do not skip heading levels for visual design.
• Style headings with CSS instead of misusing heading tags.

WordPress Hero Section Rule

If the page title is already an H1, the hero headline should usually also be that H1 or use non-heading styling. Avoid duplicating multiple H1s for design blocks.

Common Mistakes

• Using headings as font-size controls.
• Creating multiple H1s across hero, title, and content body.
• Skipping from H2 to H5.
• Making vague headings that do not describe the section.

Related Concepts

• HTML tag optimization
• Content readability