9 Proven Tips to Create the Perfect Headline and Boost Your SEO

Launch Your Online Business in Just 7 Days

So many factors and trends influence SEO, all of which come and go, but using H1 tags will always improve your SEO game.


According to Moz, an online SEO tool, H1 tags can do more than just boost your rankings, they can increase your accessibility too.


We’ll be exploring more about H1 tags and how to create the perfect one.


With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to improve your content marketing much faster than anyone else!

1. What are H1 tags and why should you use them?

H1 tags

Simply put, the H1 tag is an HTML tag that indicates a title on a webpage.


What is HTML, and what are HTML tags?

  • HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language — this is the coding language that websites use to create web pages
  • An HTML tag is a snippet of code that tells your web browser how to display its content

HTML has 6 different heading tags — H1, H2, and so on.

  • These headings are ranked in order of importance, as well as in format — ranging from largest to smallest
  • These are also known as headings/headers

A header tag, also known as an H1 tag, acts as the subject line of your web page.


Having a suitable H1 helps to drive targeted traffic to your website so that you reach the right group of people.


The H1 tag conveys, to both the reader and the search engine, what can be found on a specific web page.


For this reason, your H1 tag should contain highly relevant information that coincides with the theme of the web page.

2. The difference between title tags and H1 tags

The difference between title tags and H1 tags

H1 tags are often found with title tags, as they both act as titles to describe what your webpage is about accurately.


Both title tags and the H1 tags share a similar purpose, so people often get confused between the two.


So, what’s the difference then? It’s simple!


The fundamental difference is where they appear:

2.1. Title tags

Title tags

Title tags appear as hyperlinks in search engine results when users search for something specific.


Users then click on these title tags and are directed to the web page.


The title tags don’t appear on the actual webpage.


They appear in the title bar right at the top of the browser and are the default titles that are used when one bookmarks the page.

2.2. H1 tags

H1 tags

This is the large text that acts as a title for your webpage and is what users see.


If you’re looking to boost your traffic, creating the perfect H1 tag is a great way to start seeing some results!


H1 tags will improve your search engine rankings. They also make it much easier for users to navigate their way through the page.


A question you might ask yourself is, “Should my title tags and H1 tags be the same?”


This question has been a topic of debate, but most experts agree that they can be the same, although professional web developers advise that websites should have a different H1 and title tag.


Our advice is that you focus on the following:

  • Make sure that your title tag is optimized to be clicked on because it’s more likely to appear on search engines
  • Have H1 tags that are descriptive and help with navigation, as they appear on your website

Most of the time, your title tag and H1 will be pretty similar, but your title tag should be a bit catchier.


Now that you know what H1 tags are and how they work, here’s the fun part — there are benefits to writing effective blog headlines!

3. 9 Proven ways to create better blog headlines

An H1 tag or blog headline is the first aspect of your web page that will catch visitors’ attention, so it has to be eye-catching and relevant!


Writing headlines takes longer than you’d think, so we’ve gathered a few headline writing tips together to speed up the process.


We’ve also included several headline examples from successful blogs to inspire your own headlines and help you boost your SEO:

3.1. Only use one H1 per page

use one H1 per page

Each page needs to have an H1 tag. It serves as a guide to let the users know they’re on the right page (pun intended).


Blog posts that generate a large amount of organic traffic always use just one H1 tag.


While each page needs to have an H1 tag, there shouldn’t be more than one.


If there’s more than one H1 on a single page, the SEO power of that page becomes diluted.


TechCrunch, an online newspaper from the United States, does a great job of sticking to just a single H1 for every post.

TechCrunch

Their site continues to rank as one of the top results on technology and start-up news search engine results pages (SERPs).


This is because there’s just one article title per blog post — to focus and draw readers to their scoop and to concentrate the page’s SEO.


So the trick is to stick with one great headline for your website to rank higher in Google’s search results!

3.2. Use a descriptive headline

descriptive headline

Source: HubSpot.com

You’ll want to use an H1 that describes the content of the page.


This is especially important for blog posts. Your blog title should be a summary of what your blog post is about.


If you use an H1 that’s too vague or doesn’t answer search intent, you risk losing potential readers that might be interested in your offers.


Specificity is the key to Treehugger, a blog that aims to make sustainability more accessible.

Treehugger

As you can see, the blog title describes what question this post will answer as well as how, so readers know what value they’ll be getting from it upfront.


They’ll be more likely to carry on reading your blog post if they can see that they’re going to get valuable information out of the content.


Content descriptive headlines are also better for your SEO because they can help you get a featured snippet.


Featured snippets are snippets from posts that are displayed on Google’s SERPs to quickly answer a user’s question.

An example of a featured snippet on Google

An example of a featured snippet on Google

They’re usually displayed at the top of the first page and are a way of jumping the ranking queue and being exposed to more viewers.


By creating a content descriptive headline with a post that answers a question, you’re more likely to get a featured snippet of your own.

3.3. Include emotional and power words

Kid

It’s a good idea to use emotive words in the H1 blog titles, as it invokes an emotional response in readers.


Emotive or emotional words influence whether your blog post headline and post as a whole come across in a positive or negative light.


You can see how to use emotive language in this blog title by Cup of Jo, a successful lifestyle blog.

CupOfJo.com

Source: CupOfJo.com

The word “happy” in this headline casts a positive atmosphere over the whole post, making it more attractive to a casual reader.


The human brain works at lightning speed — you have just 0.05 seconds to impress a reader before they generate an opinion about your blog post and your brand as a whole.


In that short time, they’re able to read your headline, and so you have to use it to make an impact ASAP.


Power words are a great way to elicit a psychological reaction that makes more readers want to consume more than just your blog title.


These are words that make readers feel like they’re missing out or even like they need your product to solve their problems.


The Content Marketing Institute is a well-known resource for online business owners.

Content Marketing Institute

This article headline above is packed with power words that make the reader think that they’ll be more powerful writers when they read this powerful post.


By connecting with readers through your words, you’re more likely to make a lasting and memorable impression on them.

3.4. Use a long-tail keyword

long-tail keyword

Source: SingleGrain.com

It’s no secret that using SEO keywords in your H1 tag will help, but long-tail keywords will be even more helpful!


Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific keyword phrases that users are more likely to use when they’re closer to a point-of-purchase or using voice search.


Using long-tail keywords is a great way to establish better lines of communication between your business and your target audience who are actively looking for your content.


For example, when Blogging Wizard is blogging about how to design a customer journey map, they don’t just use the target keyword “journey map” in their blog title.

A vague headline would prevent them from ranking high on the search engine results pages.


They’re more likely to appear in an organic search because they use a long-tail keyword in their blog title, like “design customer journey maps”.


Long-tail keywords help search engines connect you to your readers, so make the most of them!


There are plenty of tools out there that can help you generate long-tail keywords to help you write better headlines:

  • WordStream has a popular free tool used by many bloggers to generate long-tail keywords
  • Google’s Keyword Planner is a popular SEO tool, but it no longer gives you detailed reports on search traffic
  • Keyword Surfer is another free-to-use tool that you can use for headlines and to improve the SEO of your whole blog
  • Answer the Public uses questions and Google’s keyword planner and suggestions to generate headlines and long-tail keywords
  • Google search console can be used if you already have a blog; you can easily find long-tail keywords you're already ranking for

Using the right keywords will not only help you rank higher in the SERPs, but they’ll also draw in readers that are more likely to be interested in your offers.


Make sure not to keyword-stuff though, as it can unnecessarily lengthen the headline and sound unnatural.


Your SEO keywords should be relevant and flow well with your writing style.

3.5. Make it unique

Make it unique

Source: GIPHY.com

The key to writing a great H1 is to make it fun and original.


Following a set of rules for SEO keywords works, but your web page needs to have a compelling headline for it to stand out!


To create great headlines that pair with your content, pay attention to these aspects:

  • It needs to be noticeable and eye-catching
  • Include humor, ask a question, or use alliteration to make it catchy
  • It needs to have the appropriate style elements, visuals, and formatting that’ll allow it to stand out
  • If you’re selling an offer on your web page, consider using a call to action (CTA) in your headline
  • The font and font size is important for a pleasing aesthetic

Style & Error, a men’s fashion blog, takes a tongue in cheek approach to creating this good blog title:

Style & Error

The implications here are that the writer is married to good style but cites irreconcilable differences as the reason he won’t be wearing skinny jeans anymore.


A unique headline, like this one, will strengthen SEO immensely, and it will give your content an edge above the mundane.

3.6. Focus on user-friendliness

One of the most essential parts of writing a good blog headline is to ensure that it’s user-friendly.


Your H1 influences user interaction and experience. It’s crucial to give your blog readers a positive experience.


The key to attracting readers is to ensure that your headlines are visually appealing. It’ll also make them want to stay on your page longer.


SEO has become more focused on user experience (UX) over the past few years.


This means that the way in which users interact with your website will have a big impact on how your page will rank on the Google search results page.


One blog whose content strategy is optimized for positive UX is Nerd Fitness.

Focus on user-friendliness

In the screenshot above, you can see how this blog headline is a permanent link to the post, which turns red when your cursor hovers over it, showing that it’s clickable.


This small touch makes the post more interactive and the website easier to navigate — a big plus for readers.


Google continuously examines user behavior in order to determine the quality of a website, so you’ll want users to have positive experiences.


Google Analytics reports information such as bounce rates, average time spent on a web page, etc. — this data indicates how useful a page is and then determines how highly Google will rank them.


The goal is to capture readers with a good headline so that they’ll spend more time on your web page/blog.


Here are a few quick tips to ensure your headline is user-friendly:

  • Use the correct font size and font so it matches the style of your site and page design
  • Your headline should provide a good overview of your content
  • Make sure that your headline solves a problem or provides a valuable resource for your target audience
  • Focus on headline length — It shouldn’t be too long, the recommended length is no more that 60 characters
  • Be careful not to keyword-stuff — Your SEO keywords should be used in such a way that your blog headlines read naturally

Another tip to make your headlines work for you is to stay consistent with the format of the rest of your header tags (H2, H3, H4, etc.).


Maintaining a consistent UX is extremely important for your content strategy, and especially true for header tags.


For example, if you use a particular format in your H1, it should be implemented across the rest of your tags.


We also advise keeping all your header tags somewhat short.


So, don't ignore users’ opinions and feedback, it matters when it comes to writing great headlines!

3.7. Provide answers for search intent

Provide answers for search intent

When users are on the internet, they’re most likely searching for something.

But what are they searching for? Answers!


Every time you’re creating headlines, whether it’s for a blog post or a web page, you need to ask yourself these questions:

  • Why am I writing this?
  • What information does the user want to have?
  • What’s their intention when they open my website?

Then, use these questions like magic ingredients to a headline formula.


It’s important to analyze users’ search intent when they hop on the web so that you’re familiar with what your target audience wants.


Your goal is to interest readers, keep them on the site longer, and get them to engage with your content.


The man behind the prolific BackLinko blog, Brian Dean, applies these clever headline formulas to his posts

prolific BackLinko blog, Brian Dean

Readers want to find the answers they’re looking for quickly and efficiently, and Brian’s blog headline promises 21 answers for this particular query.


If your headline fails to cater to this need, then you’re not only going to lose potential customers, it’s also bad for your SEO.


When users visit your website but then quickly return to the search results because they were unsatisfied (otherwise known as pogo-sticking), this can negatively affect your rankings in the long term.


So you’ve got to make sure that your H1 gives users exactly what they expect to see on your page.

3.8. List facts and figures

Blog headlines perform better when they include a number or statistic — it makes the content measurable and seem more achievable.


