What is Header Tags (SEO)?
Header tags are the HTML heading elements <h1> through <h6> that structure the content hierarchy on a webpage. An <h1> tag denotes the main title or headline of the page, while <h2> to <h6> tags represent progressively subservient subheadings.
Here’s a table that explains this better:
Search engines and users both rely on this structured hierarchy to understand the outline of a page’s content. In practical terms, header tags break up your content into logical sections with descriptive headings, making it easier to read and navigate.
Why are header tags important for SEO?
From an SEO perspective
Headers provide context and relevancy signals. The <h1> tells Google, “This is what my page is about,” much like a title. Subheadings <h2>, <h3>, etc., organize supporting topics and help search engines grasp the subtopics covered. While Google’s ranking algorithms don’t give the same weight to headings as they might to content quality or backlinks, headers can influence how relevant Google perceives your page to a query.
According to a SearchMetrics study, 80% of first-page Google results include an H1 tag on the page. And that makes sense, right?
For example, if someone searches for “SaaS SEO strategies” and your blog post’s H1 is exactly “SaaS SEO Strategies for Startups,” that alignment helps confirm relevance (though it’s not a guarantee of ranking alone). Moreover, headers are often used by Google to generate featured snippets or sitelinks. If your H2 is phrased as a question (e.g., “How do header tags affect SEO?”) and you answer it immediately after, Google might feature that Q&A as a snippet.
In fact, rephrasing headings as questions can sometimes boost organic traffic by aligning with search queries – one test saw a 12% uplift in organic traffic in 20 days after changing H2s to question format including target keywords
For users…
Header tags vastly improve readability. Walls of text are off-putting – nobody wants to slog through an unstructured monolith of copy. Descriptive headings act as signposts that allow readers to scan and jump to sections of interest. T
hey break content into digestible parts and create a logical flow (much like chapters in a book). This is especially important for longer SaaS blog posts, documentation, or landing pages that cover multiple points.
A visitor might not read every word on your page, but they will quickly scan your H2s and H3s to decide if the page has what they’re looking for. Good headings can therefore increase the time a visitor spends on the page and the likelihood they find their answer (which also helps your conversion rates for things like sign-ups or demos).
Best practices for header tags
Every page should ideally have a single, unique <h1> that describes the main topic.
Think of it like the title of a book or the headline of an article – it should be concise and include the primary keyword or theme of the page (if it’s natural to do so). For instance, on a SaaS homepage, the H1 might be your value proposition (“<h1>Streamlined Project Management Software for Marketing Teams</h1>”). For a blog post, it’s the article title.
Only use one H1 per page (unless you have a very good reason to break this rule), because multiple equally important H1s can confuse hierarchy. From there, use H2 tags for major sections or key points supporting the main topic.
If you’re writing an article titled “10 SaaS Marketing Strategies,” each strategy might be an H2 heading. Under each H2, if you need to break things down further, use H3 for sub-points or examples, and so on. Always maintain logical order (don’t jump from an H2 straight to an H4 – you shouldn’t skip levels). It’s not required to use all levels of <h1>–<h6>; use what makes sense for the depth of your content.
Each header should be descriptive.
Avoid vague headings like “Introduction” or “Chapter 1” – these don’t tell the reader or Google anything useful. Instead, make them informative: e.g., “Why Header Tags Matter for SaaS SEO” is better than a generic “Importance”.
If possible, naturally incorporate relevant keywords or phrases your audience might be searching for into some headings (especially H1s and H2s), but do so only where it reads well. You don’t want to stuff keywords awkwardly (e.g., don’t write “SaaS SEO Header Tags Best Practices Tips” as a header – that looks spammy). Write for humans first, and ensure the headers accurately reflect the content of the section.
It’s also a good habit to use heading tags semantically, not for styling alone.
In other words, don’t pick an H3 just because you like the way it looks (with a smaller font) for a subtitle. Use CSS to style if needed, but reserve headings for true section titles. Consistency matters too: follow a convention site-wide so that an H2 on one page serves the same structural role as on another.
This helps search engines consistently interpret your outline.
Accessibility is another plus: screen readers often navigate by headings, so clear <h1>...<h2>... structure makes your SaaS website more accessible to visually impaired users (which some argue can indirectly benefit SEO, as accessible sites tend to be higher quality).
Frequently Asked Questiona
Why are header tags important for SEO?
Header tags help search engines understand what your page is about. They create a content hierarchy, making it easier to crawl and index.
While they aren’t direct ranking factors, they influence how relevant and readable your content appears—both to Google and users. Pages with clear headings tend to perform better because they’re easier to scan, especially on mobile. They also signal key topics and support keyword context when used naturally.
What’s the difference between H1, H2, and H3 tags?
H1 is for the main title of the page, use it once. H2s break up major sections, while H3s support details within each H2.
Think of them as a content outline. For example, a blog post title would be an H1, “Benefits of the Tool” would be an H2, and points under that section like “Saves Time” or “Improves Accuracy” would be H3s. This structure helps both humans and bots follow your logic.
Will multiple h1 tags on a page harm SEO?
In a 2019 Webmaster Hangout, Google’s John Mueller confirmed that you can use multiple <h1> tags on a page without harming your SEO, or even none at all – as long as the page is structured in a logical, user-friendly way
In essence, you won’t be penalised for having two H1s (for instance, one in the page header and one in the body) or for using H2s and H3s liberally, but it’s wise to ensure your headings are meaningful and reflect the content beneath them.
Do I need to use all six header tags (H1–H6)?
Nope. Most pages only need H1, H2, and H3. H4–H6 are rarely used unless your content is very complex. The goal is to organize content clearly, not check off every tag.
Just make sure your headers follow a logical order and don’t skip levels unnecessarily (like jumping from H2 to H5). Stick to clarity and hierarchy, and you’re good to go.
Can using header tags improve user experience?
Yes. Skimmable content = happy readers. Clear headers break long pages into digestible chunks, help users find what they’re looking for faster, and increase time on page.
If you phrase headings as questions or highlight specific benefits, it makes your content feel more helpful. Even small changes, like updating vague headers to something more specific, can boost engagement and reduce bounce rates.
Do SaaS companies need to worry about header tags?
Definitely. Header tags are a low-effort, high-impact part of SaaS on-page SEO.
Whether you’re writing landing pages, blogs, or help docs, well-structured headers support both search performance and user clarity. Google doesn’t need perfect heading usage, but it rewards logical structure and helpful content. For SaaS sites with lots of pages, getting headings right gives your whole site a solid SEO foundation.
