Disable multiple h1 tags in Genesis HTML5 themes

If are coding or already using HTML5 child theme for new Genesis 2.0 version – you may have notice multiple h1 tags issue. As per traditional SEO basics – there is suppose to be only one H1 tags on every page. Like on single post page, H1 tag wraps the post title giving it maximum importance for search indexing. However, in HTML5 themes there are multiple H1 tags.

Multiple H1 tags in HTML5 child themes

If you scan source code of single post page, there will multiple h1 tags, like for: site title, post title, author box title. This looks all wrong  (but may not be) when matched with strict seo fundamentals for h1 tags in the website structure. We have multiple h1 tags because HTML5 itself allow structured h1 flow. But will this be liked by Google and other search engines – there is no clarity as of now.

@BasicWP The consensus is that since they natively fall w/in their proper entities, that it's ok. Google is smart enough to work through it.

— Brian Gardner (@bgardner) September 2, 2013

“The consensus is that since they natively fall w/in their proper entities, that it’s ok. Google is smart enough to work through it.” This is what Brian Gardner said on this issue.

Disable multiple h1 tags in Genesis child themes

If you do want multiple h1 tags and still want goodness of html5 theme – then here is quick setting to fix for Genesis users (if you believe this is a problem!).

Goto Genesis > Seo Settings option and then uncheck “Use semantic HTML5 page and section headings throughout site?“. Keep the “Site Title” option selected and click Save Changes button. Once you do this, your HTML5 theme will generate only one h1 tag for the post title in single post pages and site title on the homepage. [Thanks Brian Gardner and Gary Jones]