The traditional headlines that you see in newspapers and magazines made the transition from print to the Internet seamlessly. The only difference between the print media headlines and online headlines is that the latter actually serve an even greater purpose.

Headlines on websites aren’t just there to capture a reader’s attention.

A heading’s importance is typically called out by its separation from the rest of the copy that it is associated with. In both print and on the Internet, headings are usually a larger font, bolder, or a different color. On websites, they are also given authority through what are known as header tags.

Header tags have two functions. The first is the traditional aesthetic function that it serves and the second, more modern function is to highlight the content for search engine spiders. This is why header tags are an integral part of an SEO plan.

Since header tags are noticed both by website visitors and search engine spiders, the way header tags are worded is important. Relevant key words and key terms should be included in header tags. The bottom line, however, is that header tags are still an important part of website optimization.

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