<h1>, <h2>, ... and Styles.

If we use H# tags, but defined as a style, do we loose the h# boost for SEO

[skuba]

Let me try to explain my question.
We all know that using h1 and h2 tags help with SEO. But what if we have h1 and h2 defined on the header as styles?
Let's say on the body we are using h1 and h2, but it actually is a style that has its on font size, color, etc...
Would that make the whole effort of using h1 for SEO useless?
Is it clear?

Thanks for helping.

[Conard]

You can name the <H1> element H1 and still show the engines the H tag where you want.

[httpwebwitch]

so, you're asking if applying a style "disqualifies" your title, because of the potential for misuse?

like, I could do <h1>Paris Hilton</h1>
<style>
h1{visibility:hidden}
</style>

AFAIK these sorts of things are not penalized right now, but they might be some day if bots start reading into CSS rendering

[osfp]

.....like, I could do <h1>Paris Hilton</h1>
<style>
h1{visibility:hidden}
</style> ......
why hidden? instead use this
<h1>Paris Hilton</h1>
<style>
h1{font-size:10px}
</style>

[pageoneresults]

AFAIK these sorts of things are not penalized right now.

Not from an automated standpoint. But, if you are in a competitive industry, the risk increases exponentially for a manual review. ;)

P.S. It has been reported here at WebmasterWorld that Google has indexed CSS files.

[skuba]

P.S. It has been reported here at WebmasterWorld that Google has indexed CSS files.

But that doesn't mean that google is taking the CSS in consideration to return results.