Definition
The H1 tag is the main heading tag of an HTML page. It indicates to search engines and users the central topic of the page's content. It is an important on-page SEO factor. Each page should have a single H1 tag, unique, containing the main keyword and clearly describing the page's topic. The H1 is often different from the title tag (the title tag is optimized for the SERP, the H1 for the page content). John Mueller from Google confirmed that multiple H1s don't cause technical issues, but best practice remains to use only one.
Key Points
- Important on-page SEO factor indicating the main topic
- Best practice: one unique, descriptive H1 per page
- Should contain the page's main keyword
Practical Examples
H1 for product page
The H1 'Men's Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 41 Running Shoes' is descriptive, contains the keyword, and includes the product name.
H1 for article
The H1 '15 SEO Techniques to Boost Your Traffic in 2026' clearly announces the topic and benefit for the reader.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they can be different. The title tag is optimized for search results (concise, attractive), the H1 is optimized for the page itself (more descriptive, natural).
Technically yes, HTML5 allows it and Google confirms it's not penalizing. However, SEO best practice remains to use a single clear H1 and structure content with H2, H3, etc.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07