This factor counts how many of a page’s H1, H2, and H3 headings are made up entirely of a single keyword variation — the variation is the whole heading, with no extra words. A heading with even one additional word does not count, and the number is an observation to read, not a target to inflate.
| Factor ID | RG-HDG-044 |
|---|---|
| Family | Headings |
| Measurement | Whole-heading variation match count |
| Measured zone | H1, H2, and H3 text |
What it measures
This factor counts the H1, H2, and H3 headings on a page whose text consists entirely of one keyword variation. A heading qualifies only when a tracked variation is the complete heading — nothing surrounds it and nothing is added to it. Partial overlaps, where a variation appears alongside other words, are not counted here.
How RankGear measures it
RankGear parses the three heading levels and tests each heading’s text against a single case-insensitive, both-end-anchored expression assembled from the sorted variation set. Because the expression is anchored at both the start and the end, a heading matches only when its entire text equals one of the variations; any extra word breaks the match. The result aggregates the matches found across all three heading levels into one count.
What RankGear looks for
(?i)^(seo audit|seo audit tool|site audit)$
Counts: <h2>SEO Audit Tool</h2>
Does not count: <h2>Best SEO Audit Tool</h2>| Heading text | Result |
|---|---|
| SEO Audit Tool | Counts — the whole heading is a tracked variation |
| seo audit | Counts — match is case-insensitive |
| Best SEO Audit Tool | No match — the extra word breaks both-end anchoring |
| SEO Audit Tool for Agencies | No match — trailing words break the match |
How to optimize it
Use a variation as a complete heading only when it is a clear, self-contained label for the page or section it sits above. Treat this count as an observation rather than a number to maximize: reusing bare variations as headings can flatten an outline into something repetitive, and you should not strip meaningful, descriptive words out of a heading just to force a match. Let each heading say what its section actually covers first.
Important considerations
- The score aggregates all three heading levels — H1, H2, and H3 — into a single count.
- Extra words cause a heading not to match; the variation must be the entire heading text, start to end.
- Regex metacharacters inside a variation remain active for compatibility, so a variation is treated as a pattern fragment rather than strictly literal text.
- Reusing bare variations across several headings can create a repetitive outline that reads poorly for people.
- This factor tracks how heading text relates to the tracked variation set within a measured result set; it is a prioritization signal, not a cause of ranking. Matching more headings does not guarantee a higher position.
Related factors
Part of the Factors reference · how RankGear measures · glossary.