# Heading Structure Template: The H1–H6 Checklist for Every Post

Run this checklist on every post before you hit publish.

## The heading template

```
H1 — Post title (once per page; primary keyword or close variant)
│
├─ H2 — Major section 1 (keyword variant or related sub-topic)
│   ├─ H3 — Sub-point under section 1
│   └─ H3 — Sub-point under section 1
│
├─ H2 — Major section 2
│   └─ H3 — Sub-point under section 2
│
├─ H2 — Major section 3
│
├─ H2 — How-to / steps section
│   ├─ H3 — Step 1
│   ├─ H3 — Step 2
│   └─ H3 — Step 3
│
└─ H2 — Frequently asked questions
    └─ H3 — One question per H3 (also powers FAQ schema)
```

## The 15-point checklist

1. One H1 per page: the post title only. Never add a second H1 in the body.
2. Never skip levels: an H3 must sit under an H2, never jump straight from H1 to H3.
3. Put your primary keyword (or a natural variant) in the H1 and at least one H2.
4. Make every heading descriptive: it should make sense even if read alone, out of context.
5. Keep headings under 70 characters so they scan well and display fully in search results.
6. Use real heading tags, not bold paragraphs styled to look like headings.
7. Give each FAQ question its own H3 — this is the structure FAQ schema expects.
8. Use parallel structure: if one H2 is a question, make sibling H2s questions too.
9. Front-load keywords: put the important words at the START of the heading.
10. Don't repeat headings verbatim — each section needs a distinct label.
11. Reserve H4–H6 for deep documentation; a blog post rarely needs them.
12. Never put links inside headings — links belong in the paragraph text.
13. Don't leave empty headings with no content beneath them.
14. Match heading promise to section content: no clickbait headings.
15. Re-read all headings top to bottom — they should read like a mini table of contents.

## Quick examples

GOOD:
- H1: "How to Start a Vegetable Garden in Small Spaces"
- H2: "Choosing the Right Containers for a Small Garden"
- H3: "Best Soil Mix for Container Vegetables"

BAD:
- H1: "How to Start a Vegetable Garden in Small Spaces" + another H1 mid-article
- H2: "Things to Know" (vague, no keyword, no information)
- H3 under no H2 (skipped level)

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