Blog titles with numbers in them are more likely to engage people through reading or sharing your blog post.


Odd numbers perform best because they appear more authentic and catch our attention quickly.

CoSchedule.com

This headline from one of CoSchedule’s blog posts is an example of how you can use an odd number in your blog title to attract readers.


Another way to use odd numbers in your blog post headline is when you’re writing a listicle or list post.


These are simple blog posts that take a list format to round up different tools, statistics, or strategies for the reader to use.

BuzzFeed.com

Source: BuzzFeed.com

BuzzFeed is world-renowned for its fun blog posts that often take the form of lists and get reshared regularly.


It’s important to note that while their headline is direct and contains an odd number, they make sure their content is shareable, even if all you do is read their headline.


This technique is something you should try under a few readily shareable headlines.

3.9. Ask a question

Ask a question

Your headline doesn’t have to be a bland statement.


When writing headlines, it’s always good to use a question, as it’s more likely to grab a reader’s attention.


Asking a question also implies that your content will have the answers so that readers will stay longer on your site, actually reading.


This guest post on the Smart Passive Income blog employs this strategy to hook readers with a query-based article title.

SmartPassiveIncome.com

If this question was part of a reader’s search intent, they’re highly likely to read this article to look for answers.


Since this blog title also aims to help readers get started, the content is even more promising, as it’s both informative and actionable.


Search engines give content like this better results because it sees it as better for their own users — they answer questions faster with comprehensive content.


Basically, if you make it easy for Google to do its job, you’ll reap the benefits.

4. Choosing a platform

Writing headlines is just the first part of the job — you need the support of an online platform that’ll help you get those headlines out there.


Without software hosting your blog post ideas, search engines won’t be able to find your content or display it.


There are loads of different blogging platforms out there:

Unfortunately, many of those platforms are over-complicated, and some don’t even have a free plan!


When building your blog, you don’t want to worry about tackling a steep learning curve, endless plug-ins, or a hefty price-tag.


You’ve got the headline writing tips down, you’ve probably got your first headline in mind already, so it’s time to team up with the best-kept secret in the industry.

4.1. Systeme.io: The best blogging platform

systeme.io’s logo

systeme.io’s logo

Systeme.io is an incredible and intuitive software that helps you build and host your blog.


The powerful platform includes the following website and blog-focused features:

  • Drag-and-drop page editor that makes it simple to create pages without coding or design experience
  • Hundreds of tried-and-tested templates to make the page building process quick and easy
  • Fully integrated membership sites and payment pages, so there’s no need for multiple, clunky plug-ins
  • Unlimited blog posts and storage space so that you won’t be limited when creating your blog

Over and above that, systeme.io caters to the rest of your digital marketing needs as well!


The following features are also part of systeme.io’s all-inclusive offer:

That’s everything you could possibly need to launch and run your online business at every level.


Think that a multi-talented tool like this comes at a steep price? Usually, it does — but not with systeme.io!


You can actually access all of our amazing features for nothing when you opt-in to our forever-free Freemium plan.


This plan includes enough access to everything you need to launch your business and start making a profit, as well as:

  • Unlimited emails
  • 2,000 contacts and a contact tag
  • Unlimited membership site members
  • Deadline funnels

If you already have an established business and are ready to commit to systeme.io, we have 3 scalable paid plans that are perfect for you.

systeme.io’s pricing plans

systeme.io’s pricing plans

Want some help moving from another platform to ours? Opt-in to one of our annual payment plans, and we’ll throw in migration for free!


Not convinced? — Check out how we compare with our competitors.

5. Conclusion

There are a lot of aspects that influence your SEO, but unlike many of the other SEO factors, the H1 tag is something that you have direct control over.


If you optimize it correctly, it can make all the difference in your rankings!


Now that you’ve discovered the power of H1 Tags, let systeme.io’s website builder take care of the details and sit back and enjoy the surge in traffic to your website!


Our Freemium plan will get your website up and running, so you can focus on creating content that ranks!

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