Skip to content
    Moz logo Menu open Menu close
    • Products
      • Moz Pro
      • Moz Pro Home
      • Moz Local
      • Moz Local Home
      • STAT
      • Moz API
      • Compare SEO Products
      • Moz Data
    • Free SEO Tools
      • Domain Analysis
      • Keyword Explorer
      • Link Explorer
      • Competitive Research
      • MozBar
      • More Free SEO Tools
    • Learn SEO
      • Beginner's Guide to SEO
      • SEO Learning Center
      • Moz Academy
      • SEO Q&A
      • Webinars, Whitepapers, & Guides
    • Blog
    • Why Moz
      • Agency Solutions
      • Enterprise Solutions
      • Small Business Solutions
      • Case Studies
      • The Moz Story
      • New Releases
    • Log in
    • Log out
    • Products
      • Moz Pro

        Your all-in-one suite of SEO essentials.

      • Moz Local

        Raise your local SEO visibility with complete local SEO management.

      • STAT

        SERP tracking and analytics for enterprise SEO experts.

      • Moz API

        Power your SEO with our index of over 44 trillion links.

      • Compare SEO Products

        See which Moz SEO solution best meets your business needs.

      • Moz Data

        Power your SEO strategy & AI models with custom data solutions.

      Discover Brand Authority
      Moz Pro

      Discover Brand Authority

      Learn More
    • Free SEO Tools
      • Domain Analysis

        Get top competitive SEO metrics like DA, top pages and more.

      • Keyword Explorer

        Find traffic-driving keywords with our 1.25 billion+ keyword index.

      • Link Explorer

        Explore over 40 trillion links for powerful backlink data.

      • Competitive Research

        Uncover valuable insights on your organic search competitors.

      • MozBar

        See top SEO metrics for free as you browse the web.

      • More Free SEO Tools

        Explore all the free SEO tools Moz has to offer.

      What is your Brand Authority?
      Moz

      What is your Brand Authority?

      Take the quiz
    • Learn SEO
      • Beginner's Guide to SEO

        The #1 most popular introduction to SEO, trusted by millions.

      • SEO Learning Center

        Broaden your knowledge with SEO resources for all skill levels.

      • On-Demand Webinars

        Learn modern SEO best practices from industry experts.

      • How-To Guides

        Step-by-step guides to search success from the authority on SEO.

      • Moz Academy

        Upskill and get certified with on-demand courses & certifications.

      • SEO Q&A

        Insights & discussions from an SEO community of 500,000+.

      June 3 & 4, 2024, Seattle
      MozCon

      June 3 & 4, 2024, Seattle

      Get tickets
    • Blog
    • Why Moz
      • Small Business Solutions

        Uncover insights to make smarter marketing decisions in less time.

      • Agency Solutions

        Earn & keep valuable clients with unparalleled data & insights.

      • Enterprise Solutions

        Gain a competitive edge in the ever-changing world of search.

      • The Moz Story

        Moz was the first & remains the most trusted SEO company.

      • Case Studies

        Explore how Moz drives ROI with a proven track record of success.

      • New Releases

        Get the scoop on the latest and greatest from Moz.

      Surface actionable competitive intel
      New Feature: Moz Pro

      Surface actionable competitive intel

      Learn More
    • Log in
      • Moz Pro
      • Moz Local
      • Moz Local Dashboard
      • Moz API
      • Moz API Dashboard
      • Moz Academy
    • Avatar
      • Moz Home
      • Notifications
      • Account & Billing
      • Manage Users
      • Community Profile
      • My Q&A
      • My Videos
      • Log Out

    The Moz Q&A Forum

    • Forum
    • Questions
    • Users
    • Ask the Community

    Welcome to the Q&A Forum

    Browse the forum for helpful insights and fresh discussions about all things SEO.

    1. Home
    2. SEO Tactics
    3. On-Page Optimization
    4. H2 tags always recommended? Or ok without?

    H2 tags always recommended? Or ok without?

