Splitting Copy between H1 and non-H1

[Andrew_Mac]

My copywriter and designer are putting together a new homepage design that eliminates my H1, which is currently my primary term. After I let them know that it's imperative to have that term included in the H1, they asked what I would think about splitting their newly proposed tagline up into H1 and non-H1 content using CSS to style both segments the same way.

To the user the tagline would read something like:
An In-Home Nursing Service With A Patient-First Focus

But it would be coded like this:

An

In-Home Nursing

Service With A Patient-First Focus

Are there any drawbacks to executing the H1 like this?

[Andrew_Mac]

Thanks so much, Gary. This is exactly the information I needed. I suspected this was the case but it occurred to me I hadn't actually ever read it anywhere.

[Andrew_Mac]

Really appreciate it, Patrick. Sounds like I'll need to push back. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

[PatrickDelehanty]

Hi there

I meant this from a title and content standpoint. Of course top navigation and structural elements will come before.

Apologies for not clarifying that.

Thanks.

[gazzerman1]

"Plus, your H1 should be the first thing on your page, not after your

."

Not sure I agree 100% with that, there are top and left nav elements and various other structual and design things that logically appear before an H1.

However it does make sense for it to be on its own line and above the content it is a header for as close to the top as possible.

Otherwise I agree with everything else you mentioned.

[gazzerman1]

Your H1 should stand out as a solo tag and not be put into a line of code only used for SEO purposes.

Remember that H1 tags are used by Screen Readers and other such technology, read more here about the effects of screen readers and H1 tags here:
http://www.maxability.co.in/2013/06/html-5-headings-behavior-with-screen-readers/

As Google has suggested in the past, if you are doing it just for SEO and not for the user then its probably not a good idea.

[PatrickDelehanty]

Hi there

I honestly don't like this tactic. I would leave the whole phrase in the H1 because it contains words that may be used in queries. You want your H1's to be more editorial anyway where you titles are more keyword / query focused in a natural language setting.

Plus, your H1 should be the first thing on your page, not after your

. I don't think this will hinder your SEO, but keep structure and best practices in mind.

That's just my two cents. Hope this helps!