Heading analyzer
Enter a page and this tool lists its headings as an indented outline, then flags a missing H1, skipped levels such as H2 to H4, and empty headings.
It’s for writers and developers checking that a page reads logically. If the outline makes sense read alone, the page is usually well organised for people and machines alike. It reads the raw HTML, so headings added by JavaScript won’t appear.
Free with a ShipScroll account.
How to use the Heading Analyzer
- Enter the address of the page you want to check.
- Press Analyze headings.
- Read the outline by itself. Does it summarise the page?
- Fix what’s flagged. Change the heading level in your HTML, and use CSS to control how it looks.
Does a page need exactly one H1?
Google has said its systems can handle multiple H1s, so a second one isn’t a ranking problem. We still flag it because one clear main heading is simpler for readers, and screen-reader users often jump straight to it. Consider it a tidiness and accessibility warning, not an emergency.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Usual cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No H1 | The logo or a styled div is used as the title | Make the page’s title an H1 |
| Several H1s | A template puts H1 in the header and the content | Keep H1 for the content title |
| Skipped levels | A heading was picked for its size | Use the next level and restyle with CSS |
| Empty headings | An icon or image-only heading | Add text, or use a non-heading element |
Example: a heading chosen for its size
A designer wants smaller text under a section, so a developer uses H4 right after an H2. It looks right, but a screen-reader user hears a jump that suggests they’ve missed a section. Change it to H3 and set the font size in CSS: the same appearance, with a structure that makes sense.
Questions
Do headings help a page rank?
They help search engines and readers understand how a page is organised, which is useful, though perfect headings won’t lift a weak page by themselves. Write them to describe what follows, and don’t force keywords into them.
Why are my headings missing from the results?
The tool reads the HTML before JavaScript runs. If your headings are drawn by scripts, they won’t appear here. It’s worth server-rendering them on pages you want found.
Is going from H3 back to H2 a skip?
No. Moving back up is normal, since it just starts a new section. Only moving down by more than one level, such as H2 to H4, is flagged.
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- Meta Tags CheckerSee the title, description, canonical and share tags a page actually serves.
- Schema Markup CheckerExtract a page’s JSON-LD, list its schema.org types, and catch syntax errors.