In a previous article, we explored the evidence around H1 tags as a Google ranking factor.
Now, let’s take a look at the rest of the heading tags — H2 to H6.
Will using these tags help your content rank higher in Google?
And can using specific keywords in H2 to H6 tagged headings help you rank for those terms?
Let’s check it out.
The Claim: H2-H6 Tags As A Ranking Factor
The belief here is that the keywords you use in H2-H6 subheadings are more heavily weighted in Google’s algorithm than words in plain text and that tags are therefore a ranking factor of their own.
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The Evidence For HTML Heading Tags As A Ranking Factor
Once upon a time – circa 2005-2010 or so – subheadings sure seemed to count as ranking factors. Using your target keywords in higher-level subheadings (typically your primary keyword in your H1 and secondary keywords in H2s and H3s) helped you rank for those keywords.