H1 Headers - How they improve rankings, traffic and conversions
To get any page on your website to rank on page 1 of Google, you need 100s of things to work right, but missing out on H1 headers is a big mistake. We’ll go over exactly what you or your agency should do for each page to make sure that your H1 header help you rank faster, drive more traffic, and produce more leads.
H1 Header Best Practices
Use Your Primary Keyword
Your H1 header should be clear and concise and include your main keyword—what people are searching for. For example, HVAC businesses is "Professional HVAC Installation & Repair in [Your City]." This tells search engines exactly what your page is about, helping you rank for local customers looking for HVAC services.
Only One H1 Header Per Page
Think of the H1 header like a title—you wouldn't put two titles on the cover of your favorite book, would you? Stick with one H1 header per page. Also, don’t reuse the same H1 heading for other headers; this is called keyword stuffing, and Google will make your page disappear faster than a cheap home improvement prospect looking for the lowest bid.
Keep It Relevant
Your H1 should match the rest of the page. For example, if you’re discussing roofing replacements, don’t use a heading about new roof installations. If your page discusses lawn maintenance, try: "Top Lawn Maintenance Services for a Beautiful Yard in [Your Area]." This keeps things relevant for the searchers
and search engines
What is an H1 Header?
When you click on a website link, it loads with a title at the top. The first words you see at the top are the H1 heading. These words are the most critical thing about the entire page. An H1 header helps Google understand what your page is about, meaning you’re more likely to show up on the first page of search results—and it tells the reader to stay or bounce.
Let’s find out why and how to improve the SEO compliance of your H1 headers and the pages’ headers.
Formatting Your H1 Header
No website should require you to edit the HTML to change the header, but if it does this is how you do it. Click the HTML, find the H1 tag / content, and replace it as so.
<h1>Professional Roofing Services in [City Name]</h1>
Website Builders Have Easy H1 Editing
If you’re thinking, “All of this sounds great, but I have no idea how to edit my website!”—don’t worry; you’re not alone. Website builders today make it easy for beginners, business owners, and even agencies like us to edit and optimize sites without needing a degree in computer science.
One of the best website builders for SEO optimization is Duda. Duda is user-friendly, designed with SEO in mind, and perfect for local businesses like yours. Whether you’re in gutters, roofing, HVAC, or landscaping, Duda makes adding H1 headers, updating your content, and optimizing for search engines straightforward. Plus, the intuitive drag-and-drop interface means you can make changes quickly without worrying about breaking your website. Our agency only builds and rebuilds websites in Duda because of these features.
50 H1 Header Examples for Local Home Service Companies
10 Great H1 Header Examples for Roofing Businesses
- Reliable Roof Repair and Replacement Services in [City Name]
- Affordable Roofing Solutions for Your Home in [Local Area]
- Professional Roofing Contractors Specializing in [City Name]
- Expert Roof Leak Repairs and Maintenance in [Your City]
- Top-Rated Roof Installation Services in [City Name]
- Comprehensive Roofing Solutions for Homes and Businesses in [Area]
- Quality Asphalt Shingle Roofing Services in [Your City]
- Metal Roofing Installation and Repair Experts in [City Name]
- Fast and Reliable Emergency Roof Repair Services in [Local Area]
- Get a Free Estimate for Roof Replacement in [City Name]
10 Great H1 Header Examples for Gutter Businesses
- Professional Gutter Installation and Repair in [Your City]
- Reliable Gutter Cleaning Services for Homes in [Local Area]
- Custom Seamless Gutter Solutions in [City Name]
- Affordable Gutter Guard Installation in [Your City]
- Expert Gutter Maintenance Services in [City Name]
- Protect Your Home with Quality Gutter Systems in [Local Area]
- Gutter Replacement and Installation Specialists in [City Name]
- Full-Service Gutter Cleaning and Maintenance in [Your City]
- Keep Your Gutters Clear with Our Professional Services in [City Name]
- Residential and Commercial Gutter Services in [Local Area]
10 Great H1 Header for HVAC
- Professional HVAC Installation & Repair in [Your City]
- Reliable Air Conditioning Services for Homes in [Local Area]
- Heating System Installation and Maintenance in [City Name]
- Affordable Furnace Repair Services in [Your City]
- Expert HVAC Contractors Serving [City Name]
- Keep Your Home Comfortable with Our HVAC Solutions in [Local Area]
- AC Repair and Installation Specialists in [City Name]
- Emergency HVAC Services Available in [Your City]
- Quality Heating and Cooling Solutions for Your Home in [Local Area]
- Get a Free Quote for HVAC Installation in [City Name]
10 Great H1 Header Examples for Plumbers
- Expert Plumbing Services for Homes in [Your City]
- Reliable Leak Detection and Repair in [Local Area]
- Affordable Drain Cleaning Services in [City Name]
- Professional Water Heater Installation in [Your City]
- Emergency Plumbing Repair Services in [City Name]
