Structure pages with one H1 and logical subheadings
Use one clear H1 for the page topic and H2–H3 for sections, without skipping levels, so people and machines can follow the page.
The problem
Pages have no H1, several H1s, long text without subheadings, or headings that skip levels (for example H2 straight to H4).
How to spot it
The audit lists the pages and the specific heading problem.
Why it matters
Headings are the outline of your page. Screen-reader users navigate by them, and search and answer engines use them to understand and split content into answerable sections.
What happens if you leave it
Harder-to-scan pages, weaker accessibility, and content that is harder to quote accurately.
How to fix it
- Give each page one H1 that states its main topic, usually matching the title.
- Break long text into sections with H2 headings; use H3 for subsections inside an H2.
- Do not choose heading levels for their visual size. Style them with CSS instead.
- Turn decorative "headings" (such as a big banner slogan) into normal text if they are not section titles.
Platform-specific notes
- Page builders: check that the theme does not wrap the logo or site name in an H1 on every page.
Common mistakes
- Using H1 for the logo and another for the page title.
- Skipping straight to H4 because it looks nicer.
How to check the fix worked
Use your browser's accessibility tree or a headings bookmarklet to view the outline. Re-run the audit.
References and further reading
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