multiple H1 tags
Pages with more than one H1 tag dilute the heading hierarchy
What it is
crawler.sh flags a page as having multiple H1 tags when more than one <h1> element is found in the HTML body. This is check #18 in the SEO analysis.
Why it matters for SEO
While HTML5 technically allows multiple H1 tags, using more than one dilutes the heading hierarchy and sends mixed signals about the page’s primary topic:
- Confused relevance - Search engines may not know which H1 represents the main topic, weakening keyword targeting.
- Diluted hierarchy - Multiple H1 tags flatten the heading structure, making it harder for crawlers to understand content organization.
- Reduced impact - A single, strong H1 carries more weight than several competing ones.
Why it matters for AEO
AI answer engines rely on heading hierarchy to parse page structure. Multiple H1 tags create ambiguity about the page’s primary topic, making it harder for AI systems to extract the correct main idea. Pages with a clear single H1 are easier for AI models to process and cite accurately.
How to fix it
Keep exactly one <h1> per page and demote secondary headings to <h2> or lower:
<!-- Before: multiple H1 tags --><h1>Main Topic</h1><h1>Secondary Topic</h1>
<!-- After: proper hierarchy --><h1>Main Topic</h1><h2>Secondary Topic</h2>Guidelines:
- Use a single H1 for the page’s primary topic
- Use H2 for major sections, H3 for subsections
- Check templates and CMS themes that may inject extra H1 tags (e.g., in headers, sidebars, or footers)
What crawler.sh reports
In the CLI, multiple H1 tags appear under the “Multiple H1 tags” section of crawler seo output. Each affected URL is listed with the count of H1 tags found. In the desktop app, they appear in the SEO Issues card.
Tip: Check your site’s header and footer templates - they often contain hidden H1 tags (e.g., the site logo wrapped in an H1) that add up across every page.
