Lesson 9
Common Heading Mistakes to Avoid
What you’ll learn
By the end of this lesson, you’ll understand:
The most common heading mistakes editors make
Why these mistakes cause confusion
How to spot and fix them quickly
Using headings for styling instead of structure
One of the most common mistakes is using headings because they:
- Look bigger
- Look bolder
- Fit a design
Headings should reflect structure, not appearance.
If you just need visual emphasis, use styling — not a heading level.
Skipping heading levels
Another common issue:
- Jumping from H1 straight to H3
- Using H4s without context
While this won’t “break” SEO, it:
- Confuses document structure
- Makes pages harder to interpret
Try to keep heading levels logical and consistent.
Repeating the same heading text
Using the same heading repeatedly can:
- Reduce clarity
- Make sections blend together
- Confuse readers scanning the page
Each heading should clearly describe that specific section, even if topics are related.
Overloading headings with keywords
Headings don’t need to:
- Repeat the same phrase over and over
- Contain every variation of a keyword
This often makes headings:
- Awkward
- Hard to read
- Less trustworthy
Write headings for humans.
Search engines will follow.
Treating headings as SEO levers
Headings support SEO — they don’t control it.
Pages perform well because:
- They’re clear
- They’re focused
- They’re useful
Headings help communicate that, but they can’t compensate for unclear content.
A quick heading checklist
Before publishing a page, ask:
- Does each heading describe the section below it?
- Is the structure logical?
- Would this page still make sense if someone skimmed it?
If yes, you’re in good shape.