Ask Google Webmasters: How to Handle Headings and Accessibility

In the latest episode of "Ask Google Webmasters," John Mueller, a Webmaster Trends Analyst at Google, addresses a common question from Marcus Chaeppeli regarding headings and accessibility. Marcus is seeking a clear answer on how to handle headings, especially when it comes to web accessibility. He further asks about the issue of having multiple H1's, which are usually hidden on a website.

Here are some key takeaways from John Mueller's response:

Multiple H1's are Common and Not a Problem

According to Mueller, having multiple H1 headings on a page is a common pattern on the web. Google's systems do not have any problem with multiple H1's, and the search engine uses headings to better understand the context of different parts of a page.

The Web is Not Semantically Structured

Mueller notes that Google must work with the web as it finds it and that a lot of it is not semantically structured at all. While having clear and semantically understandable headings is useful in understanding any given page, it is not a requirement.

User Accessibility vs. SEO

Mueller advises webmasters not to focus solely on SEO when it comes to headings and web accessibility. Instead, they should prioritize their users and make their content accessible to them. This can be done by using multiple H1 headings or other standard HTML constructs that make the content more accessible for users.

Conclusion

In conclusion, having multiple H1 headings on a page is not a problem from Google's perspective. Webmasters should prioritize making their content accessible to users, rather than focusing solely on SEO. If you have any questions about web accessibility or any other webmaster-related topics, send them using the #AskGoogleWebmasters on Twitter, and Google may include them in a future video.

Overall, webmasters should focus on creating web pages that are accessible and easy to use for all users. By using the appropriate HTML constructs, such as headings and other semantic markup, they can help users better understand the content on their pages.