Creating effective headings

Headings help search engines

Typically, people visit webpages seeking information to help them make a decision or complete an action. They frequently start with a search engine query (e.g., a Google search) to help them find the page they need.

Along with a strong page title, effective headings are important because search engines use them to understand the content on your page and determine if it aligns with the search terms used by a potential visitor.

Headings help website visitors

Headings are like a table of contents for your website visitors. Effective headings:

• Make your page accessible to people who use assistive technology. For example, people use screen readers to read aloud the heading labels and levels. This helps them understand the page's structure and enables them to navigate the page using the heading levels alone.
• Allow visitors to quickly scan your page and determine whether it contains the information they’re looking for.
• Improve the readability of your page.

How to write effective headings

Here are three tips to keep in mind when you write headings:

1. Use plain language. This reduces cognitive load and helps people whose first language may be neither French nor English.
2. Keep the heading concise. Although Google scans every word in a heading, a sighted visitor in contrast typically scans only the first few words in a heading.
3. Front-load the heading with meaningful terms/words that align with visitors’ interests. This helps them quickly decide if they’re on the right page and should keep reading.

Well-written headings are a must

By nature, people always scan the title and headings on a page before they begin reading deeper. For that reason headings serve not only as a "table of contents" for your page but — when well-written and front-loaded — effectively guide your audience towards the information they seek.