What is an H1 tag?

The H1 tag is the main title of a web page.
It's the headline at the top of your text that tells both visitors and search engines what the page is about. In HTML, it looks like this:

<h1>Jouw paginatitel</h1>

The H1 tag acts as the starting point for the content.
For users, it provides clarity; for Google, it helps to understand the page and link it to a specific topic or keyword.

A rule of thumb in SEO:
👉 it main keyword what you want to rank on belongs in your H1.

Why is the H1 tag so important?

The H1 tag is crucial for both structure and findability.

• For visitors: a clear title immediately tells you what the page is about. This increases the chance that someone will keep reading.
• For search engines: The H1 helps with indexing. Google uses the text in your H1 tag to determine which search terms are relevant to your page.

So a good H1 isn't just aesthetic or informative, it literally controls the algorithm.

How to choose a strong H1 tag for your landing page

It's not easy to write an effective H1 tag. Here is a practical step-by-step plan that we use every day at Rank Rocket:

1. Understand your target audience
   Find out what your visitors are looking for. Analyze search intent, use behavior in tools such as Google Analytics or Hotjar.
2. Do keyword analysis
   Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMRush, or Google Keyword Planner to find keywords with sufficient volume and relevance.
3. Choose one focus keyword
   This is the primary word you want to score on. Place it in your H1 as early as possible.
4. Make it attractive
   Combine SEO with copywriting. An H1 should not only rank, but also invite you to read.
5. Keep it short and unique
   Aim for 20 — 70 characters. Make sure each page has a unique H1.
6. Test and optimize
   Use Search Console to see how your page performs on click-through rates and impressions. Adjust the H1 if the CTR remains low.

H1 tags in WordPress

Are you working with WordPress? Then the H1 is usually automatically assigned to the title of your page or message.
You don't need to add HTML code unless you're working with a page builder that overrides the H1. Therefore, always check the source code or use an SEO plugin (such as Rank Math or Yoast) to confirm that there is exactly one H1 on the page.

Tip: Use only one H1 per page. Multiple H1s can confuse Google and dilute relevance.

The importance of the H1 tag for SEO

The H1 tag has a direct impact on on-page SEO.
Search engines use this title to understand the context of your page. Having your keyword in it helps to make the right connection between search and content.

In addition, a good H1 works together with other elements:

• Title tag: Determines how your page appears in search results.
• Meta description: supports the title in Google.
• H2 and H3 tags: ensure a logical hierarchy within the text.

A well-structured page therefore starts with the H1, the rest follows hierarchically.

Common mistakes with H1 tags

1. Multiple H1s per page
   This is common with themes or builders. Always use one.
2. Don't include a keyword
   A shame, because this is where Google looks for context.
3. Titles that are too long or unclear
   Keep it short and relevant.
4. Same H1 every page
   Google then doesn't know which page should rank (duplicate content effect).

Rank Rocket tip

Use the H1 as a promise of your content.
Show in one line what the visitor gets if they keep reading.
We often test multiple variants of an H1 in A/B tests: a slight change in tone or order can increase the click-through rate by 15—30%.

And don't forget: the H1 is not a separate SEO element. Combine it with strong H2s, internal links and clear structure for maximum effect.

My advice

Use one unique H1 tag with your most important keyword in it on each page.
Avoid duplicate H1s or generic titles, they cost your rankings.

Preferably place the keyword at the beginning of the title, but don't force it. A natural, well-read sentence always scores better than forced keyword spam.

See the H1 as the basis of your SEO foundation.
Is it well built? Then the rest will follow automatically.