Fixing Multiple H1 Tags in Squarespace
TL;DR:
- Multiple H1 tags can confuse search engines and users about your page's main topic
- Best practice is to have only one H1 tag per page
- Use H2 or H3 tags for secondary headings instead
- Fix this by adjusting heading settings in your Squarespace page editor
- Your H1 should be your page title or main topic summary
Why One H1 Tag Works Better
Having more than one H1 tag on a page won't break your SEO, but it's not ideal. The H1 tag tells search engines and visitors what your page is actually about. When you have multiple H1 tags, you're essentially saying "this page is about several equally important things" which dilutes your message.
Think of it like a newspaper headline. You wouldn't put three different headlines at the top of an article because readers wouldn't know which story they're reading. The same logic applies to your web pages.
How to Fix Multiple H1 Tags
If you've spotted multiple H1 tags on your site (maybe through an SEO tool like SEOSpace), here's how to sort it out:
Step 1: Find Your Main Message
Look at your page content and decide which heading best represents what the page is about. This becomes your H1.
Step 2: Edit Your Page
In your Squarespace editor, click on the page you want to fix. Look for any text blocks or headings that might be set as H1 tags.
Step 3: Change the Heading Levels
Click on each heading and use the formatting options to change secondary headings from H1 to H2 or H3. Keep your main page title as the H1.
Step 4: Check Your Work
Save your changes and preview the page. Use your browser's developer tools (right-click and "Inspect") to confirm only one H1 tag appears on the page.
Common Places Multiple H1s Hide
In Squarespace, multiple H1 tags often appear when:
- Your page title is an H1 and you've also formatted another heading as H1
- You're using multiple text blocks with H1 formatting
- Your template automatically creates H1s for certain elements
The fix is usually just changing those extra headings to H2 or H3 level.
FAQs
How do I choose which heading should be my H1?
Pick the heading that best summarizes your entire page. Usually this is your page title or the main topic you're covering.
Will multiple H1 tags hurt my SEO rankings?
Google has said multiple H1s won't hurt you, but having a clear heading structure helps search engines understand your content better, which can only help your SEO.
Can I use H2 and H3 tags instead of extra H1s?
Yes, that's exactly what you should do. H2s are for major sections, H3s for subsections within those. This creates a logical hierarchy that's easier to follow.
What if my Squarespace template creates multiple H1s automatically?
Some older templates do this. You can usually override it by manually setting your heading levels, or you might need to switch to a more modern template.
Jargon Buster
H1 Tag: The main heading on a web page, like a newspaper headline
Heading Hierarchy: The order of headings from H1 (most important) down to H6 (least important)
SEO: Search Engine Optimization – making your website easier for search engines to understand and rank
Wrap-up
Keeping one H1 tag per page isn't just about following SEO rules. It makes your content clearer for visitors and helps search engines understand what you're trying to say. Take a few minutes to check your main pages and clean up any extra H1 tags you find. Your site structure will be cleaner and your message will be clearer.
Ready to dive deeper into Squarespace SEO? Join Pixelhaze Academy for more hands-on guidance.