How to Fix: Subheadings use keywords

Subheadings use keywords is an important SEO check in the On-Page SEO Essentials category. This is a medium-priority issue. While not urgent, it is one of those small on-page habits that, applied across a whole site, quietly compounds — and it costs nothing but attention.

What is This Check About?

This check looks at whether your subheadings — your H2 and H3 tags — actually describe what each section covers, using the language your readers search with. Subheadings are the skeleton of a page. Search engines read them to understand structure and topical coverage; readers scan them to decide whether to stay. Generic labels like “Overview” or “More info” tell neither one anything useful.

The goal is not to stuff keywords into every heading. It is to write subheadings that honestly describe the section in the words people actually use. Done right, the two goals are the same goal.

Why Does This Matter for SEO?

Descriptive subheadings help the page work for both audiences at once:

• They give search engines a clear map of the page’s structure and the subtopics it covers
• Keyword-relevant headings help you rank for related and long-tail variations, not just the main term
• They improve scannability, so readers find what they came for and stay on the page
• Well-phrased headings can surface in featured snippets and “People also ask” results

How to Check This Issue

Audit your headings across the pages that matter:

1. Read only the subheadings of a page top to bottom — do they tell the whole story on their own?
2. Spot vague headings (“Introduction,” “Details,” “More”) that describe nothing
3. Check whether relevant keywords and natural variations appear where they genuinely fit
4. Confirm a sensible hierarchy — one H1, H2s for main sections, H3s nested beneath them

How to Fix This in WordPress

Difficulty Level: EASY – This fix is straightforward and can typically be completed by anyone with basic WordPress knowledge.

Estimated Time: varies

Step 1: Rewrite Vague Headings to Describe the Section

Go through your key pages in the block editor and replace empty labels with headings that state what the section actually delivers. “How to size images in WordPress” beats “Images.” Say the thing.

Step 2: Work In Natural Keyword Variations

Weave your target term and its natural variants into headings where they fit honestly. Use the phrasing real people search with — questions, comparisons, “how to” and “best” framings — rather than repeating the exact same phrase in every heading. Read it aloud; if it sounds forced, it is.

Step 3: Fix the Heading Hierarchy

Confirm one H1 per page (usually the title), H2s for main sections, and H3s for sub-points beneath them. Do not pick a heading level for how big it looks — style with CSS, structure with the correct tag.

Step 4: Verify

1. Clear your WordPress cache if you’re using a caching plugin
2. Re-read the subheadings alone and confirm they now summarize the page
3. Re-run the SEO Roadmap audit to confirm the issue is resolved

Recommended Tools & Plugins

These tools can help you fix and prevent this issue:

• Yoast SEO – Comprehensive SEO plugin with built-in checks
• Rank Math – Feature-rich SEO plugin with detailed analysis
• Google Search Console – Free tool to monitor your site’s search presence
• SEO Roadmap – Complete SEO audit and action plan tool

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Stuffing the same exact keyword into every subheading until it reads unnaturally
• Leaving vague labels like “Overview” that describe nothing
• Choosing a heading level for its font size instead of its place in the structure
• Skipping heading levels (H2 straight to H4) and breaking the hierarchy

Need More Help?

If you’re still working through this, consider:

• Checking “People also ask” and related searches for the exact phrasing readers use
• Using your SEO plugin’s content analysis to review keyword coverage in headings
• Consulting a content or SEO specialist for your priority pages
• Running a complete site audit with SEO Roadmap for a prioritized action plan

This guide is part of the SEO Roadmap knowledge base – your complete resource for WordPress SEO optimization.