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Skipped Heading Levels: How to Fix It
Headings jump levels, for example from H2 straight to H4.
Quick fix: Do not skip heading levels (for example H2 straight to H4). A clean outline helps search engines understand your content.
Why it matters for SEO
Headings form an outline of the page. Skipped levels make the structure harder for search engines and screen readers to understand.
How to fix it
- 1Use H1 for the page title, H2 for main sections, H3 for sub-sections, and so on.
- 2Never pick a heading level just for its font size. Style headings with CSS instead.
- 3Check the heading outline in the audit report after changes.
Example
Wrong: H1 > H2 > H4
Right: H1 > H2 > H3Frequently asked questions
Is this a big ranking factor?
It is minor, but a clean structure improves accessibility and helps featured snippets.
Can I go back up from H4 to H2?
Yes. Going up any number of levels is fine. Only skipping levels on the way down is a problem.
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