Exact Matches in H4 Tags counts how many times your target query appears inside the page’s H4 (fourth-level) subheadings. It is an occurrence count, not a pass/fail score — and a zero is frequently the correct value, because not every page needs the query buried in a fourth-level heading.
| Factor ID | RG-HDG-005 |
|---|---|
| Family | Headings |
| Measurement | Occurrence count |
| Measured zone | H4 text |
What it measures
This factor counts exact-query pattern occurrences within H4 headings. It looks only at fourth-level headings — the deeply nested subsections beneath your H2 and H3 structure — and tallies how many of them contain the target query as a matched pattern.
How RankGear measures it
RankGear builds a case-insensitive pattern from your target query, replacing each space with an optional character, then counts how many times that pattern matches across the recognized H4 headings on the page. Because the between-word spaces are optional, small joining variations still register as a match; the result is the raw count of matches found in H4 text.
What RankGear looks for
Query: "cast iron care"
Pattern (case-insensitive): cast.?iron.?care
<h4>Cast iron care for a new skillet</h4> → match
<h4>Seasoning basics</h4> → no match| Count | How to read it |
|---|---|
| 0 | The query appears in no H4. Common and often correct — many pages have no fourth-level heading that genuinely calls for the query. |
| 1 | One nested subsection names the query directly. Typical when a specific H4 truly addresses that topic. |
| 2+ | Multiple H4s repeat the query. This can inflate the value — confirm each is a real, distinct subsection rather than padding. |
How to optimize it
Treat this as an observation, not a target to maximize. Include the query in an H4 only when a deeply nested subsection genuinely addresses it. Do not add fourth-level headings, or restate the query inside them, just to raise the count — a naturally structured page will often score zero here, and that is fine.
Important considerations
- Additional heading text around the query is allowed; the H4 does not need to be the query on its own.
- Repetition can inflate the value — the same query across several H4s adds to the count without adding meaning.
- H4 usage should follow document hierarchy; fourth-level headings belong under H2/H3 sections, not scattered for keyword placement.
- A zero can be entirely appropriate and is not a deficiency.
- This is a correlation signal measured within a result set, not a cause of ranking — it relates to position, it does not make a page rank.
Related factors
Part of the Factors reference · how RankGear measures · glossary.