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All lessons in SEO for Beginners Lesson 2.4 of 26

Module 0: Introduction

  1. 0.1What is a search engine?
  2. 0.2How do search engines work?
  3. 0.3What is SEO?
  4. 0.4How to start SEO

Module 1: Keyword Research

  1. 1.1What are keywords in SEO?
  2. 1.2What is search intent?
  3. 1.3How to find keywords for your website
  4. 1.4Keyword difficulty
  5. 1.5Keyword mapping

Module 2: On-Page SEO

  1. 2.1What is on-page SEO?
  2. 2.2How to optimize a page for a keyword
  3. 2.3How to write title tags and meta descriptions
  4. 2.4How to use headings for SEO
  5. 2.5Internal linking for SEO

Module 3: Link Building

  1. 3.1What is link building?
  2. 3.2What makes a good backlink?
  3. 3.3How to get backlinks for beginners
  4. 3.4Blogger outreach

Module 4: Technical SEO Basics

  1. 4.1What is technical SEO?
  2. 4.2How to check if a page is indexed
  3. 4.3How to find broken links on a website
  4. 4.4XML sitemap and robots.txt for beginners
  5. 4.5How to do a basic SEO audit

Module 5: Measuring SEO Results

  1. 5.1How to set up Google Search Console
  2. 5.2Clicks, impressions, CTR, and position explained
  3. 5.3Your SEO action plan

How to use headings for SEO

In this lesson

  • What H1, H2, and H3 headings do
  • How to outline a page with headings
  • Heading mistakes that confuse readers

Short answer

Headings are the titles and subtitles inside a page. The H1 is the main heading, used once. H2 headings mark main sections, and H3 headings break those into smaller parts. A clear heading hierarchy helps readers scan, helps screen readers navigate, and helps Google and other search engines understand how your page is organized.

What each heading level does

Think of headings like a book. The H1 is the book title. H2s are chapters. H3s are sections inside a chapter.

Heading hierarchy: one H1, H2 sections, H3 sub-pointsH1 How to Apply for a PassportH2 RequirementsH3 First-time applicantsH3 RenewalH2 Book a DFA appointmentH2 Passport fees
Like a book: one title, chapters, then sections inside chapters.
  • H1: The page’s main topic. Use one. Include the primary keyword.
  • H2: The main sections. Most pages have three to eight.
  • H3: Sub-points under an H2. Use them only when a section needs it.
  • H4 to H6: Rarely needed on beginner pages.

Example heading outline

Page: “How to apply for a passport in the Philippines”

  • H1: How to Apply for a Passport in the Philippines
    • H2: Passport requirements
      • H3: Requirements for first-time applicants
      • H3: Requirements for renewal
    • H2: How to book a DFA appointment online
    • H2: Passport fees
    • H2: What to bring on your appointment day
    • H2: Frequently asked questions

A reader can see the whole page at a glance. So can a search engine.

Why headings help SEO

  • Scannable content. Most people skim. Headings let them jump to what they need.
  • Topic signals. Headings tell search engines which subtopics your page covers.
  • Featured answers. Search engines sometimes pull a heading and the text under it into an answer box.
  • Accessibility. Screen reader users jump between headings to move around the page.

Use your keyword in the H1 and naturally in one or two H2s. Use related questions from People also ask as H2s or H3s.

Heading outline builder

      Quick quiz

      1. How many H1 headings should a page usually have?
      2. What comes under an H2?
      3. Should you use headings just to make text bigger?

      Common mistakes

      • Using headings just to make text big or bold. Use your editor’s styling instead.
      • Skipping levels. Going from H2 straight to H4 confuses the structure.
      • Vague headings. “More info” says nothing. “Passport fees for 2026” says everything.
      • Stuffing keywords into every heading. Write headings for readers.

      Your action

      Key terms

      Heading tags
      HTML tags (H1 to H6) that mark headings on a page.
      H1
      The main heading of a page.
      Heading hierarchy
      The order of headings from H1 down to H3 and beyond.
      Scannable content
      Content that is easy to skim.
      Screen reader
      Software that reads web pages aloud for people who are blind or have low vision.

      Questions beginners ask

      Is my page title automatically the H1?

      In most website builders, yes. Check by viewing your page and making sure the main title is the only H1.

      Can headings be questions?

      Yes. Question headings often match how people search, especially for informational keywords.

      Want someone to handle SEO for your business while you learn? The team at Remar Digital can help.