- Quality Plumbing Contractors Serving [Local Area]
- Fast and Reliable Pipe Repair Services in [City Name]
- Full-Service Plumbing Solutions for Homes in [Your City]
- Clogged Drain? Get Expert Help in [City Name]
- Residential and Commercial Plumbing Services in [Local Area]
10 Great H1 Header Examples for Construction
- High-Quality General Contracting Services in [City Name]
- Professional Home Renovation Experts in [Your City]
- Reliable Construction Services for Residential Projects in [Local Area]
- Custom Home Building Solutions in [City Name]
- Expert Commercial Construction Contractors in [Your City]
- Affordable Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling in [City Name]
- Full-Service Construction Company Serving [Local Area]
- Building Your Dream Home with Expert Craftsmanship in [City Name]
- Quality Additions and Extensions for Homes in [Your City]
- Get a Free Estimate for Your Next Construction Project in [Local Area]
Make Sure Your H1 Header Differs from Your Page Title and Description
When optimizing your website, it's crucial to ensure that your H1 header is not identical to your page title or meta description (see image below for example within a website builder). While it's important that they all convey the same core message, they should each serve a slightly different purpose to avoid redundancy and enhance your SEO.
- H1 Header: This should be the main headline of the page, clearly indicating the content's topic.
- Page Title: This is what appears in search engine results, so it should be compelling enough to make people click on it. Adding a call to action or additional information can make it more attractive.
- Meta Description: This should summarize the page content and include keywords to help search engines understand the page's relevance.
- All have the same “keyword term” in them, but they are worded differently.
For example, if you’re a roofing company:
- H1 Header: "Reliable Roof Repair and Replacement Services in [City Name]"
- Page Title: "Top-Rated Roof Repair Services in [City Name] | Free Estimates Available"
- Meta Description: "Looking for professional roof repair in [City Name]? Our experts offer fast, reliable services with free estimates. Call us today!"
By differentiating these elements, you help search engines better understand the structure of your content. You also provide potential customers with more information, making them more likely to click on your link.
Find Competitor H1 Headers
To stay competitive, it's smart to audit the top-ranking competitors for your local keywords. When you search for your target keyword on Google, like "Albuquerque roofing company," look closely at the H1 headers used by the websites that rank on the first page. Doing so will help you understand what’s working in your market.
Should You Copy Competitor H1 Headers?
While it can be tempting to copy an effective H1 header simply, it's often better to modify or tweak it to make it unique to your brand. Ensure that your H1 is compelling while including the main keyword phrase exactly as it was identified in your keyword research. This helps maintain relevance while also differentiating your service from the competition.
Search Intent is Vital for H1 Headers
If the intent is information, the visitor is looking to learn. Commercial intent means they want to buy, hire, and complete a form for a product or service. They want to buy or give information for a callback or appointment if it is commercial. If it is navigational, the header should be like a directory of all additional pages to choose from, like “Explore Our Reno Roofing Services.”
Chronological Header Order for Optimal SEO Rankings
Once you've got your H1 header in place, ensure all additional headers H3 through H6 are in chronological order so that Google can crawl the page more easily and help you rank faster. The image above shows how the H2 goes below the H1.
Once you've got your H1 header in place, ensure all additional headers H3 through H6 are in chronological order so that Google can crawl the page more easily and help you rank faster. The image above shows how the H2 goes below the H1.
In the photo below, you see that the H3 is directly below the H2 header.
Pro TIPS: Avoid using H5 and H6 headers. While they help your overall page’s ranking and SEO structure, your content will likely be hard to comprehend if you have to use an H5 or H6 header. Keep your content clear, quick, and easy to say yes to.
Header vs Page URL Guidance
When you’re ready to publish your page or blog, don’t overlook the importance of assigning the right URL. The URL should include your target keyword to help improve SEO and boost your chances of ranking higher. This means using the exact keyword phrase you identified during your keyword research.
In the image below you can see the page is about rain gutters and downspouts, with the keyword term “rain gutters” in the URL.
Get Help Crafting Your Headers
Don’t want to deal with all this SEO stuff yourself? No problem. That’s what we're here for at Talents Into Profits. We build, design, write, and optimize websites for local businesses in 10 business days or less for a fraction of the cost of those big agencies because we’ve been doing this for almost 20 years and our AI software helps us get it done faster with faster results.
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