What each heading level does
- H1, the page topicOne clear statement of the service and place.
- H2, the main sectionsServices, problems you solve, proof, prices and FAQs.
- H3, the detailsIndividual services, steps or questions inside each section.
Google may also use your main heading when it writes the title link for a result. A clear H1 that matches the title tag helps Google show the right title.
What Google says, and what it does not
Google's SEO Starter Guide is direct. There is no magic number of headings, and using them out of order does not hurt you in search. Headings are not a ranking trick. They matter because most visitors scan before they read, especially on a phone, and they leave when they cannot find what they need.
Headings that work for local pages
Good example. A pest control page uses "Pest Control in Orlando" as its H1. H2s cover residential services, common pests, why homeowners choose the company and FAQs. H3s under services name ants, roaches, termites and rodents.
Bad example. A page uses "Welcome to Our Website" as its H1, skips H2s and stuffs city names into every heading. A visitor cannot tell what the business does or where.
Check your own headings
- Read only the headings, top to bottom.
- Confirm they name the service, place and next step.
- Check that each page has one clear main heading.
- Look for vague labels like Services or More Info.
Screaming Frog lists missing, duplicate and empty H1s across a whole site. Page builders sometimes turn logos or banners into hidden H1s, so check the template too.
If the outline reads poorly, rewrite the headings before you add more copy. Our SEO services rebuild page outlines around what buyers search, and our web design team makes them easy to scan on a phone.