Multiple H1 tags in Squarespace

[The_Word_Department]

Hi.

I'm using Squarespace, and I've noticed they assign the page title and site title h1 tag status. So if I add an on-page h1 tag, that's three in total.

I've seen what Matt Cutts said about multiple h1 tags being acceptable (although that video was back in 2009 and a lot has changed since then). But I'm still a little concerned that this is perhaps not the best way of structuring for SEO.

Could anyone offer me any advice?

Thanks.

[LesleyPaone]

I would say it is not good practice. I think of the heading system as a structure system. Like a book or an outline. The h1 tag should be the title that encompasses the whole page. The h2 tags are like the chapters, h3 are sub chapters or strong points inside the chapters and so on.

[The_Word_Department]

Hi Lesley. Thanks very much for responding to my question.

That's what I would have expected. But when I asked Squarespace about this, they told me "our system is designed to make sure that Google does not penalise for multiple H1 tags." and "When Google indexes and ranks your site, it will take your first H1 tag as being your site title and it will not take the other H1 tags into account negatively.".

I'm far from being an expert - hence asking on here to get some expert opinion. But to me, Squarespace's answer contradicts the accepted approach for good practice. I'm currently looking at trying to rectify this somehow, but I suspect the structure is 'hard-wired' into Squarespace.

Again, thanks for taking the time to answer Lesley. Much appreciated.

[LesleyPaone]

I wouldn't buy that answer either. I don't think they have some secret knowledge, or way of doing things with site structure that would be against best practice yet still work. I think the templates are just made poorly and they are trying to make an excuse that some people will believe.