What am I missing here regarding H1, H2, H3, etc... header tags in Header vs. Text

[tsquared28]

As the title says, what am I missing here regarding using the proper header types for certain parts of my site and text? If I choose the block "Image with Text", just as an example, by default I am given 2x areas to input text:

1. The Header portion (in red below)
2. The Text portion (in green below)

By default, the Header portion will automatically make my header an H2, sometimes even an H3 header with no option to change it unless you manually go into the code and edit the tags for each tag.

If, however, I just delete the Header portion and strictly use the Text portion, I can now FULLY customize the headers for each character and line of text I have. This seems SO much cleaner and more customization. Is this just a more advanced way of managing your SEO that 90% of people don't need? What's going on here, this seems obviously complicated?  

My question is: am I missing anything by not using the Header portion on these sections of my site? I am trying to optimize as best I can for SEO and it seems like using the Text portion allows full customization and thus, allows me to stack and structure my site in the cleanest possible way. Whereas, if I use the Header portion, it will significantly screw things up for me - not great! Am I overlooking anything here? 

For reference, my site is: www.inthenowlifestyle.com

Just in case this is needed for anything?

[kayakakan]

One thing that you might be missing is that H1 can only be present once in a page for SEO purposes. And that H1 should be the title that most accurately represent the content of a page. If you put many H1 in a single page, search engines will be confused as to what they should show in their search results page. It is, I believe, the most fundamental rule for headings, one H1 per page, and that's why Shopify defaults to H2 when you insert a block, and it will likely take into account how deep in the structure of your text that block is to select a heading like H3. But if you don't break the one rule I talked about, I don't see any reason for you not to use the text field for the content in whatever structure suits you, as long as the headings inside the content area are higher numbers than the proper heading of the block: a block with an H2 should have text content with H3 or higher.

More concisely, Shopify's block heading is meant to automate the Hn choice for you, and doesn't necessarily expect the text content to be more than a paragraph, so if your text area is a bit more complex, you should be okay ignoring the default and doing your own thing, as long as you're not putting H1 every where or not enforcing any hierarchy to your text. 

[DaisyVo]

Hi @tsquared28 ,

You're absolutely right that structuring your site cleanly is important for SEO. However, headers (H1, H2, etc.) play a crucial role in helping search engines understand your content hierarchy and relevance. Proper use of headers improves readability, enhances accessibility, and boosts SEO rankings.

To ensure your Shopify store is fully optimized, we highly recommend using our SEO app. It helps analyze and structure your content effectively, ensuring that you're not missing any key SEO opportunities while maintaining a clean layout.

- Our app offers a free trial for Pro and Enterprise plans. You can check it out as our app provides a free trial for Pro and Enterprise plans. https://apps.shopify.com/avada-seo-suite?utm_source=Shopify_Community&utm_medium=Daisy

If you have any questions or need assistance with installation and setup, please feel free to contact us. We’re happy to help!

Best regards,
Daisy

[SEOAnt-Jeffery]

Hi @tsquared28

I have fully read your raised question here and here is my advice shared below. Please note here that using correct Headings is very vital to your website when optimizing page contents.

1. Content hierarchy and structure: Headings help search engines understand the content hierarchy and structure of a page. By using various heading levels (h1, h2, h3, etc.), you signal the relative importance of content sections and topics, allowing search engines to accurately index and rank your pages.

2. Keyword targeting: Headings provide an opportunity to include relevant keywords that users might search for, giving search engines a better understanding of your page's focus. By incorporating the right keywords into your headings, you increase the chances that search engines will rank your page higher in search results for those keywords.

3. Context and relevance: Headings improve the context and relevance of your content for search engines. Succinct and descriptive headings provide a summary of the section they indicate, which helps search engines determine whether the content is valuable and topically relevant for users.

4. User experience: SEO not only depends on keywords and content relevance but also on providing an excellent user experience. Headings improve readability and navigability, which contribute to a better user experience, making it more likely that users will engage with your content, share it, and link to it. These factors are all taken into account in search engine ranking algorithms.

5. Featured snippets and rich results: Properly structured headings can increase your chances of appearing in featured snippets or rich results on Google and other search engines. Featured snippets are often generated from well-organized content, including headings that accurately describe the information within the sections they introduce.

6. Crawlability: Headings can improve the crawlability of a web page. Search engine bots, such as Google, rely on headings to better understand the content and its hierarchy. Properly structured headings can make it easier for these bots to index your site and potentially improve your search engine rankings.

By the way, if you are looking for an APP that can help you better optimize the page contents, you can consider SEOAnt APP here. It has one feature called On-Page SEO Scan and Google SEO Advice is included to assist you with better-organized and structured content. Moreover, SEOAnt supports SEO Checker to help detect your website situation with one click, so that you can know the issues that need to be fixed immediately and optimize your website more efficiently. You can feel free to click here to install and the 7-day Free Trial and 30% discount SEOAnt 30% Jeffery are available as well, kindly have a test please, thank you!