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Strong vs Em SEO: Do HTML Tags Really Matter?

August 17, 2025
Strong vs Em SEO: Do HTML Tags Really Matter?

Let’s cut to the chase: you’re here because you want to know if sprinkling your blog posts with <strong> and <em> tags is the secret sauce to SEO glory. Maybe you’ve heard rumors in the break room, or maybe you just like your keywords bold and your emphasis italicized. Either way, you’re in the right place. We at Blogging Machine have spent more time than we’d like to admit pondering the mysteries of HTML tags — so you don’t have to.

The Great Strong vs Em SEO Debate: What’s the Fuss?

First, a quick refresher for those who haven’t looked at HTML since the days of dial-up. The <strong> tag is for text that’s really, really important. The <em> tag? That’s for text you want to emphasize, like when you’re telling your dog, “No, REALLY, don’t eat that.” Both tags are more than just visual cues; they add semantic meaning to your content, which is a fancy way of saying they help computers (and screen readers) understand what matters.

But does Google care? Will your rankings skyrocket if you <strong> your way through every paragraph? Let’s see what the experts — and the data — have to say.

What the Research Says: Facts, Stats, and a Dash of Reality

  • Direct SEO Impact: Sorry to burst your bubble, but Google has never officially confirmed that <strong> or <em> tags are direct ranking factors. According to multiple sources, including Google’s own documentation, search engines treat <b>, <strong>, <i>, and <em> similarly. So, no, you can’t just bold your way to page one.
  • Semantic Clarity & Accessibility: Where these tags do shine is in making your content more accessible. Screen readers use them to convey emphasis and importance to visually impaired users. This isn’t just good karma — it’s good business. Accessible content reaches a wider audience and keeps you on the right side of web accessibility guidelines.
  • User Engagement: Highlighting key points with <strong> or <em> can guide readers through your content. Think of it as the digital equivalent of waving your hands during a presentation. Used sparingly, it helps readers (and search engines) grasp what’s important. Used excessively, it’s like shouting in an empty room — awkward and ineffective.
  • Overuse = Bad News: If you’re tempted to <strong> every other word, resist. Overusing these tags can make your content look spammy, harm readability, and actually hurt user experience. As SitePoint puts it: “Don’t abuse HTML for imagined SEO benefits.”
  • Indirect SEO Benefits: While <strong> and <em> won’t directly boost your rankings, they can indirectly help by improving content structure, readability, and engagement. And guess what? Those are all things Google does care about.

Strong vs Em SEO: The Showdown

Let’s break it down in a way that would make even your most skeptical coworker nod in agreement:

Tag

Purpose

SEO Impact

Accessibility

User Engagement

<strong>

Strong importance

Minimal direct; can help highlight key points

Yes

Yes

<em>

Emphasis (stress)

Minimal direct; can help highlight key points

Yes

Yes

So, in the epic battle of strong vs em SEO, it’s a tie. Both are useful for making your content clearer and more accessible, but neither is a magic bullet for rankings.

What the Pros Say: Expert Quotes and Insights

“You should use <strong> in the same way you use any other HTML tag — because it is semantically correct for the content you’re marking up. Don’t abuse HTML for imagined SEO benefits.”— SitePoint Community
“The <strong> tag can boost SEO slightly because it emphasizes important text, signaling to search engines that this content is particularly relevant. However, just making text bold doesn’t directly impact SEO by much; it’s more about how it can make important text stand out to your readers, improving their overall experience.” — Link-Assistant

And if you’re looking for the official word, Google’s John Mueller has said (in his usual, understated way) that while these tags help with structure and accessibility, they don’t provide a ranking boost on their own.

Best Practices: How to Use Strong and Em Like a Pro

  • Be Genuine: Use <strong> and <em> where emphasis is actually needed. If everything is important, nothing is.
  • Don’t Spam: Keyword stuffing in bold or italics is so 2005. Focus on quality writing and logical structure.
  • Think Accessibility: These tags help screen readers do their job. That’s good for users and for your brand’s reputation.
  • Guide, Don’t Overwhelm: Highlight key points to help readers navigate your content, but don’t turn your post into a visual circus.

For more on accessibility, check out WebAIM’s guide to semantic HTML.

Why Content Quality Still Rules

Here’s the thing: search engines have gotten a lot smarter. They care about content quality, relevance, and user experience way more than whether you’ve bolded your keywords. If you want to win at SEO, focus on:

  • Well-structured, engaging articles
  • Natural keyword integration (no stuffing, please)
  • Consistent, purposeful content creation

And if that sounds like a lot of work, well, that’s where we come in. At Blogging Machine, our AI agent handles the heavy lifting — automating content creation, keyword optimization, and topic research — so you can focus on running your business (or, you know, finally taking a lunch break).

Recent Trends: What’s New in SEO?

  • Content is King (Still): Google’s algorithms now prioritize content quality and user experience over technical tricks like keyword bolding. (Search Engine Journal)
  • Context Matters: Search engines are better at understanding context and intent, so manual emphasis is less important than it used to be.
  • Accessibility is Non-Negotiable: With increasing legal and ethical pressure, accessible content isn’t just nice to have — it’s essential. (W3C Accessibility Guidelines)

FAQ: Strong vs Em SEO

Q: Will using <strong> or <em> improve my Google rankings? A: Not directly. They help with structure and accessibility, which can indirectly benefit SEO, but they’re not ranking factors.

Q: Should I use <strong> or <b>? A: Use <strong> for semantic importance. <b> is just for styling. Search engines and screen readers prefer semantic tags.

Q: Can I overuse these tags? A: Absolutely. Overusing <strong> and <em> can make your content look spammy and hurt readability.

Q: Do these tags help with accessibility? A: Yes! They help screen readers convey emphasis and importance, making your content more inclusive.

Q: What’s the best way to optimize my blog posts for SEO? A: Focus on high-quality, relevant content, logical structure, and natural keyword use. Or, let Blogging Machine do it for you.

The Bottom Line

If you’re hoping <strong> and <em> tags will catapult your blog to the top of Google, you might be waiting a while. But used thoughtfully, they can make your content clearer, more accessible, and more engaging — which, in the long run, is what SEO is all about.

And if you’d rather not sweat the small stuff, let us handle it. Blogging Machine automates the entire process, delivering SEO-optimized, engaging articles while you focus on the things that matter (like finally figuring out what’s in the office fridge).

Further Reading: