Headings are the signposts of your website. They guide users, screen readers, and search engines through your content, showing what’s important and how everything connects. When used correctly, headings make your website both accessible and SEO-friendly — helping people find information easily while improving your visibility in search results.
For someone using a screen reader, proper headings are essential. Without them, navigation becomes frustrating. Imagine having to listen through an entire page line by line just to find one section — that’s what happens when heading tags are missing or used incorrectly.
Why Headings Matter for Accessibility
Headings divide your content into clear, meaningful sections. This helps readers scan the page quickly and lets screen reader users jump directly to what they need. A well-structured page with one H1 for the main topic, followed by H2s and H3s for subtopics, creates logical flow and better usability.
- Use one
<h1>for the main topic. - Use
<h2>for major sections. - Use
<h3>for subsections or related points.
When your content follows this order, it’s easier for everyone — visitors can move through it naturally, and assistive technologies can announce sections correctly.
The Mistake of Using Style Instead of Structure
Many developers try to make text look like a heading by just increasing the font size or changing the font style. While this may appear fine visually, it doesn’t work for accessibility. Screen readers can’t detect bold text or large fonts — they only recognize actual heading elements (H1–H6).
If you rely on visual styling instead of proper tags, a screen reader user won’t know that a new section has started. This simple mistake can make your entire page confusing and inaccessible.
Headings and SEO: A Perfect Match
Search engines also depend on headings to understand what your content is about. Clear, descriptive headings help Google and other search engines recognize your main topics and rank your pages for relevant keywords.
- Use descriptive, keyword-rich headings naturally.
- Avoid keyword stuffing.
- Maintain logical order (H1 → H2 → H3) throughout the page.
Good heading structure keeps your users happy and your content discoverable.
Accessible Headings Create Better Experiences
Proper headings show that you’ve designed your website with everyone in mind. They support users who depend on screen readers, make your content more readable for everyone else, and give search engines a clear roadmap of your content.
Accessibility and SEO are not separate goals — they work hand in hand. When your headings are clear, logical, and properly coded, both your audience and your search ranking benefit.
BeyondOurVision: Building Inclusive Digital Spaces
If you want to ensure your website meets WCAG 2.2 and ADA compliance standards, BeyondOurVision offers expert web accessibility consulting and audits.
- We help structure your content correctly.
- We test screen reader navigation.
- We improve site accessibility while enhancing SEO.
Visit BeyondOurVision.com or email beyondourvision@gmail.com to learn more.