Header Hierarchy / SEO #92

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opened 2018-06-11 23:55:05 +02:00 by kauffj · 1 comment

kauffj commented

2018-06-11 23:55:05 +02:00

(Migrated from github.com)

My knowledge of header tags and SEO is at least 5 years old, so if this ticket seems based on incorrect assumptions, let me know.

The homepage is missing an h1
Most pages are missing an h1. The element that serves as a page header is currently an h2 (presumably it should be an h1?).
If the page title is rendered as an h1, then h1s should presumably not be allowed in page markdown.

My knowledge of header tags and SEO is at least 5 years old, so if this ticket seems based on incorrect assumptions, let me know. - The homepage is missing an `h1` - Most pages are missing an `h1`. The element that serves as a page header is currently an `h2` (presumably it should be an `h1`?). - If the page title is rendered as an `h1`, then `h1`s should presumably not be allowed in page markdown.

QuirkyRobots commented

2018-06-12 06:08:47 +02:00

(Migrated from github.com)

Yes, this is partially correct.

Page Structure

Page structure, such as having all the usual components for a page such as H1, H2 etc is still very important for various reasons. Not only does it make a website look more professional, but also because accessibility for the below reasons.

There is debate over if H1's are needed anymore or if you can have multiple ones. And the answer is both yes and no.

While technically you can have multiple H1's in certain circumstances, it's not recommended and there are combining factors that can damage SEO if trying to use new methods. Likewise, omitting H1's from a webpage can have a negative impact on SEO and accessibility.

H1, SEO and Accessibility

The H1 is still a good place to put your keywords, not so much because it's in an H1 as that's not really a formula anymore, but because the H1 usually at the top of the page and keywords at the top are considered more important than keywords below them. Also, other search engines still use H1's to prioritise keywords.

Typically all pages that contain text should have an H1 for good grammar. Good grammar is a factor in search engine algorithms.

New Standards

However, Google standards are paving the way to use multiple H1 within a document if the document is split into unique <sections>.

This allows for a page to contain multiple <articles> each with their own H1 when correctly formatted to support such a system.

<article>
<section>
<h1></h1>
<p></p>
</section>
</article>
<article>
<section>
<h1></h1>
<p></p>
</section>
</article>

However, this isn't fully implemented yet and if a page uses multiple H1's that are incorrectly nested, not only can it damage SEO via bad grammar algorithms, but may also break devices used for accessibility such as screen readers for the visually impaired; which could also be another factor harming SEO.

The recommended "best practice" is to stick to the current system, making sure sites remain accessible for people with disabilities with good grammar using title tags correctly nested in their logical order with only one H1 per page.

Yes, this is partially correct. ## Page Structure Page structure, such as having all the usual **components** for a page such as `H1`, `H2` etc is still very important for various reasons. Not only does it make a website look more professional, but also because accessibility for the below reasons. There is debate over if `H1`'s are needed anymore or if you can have multiple ones. And the answer is both yes and no. While technically you can have multiple `H1`'s in certain circumstances, it's not recommended and there are combining factors that can damage SEO if trying to use new methods. Likewise, omitting `H1`'s from a webpage can have a negative impact on SEO and accessibility. ## H1, SEO and Accessibility The `H1` is still a good place to put your **keywords**, not so much because it's in an H1 as that's not really a formula anymore, but because the `H1` usually at the **top** of the page and keywords at the top are considered more important than keywords below them. Also, other search engines still use `H1`'s to prioritise keywords. Typically all pages that contain text should have an `H1` for good grammar. Good grammar is a factor in search engine algorithms. ## New Standards However, Google standards are paving the way to use multiple `H1` within a document if the document is split into unique `<sections>`. ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/29914179/41267810-607932ec-6e40-11e8-96ab-fee789ea07e1.png) This allows for a page to contain multiple `<articles>` each with their own `H1` when correctly formatted to support such a system. ``` <article> <section> <h1></h1> <p></p> </section> </article> <article> <section> <h1></h1> <p></p> </section> </article> ``` However, this **isn't** fully implemented yet and if a page uses multiple `H1`'s that are incorrectly nested, not only can it damage **SEO** via bad grammar **algorithms**, but may also break devices used for **accessibility** such as **screen readers** for the visually impaired; which could also be another factor **harming** SEO. The **recommended** "*best practice*" is to stick to the current system, making sure sites remain **accessible** for people with **disabilities** with good grammar using **title tags** correctly **nested** in their logical order with only one `H1` per page.

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Reference: LBRYCommunity/lbry.tech#92

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