h1 tags and front blog posts page questions

since the posts are really what’s important on the front page, should i make the site title h2 and the tagline h3 in the header php code,

The heading levels are there to map out relationships between content on a page. You should be careful to change them unless you’re changing the page structure, or unless the heading levels suck to begin with ??

Let’s look at the heading structure of your home page… The heading levels aren’t too crazy, but yes they don’t make much sense.
Here they are: https://snag.gy/z0JQb.jpg

Your level 1 heading is okay, that’s the name of the site. That’s fine.

The level 2 heading, “A place to prevent others from getting burned” is fine too but that’s not entire necessary. You can have a description below the level 1 heading, but it doesn’t have to be a level 2 heading. By having a level 2 heading that now means all other headings on the page should be of a higher level (level 3 – 6). If you feel that shouldn’t be the case then don’t use a level 2 heading for the “A place to prevent…” description. A <p> tag is just fine.

Then you have level 1 headings for your post titles. Yes, this doesn’t make much sense. It’s like it makes redundant your original level 1 heading. It takes away the relationship between your post titles and your page title because the headings are at the same level.

You also have level 3 headings for the text, “Please follow & like us” and “Archives” – But this is strange because to have a level 3 heading would assume it relates to its previous level heading, which is “How Walmart Scammed My Day Away”. Forget the fact that a level 2 heading is missing for now (that’s still an issue).

Finally the level 2 heading, “Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)” doesn’t fit anywhere being a level 2.

So, apart from the Page Title there doesn’t seem to be much right with the heading level structure on that page.

People using assistive technologies especially, people with visual impairments who may not be able to see the page, use the levels in headings to build up a mental model of the page. Poor heading levels & weird structure can disrupt this model.

If you want to fix your heading structure I would strive for this: https://snag.gy/uLY20.jpg

Personally I go for this layout: https://snag.gy/G9HTn.jpg
I put a level 2 heading just to outline the navigation section so that it helps people find it, and since it’s the first heading on the page I don’t want it to represent all other headings (so I don’t make it level 1).

Then I restart at level 1 afterwards, and increment the level only if the content relates to the prior heading. It’s quite simple that way.

By the way if you want SEO advice you’re better going to Google’s forums and getting it from them directly: https://groups.google.com

thanx, i use yoast, does this plugin have something to do with the headings mess-ups, or would it be the theme?……and on your second screen shot u sent, is that what you would use as a formula on the main recent posts page, as you strive for screenshot b4 that shows different?

i believe I got it the way you had in the first screenshot (not positive tho), tho didnt use the <p> for the tagline, because it appeared in writing on the site head. So i changed it to a h3 (not sure if a better way to do that)….I’m assuming the 2nd screen shot was for the category php or something and not the home (again not sure)…….would it pay to make the posts h1 in home and make the site title h2 in the head, since the posts is what i am trying to rank for on the recent posts page?

I’m assuming the 2nd screen shot was for the category php or something and not the home (again not sure)

Oops sorry for the confusion, the 2nd screenshot was for the Home page

so what your 2nd screenshot is saying for a recent posts page home page is do this?….

missing h1 is because we are starting with an h2

h2 outlining the names of the categories(i’m guessing at that because the cats would be where people navigate to the articles on my site)

h1 page title(which i’m guessing would be the name of the blog)

h2 main section{the individual cat names i’m guessing would be the main sections)

h3 news stories under main section would be the actual article posts

then back up to h2 for the sidebar and footer…….

i understand pretty much the structure thing i think, it needs to relate to the next tag down in order, or go back up as even with the above tag.

This isn’t really about seo anymore, and i realize my analysis is probably wrong, but just trying to understand your layout in the 2nd screenshot.

thanx again

To clarify, when you say “2nd screenshot” you are definitely referring to this screenshot: https://snag.gy/uLY20.jpg ?

no, that was your first one, the 2nd is https://snag.gy/G9HTn.jpg

Oh yeah, so that was just showing how I tackle heading levels in my websites (in general).

so what your 2nd screenshot is saying for a recent posts page home page is do this?….

I can help you illustrate the heading levels in relation to that screenshot on another page that you want, the recent posts page? Or another? Let me know the URL thanks! ??

hmm, my home page is a recent posts page, I have no static homepage, so I guess that one would be best to help with…….pretty new to this, so only other pages in a blog I see that may be important are where the posts reside, which i guess are the category pages……….problem is tho, in wordpress, the header appears on every page or section, so it has the same level h tag no matter where it is. i figure once I get it right with one blog will be routine in future ones, so any help appreciated.

the recent post page is the page i would like help with in relation to that screenshot, the url is https://scamburner.com