Should H1 and TITLE tags be the same or different?
- SEO |
This matter seems to be brought about at every meeting with SEO experts. It is difficult to determine the origin of this question. Perhaps one of the reasons could be inadequacy of recommendations in search engines or lack of examples in TOP 10.
Some say, using different tags in H1 and TITLE, the site may be penalized on the grounds of attempting to reinforce it by using the meaning of a keyword twice. Others say, in order for the robot, which analyzes your website, to highlight paramount sections and key pages, it is necessary for TITLE text for the key pages to be consistent with the page header. So, should they, in actual practice, be written identical or different? Generally speaking, there is no difference. However, several factors must be taken into consideration.
First of all, H1 and TITLE must resonate.
If TITLE is about one thing and H1 is about the other, it will be more difficult for search engines to identify what particular keywords the page is relevant to. In addition, users will find it confusing as well. As well as that, these code sections help search engines form special elements in snippet, something like quick links. In other words, H1 and TITLE should not be absolutely different. Let's look at some examples just to demonstrate without preliminary semantic analysis.
The site is a store which sells Italian clothes in New York.
The primary keywords are Italian clothes online store, Italian clothes.
Title: Italian clothes store in New York. Buy genuine Italian clothes/Name of the store.
H1: Welcome
This is not entirely a correct choice as H1 does not contain any keywords which should be promoted. Greetings may be written in text section and H1 could be "Italian brand clothes". This already looks better as tags correlate with each other based on the keywords "Italian clothes". But it might not be found in top-priority search results.
H1: Italian clothes store/Name of the store. This is an average headline with nothing in excess.
As you can see, it's no use writing H1 and TITLE absolutely identical. However, they should be similar, sharing the same keywords. H1 and TITLE are viewed by users on different stages of interaction with the site. TITLE is often viewed first, before users moves on to the website, while H1 is only seen when a user is on the web page. Hence, H1 should be short and sweet, but to the greatest possible extent describing the gist of the landing page. A lot depends on its function, practicality and purpose.
With regard to Title, apart from including right keywords, it should encourage viewers to click on it. Let's look at another example:
A website is an online store which sells and delivers electronics in New York.
H1: Electronics online
Title: Buy electronics with delivery in New York.
Here the word "buy" encourages users to click and "delivery in NewYork" answers a string of questions before clicking.
Another example on an informational topic: how to make a cheesecake.
H1: How to make a cheesecake.
Title: Make a cheesecake: a step-by-step guide with pictures.
In this case, " Step-by-step guide" not only extends semantics but increases the probability of users clicking on this title. A person who searches "how to make a cheesecake" has in mind step-by-step instructions, but does not include it in his search request. Without tweaking the code, when a web page is shared by a user in social networks, a headline is taken from the title.
If a TITLE is brief like H1, it is not a preferable choice either. This point is relevant to informational and news projects. However, many such projects work in social networks, so writing a headline similar to "He could not live like that any longer. And this is what he did..." is not correct for SEO.
Just keep in mind, when writing titles that they may be utilized as headlines in social networking sites.
Title may consist of additional keywords. In order to promote a web page, TITLE most likely include some words from semantic kernel. Naturally, it will be distinguished from H1 tag. For instance, we have a set of requests: installation of shingles, installation of flexible shingles, installation manual, installation technology, video, etc.
H1: Installation of flexible shingles manual
Title: Installation of shingles, stacking technology. Price. Video
Here TITLE and H1 are absolutely different. They are similar only by several words (shingles, installation). Including all words from semantic kernel makes non sensible, moreover, it will look like spam. However, separating words by code sections is an amicable strategy.
So, making TITLE and H1 identical is unnecessary. A lot depends on a landing page, type of search requests and your own expectations. Consider all details and factual information above, approach tasks with good judgment.
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* Don Burk Advertising & Marketing - www.donburk.com