Breaking down your SEO keywords with <header> and <hgroup>

[weegillis]

In previous versions of HTML we had only one outline: TITLE > H1 -> H2 => H3, => H3; -> H2 => H3, ... This pretty much limited the scope of a page to one main topic. Blur these lines and the whole page suffered.

Today's HTML5 does away with this uniform outline and replaces it with a unified outline that permits localized scope within a document. We can now safely mix our topics on a single page. They don't even have to be related.

Where yesterday it was typical to have one header element, such as <div id="header">..</div>, today and tomorrow we will see possibly several HEADER elements in the same document. One on the wrapper (banner, page heading, tagline, etc.) and one in each SECTION and/or ARTICLE. Add to this that we can now group headings with HGROUP and now those apparently unrelated headings take on their own special meaning within the context of the heading group and the article/section.

Search engines are going to love this, and the effect on SERPs is going to be enormous. I see a mix of results, not just a narrow field. For instance, search for pet food and there won't just be a hundred per supply stores in the top results, but vet clinics, grooming shops, pet groups, SPCA, and so on. This is what I see. Opinions may vary, and it's too early to drum up facts, but...

[CBIL360]

As far I have experienced (for some highest competitive keywords) after title h1 and h2 tags there is no much impact on SERP. I have seen so many websites have done comparative study and found the same.

[weegillis]

We could do with some samples of those 'so many websites.' Care to share your findings?

[Nick Johnson]

Agree with CBIL,

After Title, H1 and H2.. not much effect...
Not even H3....