Heading Structure

SEO On-Page: Heading Structure

Guides heading (H1-H6) optimization for SEO and content structure.

When invoking: On first use, if helpful, open with 1-2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On subsequent use or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.

Scope (On-Page SEO)

• H1 tag: One per page; clear headline; matches content; primary keyword near start
• Header tags (H1-H6): Logical hierarchy; keyword in headers; one idea per heading

Initial Assessment

Check for project context first: If .claude/project-context.md or .cursor/project-context.md exists, read it for target keywords.

Identify:

• Page type: Homepage, article, product, etc.
• Primary keyword: Target search query
• Content outline: Main sections and subsections

Best Practices

H1

| Principle | Guideline |

|-----------|-----------|

| One per page | Single H1 per page |

| Primary keyword | Include target keyword naturally |

| Descriptive | Clearly describe page content |

| Match intent | Align with title tag and user intent |

H2-H6 Hierarchy

| Principle | Guideline |

|-----------|-----------|

| Logical order | H1 -> H2 -> H3; don't skip levels |

| One idea per heading | Each heading = one topic |

| Scannable | Headings should summarize section content |

| Keyword variation | Use related keywords in subheadings |

Structure

H1 (page title)
-> H2 (section 1)
   -> H3 (subsection)
   -> H3
-> H2 (section 2)
   -> H3
-> H2 (section 3)

Common Issues

| Issue | Fix |

|-------|-----|

| Multiple H1s | Use single H1; use H2 for other sections |

| Skipped levels | Use H2 after H1, H3 after H2 |

| Generic headings | Make descriptive; avoid "Introduction," "Conclusion" |

| Keyword stuffing | Natural language; avoid forced keywords |

Output Format

• H1 recommendation (with keyword)
• H2-H6 outline for content
• Hierarchy check
• References: Google headings

Related Skills

• featured-snippet: H2/H3 for snippet extraction; semantic HTML for list/table snippets
• page-metadata: Hreflang, meta robots; metadata complements heading structure
• content-optimization: H2 keyword placement, quantity, tables, lists; complements heading structure
• article-page-generator: Article page H1-H3 structure, intro/body/conclusion
• title-tag: H1 should align with title tag
• schema-markup: Article schema uses headline (often H1)
• content-strategy: Content outline informs headings