Why Headings Matter

Think of headings as the outline of a document. They help readers quickly understand the structure of a page and help search engines understand the page's main topic.

• Heading 1 (H1) is the title of the page. There should be exactly one H1 per page.

• Heading 2 (H2) sections divide the page into major topics.

• Heading 3 (H3) and below are used for subtopics within those sections.

For example:

H1: Page Title
‍ ‍H2: Section Title: Finding Us
‍ ‍H3: parking
‍ ‍H3: public transportation
‍ ‍H3: hours

This structure helps visitors scan the page and helps search engines understand what the page is about (in fact, it also helps with screen readers and accessibility).

Google uses headings as clues. A clear heading structure makes it easier for Google to understand how the page title and content work together, and who would find it most useful. This can improve how the page appears in search results.

When adding new content, choose headings based on the structure of the information, not simply because you like the size or appearance of the text.

Unlike headings, Paragraph 1, 2, and 3 do not create a content hierarchy. They are simply visual text styles. Choose the paragraph style that best fits the appearance you want, and use heading levels only when you are creating a new section or subsection of content.