Someone, somewhere decided your H1 must be shorter than your SEO title. Then they told their mates, who told their clients, who passed it on as gospel truth. Now we’ve got content creators twisting themselves into knots trying to create headlines that fit some imaginary character limit whilst still making sense.
Absolute bollocks.
Where this myth came from
SEO used to be about following rigid rules. Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and Google was still figuring itself out, people created all sorts of arbitrary guidelines. The H1/title length thing probably came from someone misunderstanding how title tags work, then confidently declaring it as law.
Now we’re stuck with business owners who’ve been told their perfectly good, descriptive H1 needs chopping down because it’s four characters longer than their SEO title. It’s like being told your shop sign is too helpful because it explains what you sell.
What Google cares about
Google isn’t sitting around with a ruler measuring your headlines. It’s trying to understand what your page is about and whether it helps users. A clear, detailed H1 that accurately describes your content? That’s exactly what Google wants to see.
Your H1 should tell visitors what they’re about to read. If that takes 15 words instead of 6, brilliant. Better to be clear than cryptic.
Think about it – when you land on a webpage, what helps you more? A vague 5-word header that sounds clever but tells you nothing, or a 12-word header that explains exactly what you’re going to learn?
Free on-page SEO healthcheck
When longer H1s work better
Sometimes you need more words to be clear. If you’re explaining a complex service or answering a specific question, cramming it into a tiny headline just creates confusion.
Say you’re a solicitor writing about conveyancing. Your SEO title might be “Conveyancing Solicitors Birmingham” to capture search traffic. But your H1 could be “How long does conveyancing take when buying a house in Birmingham?” That’s longer, more descriptive, and helps the reader understand what they’re reading.
Nobody’s going to bounce because your H1 had the audacity to use complete sentences.
When to use different H1s and titles
Your SEO title and H1 don’t need to match exactly. Your title’s job is getting clicks from search results. Your H1’s job is confirming to visitors they’re in the right place and setting expectations for what follows.
Your SEO title needs to work in a search results page alongside a bunch of competitors. It might be shorter, punchier, more keyword-focused. Your H1 can be more natural, detailed, and helpful because it’s working on your actual page where you’ve got space to breathe.
The real rules that matter
Stop obsessing over arbitrary length requirements and focus on what counts. Your H1 should clearly describe what’s on the page. It should help users understand what they’re about to read. It should be written for humans, not algorithms.
If your H1 needs to be longer to achieve those goals, make it longer. If it works better short and punchy, keep it short. The length doesn’t matter – the clarity does.
What to do instead
Write your H1 to serve your readers first. Ask yourself whether someone landing on your page will immediately understand what it’s about. If yes, you’re sorted. If they’re confused, rewrite it until it makes sense.
Your SEO title should attract clicks from search results. Your H1 should deliver on the promise that title made. They work together but they don’t need to be identical twins.
Stop letting imaginary rules stop you from creating helpful content. Google’s gotten pretty sophisticated at understanding context, natural language, and user intent. It doesn’t need you to follow a rulebook from 2008.
Focus on helping your visitors understand what they’re reading and find what they need. That’s what Google rewards. The rest is just noise from people who don’t understand how modern SEO works.
Ready to stop believing SEO myths?
Sick of all the conflicting advice and made-up rules? I’ve spent 30 years in SEO, and I’ve packed everything I know about separating facts from fiction into one comprehensive guide.
The Ultimate Guide to Busting SEO Myths: Just £5
70+ myths destroyed, including why your H1 length doesn’t matter, why you don’t need to blog weekly, and what technical SEO you can safely ignore. Zero waffle, pure actionable advice from someone who’s been doing this since before Google existed.
Stop following outdated rules and start focusing on what works.
