H1 and Title: do they have to be the same?

A long-standing question that is sure to arise at every meeting where there are seoshniks. It is difficult to say where it came from. Perhaps from the discrepancy between the recommendations of search engines and examples in TOP10.

Arguments for the different tags of the Title and H1: say, the search engine "will think" that we want to strengthen the double use of the value of the keyword, for which will certainly punish.

"To robot analysing your site, was able to correctly highlight the most important sections and key pages, it is necessary that ... the text in the TITLE tag for key pages coincide with its title (with the title of the page, highlighted, for example, tag H1) and with the texts of links pointing to this page."

But here it is worth noting that the recommendation is given in the context of correct selection of quick links by search.

How do you actually make them the same or different? By and large, it makes no difference. But it is worth considering a few things.

H1 and TITLE should overlap

If the Title about one thing, and H1 about another, then the search is more difficult to determine which keywords are relevant to the page, and users will be in difficulty. Also, these code sections help search engines to form special elements in the snippet, such as breadcrumbs or quick links. In other words, you don't need to make TITLE and H1 completely different.

H1 and TITLE are seen by users at different stages of interaction with the site

TITLE user more often sees even before going to the site. H1 is seen already when he is on the page. In this regard, H1 is better to make short and maximally describing the essence of the landing page, much depends on its purpose. As for TITLE, in addition to the content of keywords, it should motivate the user to click (go). Otherwise, you can optimise text relevance, but not optimise conversion into clicks and, consequently, get not all the traffic.

For example, a section of radio-controlled helicopters on a website.

H1: Radio-controlled helicopters (logical)

TITLE: Buy radio-controlled helicopters with delivery in Kiev

Here the word "buy" calls for action, and "delivery in Kiev" removes a number of questions before clicking.

Information topic: how to weave bracelets from rubber bands

H1: How to weave bracelets from rubber bands on the machine

TITLE: Bracelets from rubber bands: step-by-step instructions and weaving schemes with photos and video

"Step-by-step instructions and diagrams" not only expands semantics, but also increases the likelihood of clicking on the title. A person searching for "how to weave" just implies step-by-step instructions with photos, but may not include that in their query.

TITLE is pulled up by social networks

If the code is not additionally customised, when users share the page in social networks, the title is taken from the title. If it is spammy, it prevents both the transition from social networks and sharing in principle. If it is just short like H1, it is also a bad option.

This point is most relevant for information and news projects. But some of them only work on social networks, so take an example of headlines like "This woman could no longer look at herself in the mirror. And this is what she did..." is not always correct for SEO. Just keep in mind when composing TITLES that they can get headlines on social media.

TITLE can contain additional keyword phrases

To promote the page not only on the selected medium-frequency phrases, but also on related ones, as well as a large pool of low-frequency phrases, you can add some words from the semantic kernel to the TITLE. Accordingly, this will distinguish it from the H1 tag.

For example, we have a pool of queries: installation of asphalt shingles, installation of flexible shingles, instructions for installing shingles, technology for installing shingles, technology for laying asphalt shingles, laying asphalt shingles, installation of flexible shingles video, etc., etc., etc.

H1: Instructions for installation of flexible asphalt shingles

TITLE: Installation of flexible shingles, laying technology. Price, video

Here TITLE and H1 are completely different, overlap only some words (installation, asphalt, shingles). It makes no sense to insert all the words from the core into the title or H1, it will look spammy, but separating words by code sections (including other headings) is a good strategy.

AVSEO notes that by and large it doesn't matter so much whether to make the TITLE and H1 different or the same. Much depends on the type of landing page, the type of query, and your expectations. Take into account the details described above, look at the results for the queries you are interested in, and approach the task with common sense.