Best Practices for Website Headlines

Your headlines guide your visitors and search engines

Your headlines not only structure your content and guide your visitors, but also help search engines understand exactly what your site and its pages are about. Let’s walk through how to use headings properly on your Dirigible site so your content stays SEO-friendly.

Use Headings to Organize Your Content

Headings (H1 through H6) create a clear hierarchy that breaks your page into digestible sections. That helps both your readers and search engines scan your content quickly.

Here’s how to structure them:

H1: The Page Title

• Every page should have exactly one H1, and it should describe what the page is about.
• Example: If the page is about your photography services, a good H1 might be:
  “Professional Wedding Photography in Madison”

H2: Main Content Section

• Use one H2 to introduce the main content area of your page.
• This creates a clean break between your title (H1) and the rest of the content.

H3–H6: Subsections

• Use H3s for key points under your H2.
• H4s go under H3s, and so on. However, most pages only need H1–H3.
• Don’t skip heading levels (e.g., avoid jumping from H2 straight to H4).
  

If you want a heading to look different but stay in the correct hierarchy, just use the “Mimic” style in the editor. This way, search engines still read the structure correctly.

Why Headings Matter for SEO and Readability

Proper heading hierarchy helps:

1. Search engines to index your pages accurately
2. Visitors skim your content more easily
   

A Quick Checklist Before You Publish

Before hitting “Publish,” run through this quick check:

• One H1 per page
• One H2 to introduce the main section
• H3–H6 are used in correct order (no skipping levels)
• If applicable, the Editor’s “Mimic” style is used appropriately to maintain the hierarchy

Getting this right improves user experience and gives your pages a solid SEO foundation.