Boost Your SEO with HTML5: How to Use Section, Article, and Main Tags Effectively

HTML5 semantic tags can significantly enhance your website's SEO performance. Elements like <header>, <footer>, <main>, <article>, <section>, and <aside> help structure your content in a way that search engines can better understand and interpret.

In this article, I'll cover:

With over 6 years of experience managing web development and SEO at a web production company, I've witnessed firsthand how proper HTML5 implementation can positively impact search rankings.

Using HTML5 semantic elements not only creates cleaner, more organized code but also helps Google better understand your content's context and purpose. However, tags like <main>, <article>, <section>, and <aside> have specific usage rules that require careful implementation. I'll guide you through using these tags correctly.

What is HTML5?

HTML5 represents a significant evolution in HTML standards.

One of its most notable improvements is the ability to embed media directly into pages using tags like <video> and <audio> without requiring plugins.

For SEO purposes, the most valuable additions are the semantic element tags (<nav>, <main>, <article>, <section>, <aside>) that clearly define your page structure.

If you're using popular WordPress themes like Affinger or Sango, these semantic elements are typically already implemented. However, if you're building a custom website, understanding these tags is essential for SEO optimization.

Benefits of Using HTML5 Element Tags: Creating Structured, Search-Friendly Code

Let's examine how HTML5 semantic tags improve your code structure:

When HTML5 Element Tags Are Not Used

<div class="header">
	<h1>title</h1>
	<form>Search</form>
	<div class="nav">
		<ul>Site navigation</ul>
	</div><!-- /nav -->
</div><!-- /header -->

<div class="main">
	<div>
		<h1>Article Title</h1>
		<p>Summary</p>
	</div>
</div><!-- /main -->

<div="sidebar">
	<div>
		<h2>Blogroll...</h2>
	</div>
</div><!-- /sidebar -->

<div="footer">
	<h2>Footer</h2>
</div><!-- /footer -->

When HTML5 Element Tags Are Used

<header>
	<h1>title</h1>
	<form>Search</form>
	<nav>
		<ul>Site navigation</ul>
	</nav>
</header>

<section>
	<article>
		<h1>Article Title</h1>
		<p>Summary</p>
	</article>
</section>

<aside>
	<section>
		<h2>Blogroll...</h2>
	</section>
</aside>

<footer>
	<h2>Footer</h2>
</footer>

Key Benefits

As you can see from the examples above, HTML5 semantic tags create significantly cleaner code.

Before HTML5, it was common practice to wrap everything in div tags with class names for identification, resulting in numerous closing </div> tags that were difficult to track.

HTML5 element tags strengthen SEO because search engines like Google can more easily understand your site structure.

For example, in blogs, content in the <aside> (sidebar) often appears across multiple pages. By properly marking this content with the <aside> tag, you signal to search engines that "this is supplementary content," helping avoid penalties for duplicate content.

Additionally, heading tags (H1, H2) within <main> and <article> elements receive higher priority than those in other sections, making it easier for search engines to identify important keywords in your content.

How to Use Each HTML5 Element Tag Correctly

While it's relatively straightforward to understand where to use <header>, <nav>, <aside>, and <footer> tags, the proper placement of <main>, <article>, and <section> can be confusing.

Implementation often varies between websites, making it difficult to determine the correct approach. Let's clarify by examining the official definitions of each element.

The Main Element

• Contains the primary content of the page
• Should appear only once per page
• Must not be nested within <article>, <aside>, <footer>, <header>, or <nav>

Reference HTML <main> element | MDN Web Docs

The Article Element

• Represents a self-contained composition that could stand independently
• Typically contains the main content of the page
• Suitable for blog posts, news articles, or product listings

Reference <article>: The Article Content element | MDN Web Docs

The Section Element

• Groups related content thematically
• Should not be used purely for styling purposes (use <div> instead)
• Generally should include a heading (H1-H6) to identify its content

Reference <section>: The Generic Section element | MDN Web Docs

Analyzing the HTML5 Element Structure of SEO-Optimized WordPress Templates

In well-structured templates, you'll typically find <section> elements placed inside <main> and <article> elements.

As demonstrated in the examples above, HTML5 semantic tags create significantly cleaner, more organized code. Before HTML5, developers commonly wrapped content in generic div tags with class names, leading to cluttered code that was difficult to maintain.

The SEO advantage of HTML5 semantic elements is that they provide clear structural signals to search engines. For example, content within sidebars (marked with <aside>) often appears across multiple pages. By properly identifying this content, you help search engines understand it's supplementary rather than duplicate content.

Furthermore, heading tags within <main> and <article> sections receive greater weight in search algorithms, improving keyword relevance for your core content.

By implementing these HTML5 semantic elements correctly, you create a more accessible, search-engine-friendly website structure that can positively impact your rankings.