I was wondering if <h1> tags have any effect when it comes to search engine optimization. If it does does that mean that <h2> or <h3> will have a lesser effect?

h1 can help if you use them properly.

eg: if you have a page about 'reseller web hosting' it would be ideal to have 'reseller web hosting' as the h1 tag? would it not?
put a <strong> tag around the h1 tag and css it down to fit into your design. perfect.

of course using a header tag properly is only one small part of search engines algorithm's which could help if used properly.

and yes you would think h2, h3 and so forth would have less effect, however as I said, I don't think header tags pull that much weight % wise in a search engines algorithm compared to say anchor text from backlinks.

I didn't understand the question, can you give me more information.

Thankx.

Thanks the the input. I am using H1 tags because I need any little help I can get and the heading is definatly consistent with the content on the page. The thing is that <h1> is just too huge compared to the rest of the text. Not that my font size is very small but I was just hoping that <h3> would have the same effect as <h1>

btw when people say anchor text that is the text between the <a> and </a> tags correct? Just making sure..... thanks

use css if you can to downsize the h1 tag to fit perfectly into your design? :)

yep.. anchor text is the link coming back into your website.

so say you have a website which is mainly selling 'reseller web hosting', you will want to get as many links coming back into your website with the text 'reseller web hosting' as possible, from other similar themed websites.

Heading tags define your content heirarchy. You'd better believe this is useful for search engines! Just as important, it's useful for people using various browsing devices that support subsets of CSS, and people with disabilities (especially blind visitors).

If you don't use headings and someone chooses to disable styles you've applied to your text (even IE lets visitors do this), your context is lost. Plus, <h*> tags are so effecient. There's no reason not to use them for headings!

We have integrated them with success. used as such

<H1>
contents.........
<H2>
content.....
<H2>
content.....
<H3>
content.....
<H2>
content.....

SE's will be able to index the content better as they will be able to map the relation the the content.