This factor counts how many H6 headings on a page consist entirely of one of your keyword variations — the whole heading equals a variation, with nothing added. It returns a whole number, and it is an observed relationship with position within a measured result set, not a lever that makes a page rank.
| Factor ID | RG-HDG-051 |
|---|---|
| Family | Headings |
| Measurement | Whole-heading variation match count |
| Measured zone | H6 text |
What it measures
RankGear counts the H6 headings whose complete text equals a keyword variation from the run’s variation set. A heading only qualifies when a variation is the entire heading — not merely contained inside a longer phrase. The output is the number of such whole-heading variation matches found in the page’s H6 zone.
How RankGear measures it
RankGear parses every H6 heading on the page and checks each one against a single case-insensitive, fully anchored expression. That expression is built from the run’s variation alternatives sorted into a fixed order and joined as alternatives, then anchored at both the start and the end of the heading. Because the expression is anchored end to end, a heading counts only when its whole text matches one of the variations; any extra text causes the heading to fail the match.
What RankGear looks for
Variations: trail running shoes | trail runners
<h6>trail running shoes</h6> → counts (whole heading equals a variation)
<h6>Trail Runners</h6> → counts (case-insensitive)
<h6>best trail running shoes</h6> → does not count (extra text, not fully anchored)How to optimize it
Treat this as an observation, not a target. Use a variation-only H6 only when the page genuinely needs that level of subdivision and the variation clearly labels the section it sits above — that is, only when it is meaningful within a genuine sixth-level content hierarchy. If the outline does not call for a sixth heading level, do not add one to move this count; the number describes the page, it is not a goal to chase.
Important considerations
- The match must cover the entire heading — a variation buried inside a longer H6 does not count.
- The variation alternatives preserve their unescaped compatibility regex behavior inside the match expression.
- Zero is usually normal for pages without H6 content, so a value of 0 rarely signals a problem on its own.
- Do not create a six-level heading hierarchy solely to raise this value; a forced H6 rarely helps readers.
- Correlation is not causation: this count relates to position within a measured result set and is a prioritization signal, not a guarantee that a page will rank.
Related factors
Part of the Factors reference · how RankGear measures · glossary.