    On-Page Optimization
    html header h1 h2 h3
    5
    5
    1261
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as question
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with question management privileges can see it.
    • NRSmart
      NRSmart Subscriber last edited by

      Is it ok to have no h2 tags? There are no "keywords" relevant to the product in these example h2 tags. Also, is it ok to not have a PRODUCT DESCRIPTION header, or is it better with that header? It's for a "product page".

      Examples:

      <h1>Used Bow Front Desk With Mahogany Laminate</h1>
      <h2 style="display:inline;">QTY:</h2> 3 - <h2 style="display:inline;">Manufacturer:</h2> Hon
      <h2>Product Description:</h2>
      <p>This bow front desk is in excellent condition.  It has a beautiful mahogany laminate.</p>
      

      OR (no h2 tags or product description header at all)

      <h1>Used Bow Front Desk With Mahogany Laminate</h1>
      <p>QTY: 3 - Manufacturer: Hon</p>
      <p>This bow front desk is in excellent condition.  It has a beautiful mahogany laminate.</p>
      

      I prefer the last one as it's much simpler, but I'm curious if search engines would prefer the existence of h2 tags in the first version.

      Thanks,
      Todd

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • skchad13j
        skchad13j last edited by

        @NRSmart said in H2 tags always recommended? Or ok without?:

        Is it ok to have no h2 tags? There are no "keywords" relevant to the product in these example h2 tags. Also, is it ok to not have a PRODUCT DESCRIPTION header, or is it better with that header? It's for a "product page".
        Examples:
        <h1>Used Bow Front Desk With Mahogany Laminate</h1>
        <h2 style="display:inline;">QTY:</h2> 3 - <h2 style="display:inline;">Manufacturer:</h2> Hon
        <h2>Product Description:</h2>
        <p>This bow front desk is in excellent condition. It has a beautiful mahogany laminate.</p>

        OR (no h2 tags or product description header at all)
        <h1>Used Bow Front Desk With Mahogany Laminate</h1>
        <p>QTY: 3 - Manufacturer: Hon</p>
        <p>This bow front desk is in excellent condition. It has a beautiful mahogany laminate.</p>

        I prefer the last one as it's much simpler, but I'm curious if search engines would prefer the existence of h2 tags in the first version.
        Thanks,
        Todd

        In terms of SEO and HTML structure, it's generally recommended to use H2 tags for better organization and accessibility. However, it's not always mandatory, and the choice can depend on the specific context and design of your webpage.
        (Study abroad)
        The first example uses H2 tags to structure the content, which can help search engines understand the hierarchy of information on the page. It can be beneficial for SEO, especially if the content is more extensive.
        (Canada PR)
        The second example, without H2 tags, is simpler and can still be acceptable. It's more about user experience and design preference. If your product page is short and straightforward, and you find the design cleaner without H2 tags, it should be okay.
        (PMP Exam Prep)
        In summary, both approaches can work, but the use of H2 tags is generally recommended for SEO and content organization. However, it's not a strict rule, and the choice can depend on your specific needs and design preferences.
        ( 2 Year Post Graduate Diploma Canada)

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • Adam_Williams
          Adam_Williams last edited by

          It defines the second-level headings on your page. Like a H1 tag, a H2 tag also appears larger than the rest of your main body text. However, H2 tags are always slightly smaller than your H1 tag, so that it does not compete with your main heading. Keep in mind that heading tags don't stop at H2. This strategy makes it simpler for web crawlers to properly index the content for the most important search questions, which likewise makes it almost certain for the webpage to rank higher for those keywords in the web search results pages (SERPs). For more understanding, read the full blog here: https://www.inbound.blog/on-page-optimization/

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • ehishab
            ehishab last edited by

            H2 tags are not always recommended, but they serve a specific purpose in structuring the content of a web page. In HTML, H2 tags represent second-level headings, which are typically used to organize content hierarchically under an H1 (first-level heading).

            Whether or not to use H2 tags depends on the structure and content of your webpage. Here are some guidelines:

            Hierarchy and Structure: If your content has a clear hierarchy with sections or subsections, it's a good practice to use H2 tags to denote those subsections under the main headings (H1 tags). This helps search engines and users understand the organization of your content.

            Accessibility: Properly structured HTML, including the use of H2 tags, can improve the accessibility of your website for users who rely on screen readers or other assistive technologies. It ensures that the content is presented in a logical and understandable order.

            SEO: Search engines use heading tags to understand the content and hierarchy of your page. Using H2 tags appropriately can positively impact your SEO by helping search engines better index and rank your content.

            Readability: Breaking content into sections with clear headings (H2 tags) makes it more readable and scannable for users. It helps them quickly find the information they're looking for.

            Consistency: Maintaining consistency in your HTML structure, including the use of H2 tags, makes your code cleaner and easier to maintain.

            However, there may be cases where using H2 tags is not necessary. For very simple web pages with minimal content or if your content doesn't naturally lend itself to hierarchical structuring, you might not need H2 tags. In such cases, you can use other formatting techniques to make your content clear and readable.

            In summary, while H2 tags are not an absolute requirement for every web page, they are a valuable tool for organizing and structuring content, improving accessibility, and enhancing SEO. Their use should be determined by the specific needs and structure of your website.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • Suvidit-Academy
              Suvidit-Academy last edited by

              Yes, it is okay to have no h2 tags on a product page. H2 tags are not required for SEO, and they can actually be harmful if they are not used correctly. For example, if you use h2 tags for keywords that are not relevant to the product, you could actually hurt your ranking in search results.

              In your example, the h2 tags "QTY:", "Manufacturer:", and "Product Description:" are not relevant to the product itself. They are more like metadata that helps to provide information about the product. This information is still important, but it does not need to be marked up with h2 tags.

              The last version of your example is the simplest and most effective. It uses h1 tags for the main heading and p tags for the rest of the content. This is a clear and concise way to structure your product page, and it will not hurt your SEO.

              If you do decide to use h2 tags on your product pages, make sure that you use them correctly. Only use h2 tags for headings that are relevant to the product itself. And avoid using h2 tags for keywords that are not relevant to the product.

              Here are some additional tips for using h2 tags on product pages:

              • Use h2 tags to break up your content into logical sections.
              • Use h2 tags for the main features of your product.
              • Avoid using h2 tags for keywords that are not relevant to the product.

              You can use h2 tags to improve the structure and readability of your product pages without hurting your SEO.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • 1 / 1
              • First post
                Last post

              Got a burning SEO question?

              Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.


              Start my free trial


              Browse Questions

              Explore more categories

              • Moz Tools

                Chat with the community about the Moz tools.

              • SEO Tactics

                Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers

              • Community

                Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!

              • Digital Marketing

                Chat about tactics outside of SEO

              • Research & Trends

                Dive into research and trends in the search industry.

              • Support

                Connect on product support and feature requests.

              • See all categories

              Related Questions

              • Dreamrealemedia

                How to change images of a page without loosing ranking?

                Hi, I have two reasons to change some images of a page on a wordpress site: 1.Google speed service advise me to optmize the images size to better spead load times. 2.I want to change images titles (to improve seo optimization for the page keyword), so i need to replace them, since im using wordpress. Now the question is: Can i just change the images without worring about any related seo issues? Or should i follow some best practice to change images in order to not affect the ranking of the page? tx for your support!

                On-Page Optimization | | Dreamrealemedia
                0
              • lcourse

                Noindex or canonical tag for products which have no unique product description?

                I have several ecommerce sites in the same niche and there are a high number of products shared among these sites. I understand that having unique product descriptions for each site may be ideal, but for several reasons this is not an option for the short term. Sales-wise it would be useful to continue products on several sites at the same time. Also it would not be a problem if only the product pages of our main store would show up in the google index. I thought about adding noindex xrobots tag to avoid that product pages are indexed in more than one store to avoid issues with duplicated or thin content or would you implement canonical tag here? What would you suggest?

