long H1
H1 tags over 70 characters lose focus and dilute keyword targeting
What it is
crawler.sh flags a page as having a long H1 when the <h1> tag contains more than 70 characters. This is check #20 in the SEO analysis.
Why it matters for SEO
An overly long H1 dilutes keyword focus and reduces the heading’s impact:
- Weak keyword signal - A concise H1 concentrates relevance on your primary keyword. A long H1 spreads that signal across too many words.
- Poor scannability - Users scan headings to understand page content. Long headings are harder to parse at a glance.
- Display issues - On mobile devices and in some layouts, long H1 tags may wrap awkwardly or get truncated.
Why it matters for AEO
AI answer engines extract headings to understand page topics. A concise H1 gives AI systems a clear, unambiguous topic signal. Long H1 tags introduce noise and make it harder for AI models to identify the core subject of the page.
How to fix it
Shorten the H1 to focus on the primary topic:
<!-- Before: too long --><h1>The Complete and Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Technical SEO Audits for Your Website</h1>
<!-- After: focused --><h1>Technical SEO Audit Guide</h1>Guidelines:
- Keep H1 tags between 10 and 70 characters
- Focus on the primary keyword and topic
- Move secondary information into the first paragraph or an H2 subheading
- Avoid stuffing multiple keywords into the H1
What crawler.sh reports
In the CLI, long H1 tags appear under the “Long H1” section of crawler seo output. Each affected URL is listed with the H1 text. In the desktop app, they appear in the SEO Issues card.
Tip: If your H1 reads like a sentence or paragraph, it’s probably too long. Aim for a clear, scannable phrase that captures the page’s main topic.