                On-Page Optimization | | lcourse
                0
              • moziodavid

                Does Title Tag have to be in the HEAD tag?

                We are using templates that load the same header for every page. I'd like to just include a different title tag in the "body" template of each page. If I was to do this, does it affect SEO at all?

                On-Page Optimization | | moziodavid
                0
              • Sebes

                Nofollow images to sculpt internal anchor tags

                One of my client tags image-links with nofollow if those links are before a regular HTML link in the source code, e.g.:
                .
                .
                .
                Check our page aboutreally cool shoes. They do this to "better pass anchor tags" to the page /page-about-shoes.html. My question: Is this a good practice to do? Thanks Sebes

                On-Page Optimization | | Sebes
                0
              • Wallander

                H1 tags in WordPress - could someone clarify this please?

                Hey there. I am building a site and am confused by the whole H1 tag thing in  WordPress, perhaps someone could clarify please? When I generate a new page or post I of course enter the page or 'post title' which generates following HTML  code class="title">Used Containers So I was thinking, ok great now I have a H1 tag! Great...But no, according to the Yoast plugin (which uses a company called Linkdex for it's on page analysis) I don't have my keyword 'Used Containers' in any of my headings. I then experimented by adding another H1 heading of 'Used Containers' in my WordPress page copy area and saw that it shows up written in my page source as Used Containers (so without the class="title"> bit in my first H1). Could anyone be kind enough to explain: The difference between the two and any known impact on SEO. What is the proper way of optimizing H1 tags in WordPress? Thanks so much!

                On-Page Optimization | | Wallander
                0
              • jdjamie

                Is is it true that Google will not penalize duplicated content found in UL and LI tags?

                I've read in a few places now that if you absolutely have to use a key term several times in a piece of copy, then it is preferable to use li and ul tags, as google will not penalise excessive density of keywords found in these tags.  Does anyone know if there is any truth in this?

                On-Page Optimization | | jdjamie
                0
              • CSA-231671

                If I have too many on-page links can I reduce it with nofollow tags or do the links have to be removed?

                On my site I have a top nav drop down menu but once visitors go to one particularly large subsection, that menu is repeated on the left for easier viewing. As a result, I shoot over 100 links on page. Can I put nofollow or noindex tags on the left side links and reduce my "official" on-page links count or do I have to actually eliminate some of the links? Thanks, Oak

                On-Page Optimization | | CSA-231671
                0
              • cadenzajon

                Max # of recommended links per page?

                I've heard it said that Google may choose to stop following links after the first 100 on a page. The landing/category pages for my site's product catalog have earned quite a respectable PR and positioning in search results, and I'm currently paginating their product listings (about 200 products in a category) so that only a couple dozen products are shown on the first page, with links to "next page" and "previous page" being accomplished via query string (i.e. "?page=3"). An alternative option I have is to link to 100% of the contained products within the category's landing page (which would increase my on-page link count to ~300) and use CSS/Javascript to allow the user to simulate browsing between pages on the client side. My goal is to see as many of my product pages indexed as possible. Is this done better using my current scheme (where Googlebot would have to navigate to, say, Landing Page -> Page 6 -> Deeply Buried Product Page) or in the alternative method above, where all the links are in a single page? Since my landing pages are currently treated pretty well by search engines, would that "trust" cause them to follow more links than might normally be done? Thank you!

                On-Page Optimization | | cadenzajon
                0
              Moz logo
              • Contact
              • Community
              • Free Trial
              • Terms & Privacy
              • Accessibility
              • Jobs
              • Help
              • News & Press
              • MozCon
              © 2021 - 2024 SEOMoz, Inc., a Ziff Davis company. All rights reserved. Moz is a registered trademark of SEOMoz, Inc.

              Looks like your connection to Moz was lost, please wait while we try to reconnect.