This factor counts how many of a page’s headings are phrased as questions, summed across the whole H1–H6 hierarchy. It is a raw tally, not a score — a higher count is not automatically better, and it relates to position within a measured result set rather than causing a page to rank.
| Factor ID | RG-RDB-013 |
|---|---|
| Family | Readability & Questions |
| Measurement | Question count |
| Measured zone | H1 through H6 text |
What it measures
This factor counts all questions parsed across the complete heading hierarchy. RankGear reads every heading on the page — from the H1 down to any H6 — and totals how many of them are written as questions. The result is a single whole number describing how heavily the page leans on question-style headings to structure its content.
How RankGear measures it
RankGear applies its question parser to every H1–H6 text and returns the combined raw count. Each heading level is evaluated the same way, and the matches are added together into one uncapped total. The value reflects only how many question headings exist — it does not record which heading level produced any given question.
| If the count is… | How to read it |
|---|---|
| 0 | The page uses no question-style headings; its structure is entirely statement-based. |
| Low (a few) | Select user concerns are framed as questions, typically paired with direct answers. |
| High | The page relies heavily on question headings. Confirm each one maps to a real user concern with a useful answer — a large tally is not inherently favorable. |
How to optimize it
Use question headings selectively to organize real user concerns, pairing each with a useful answer. Treat this count as an observation about how the page is structured, not a target to inflate: adding question headings that no reader would actually ask, or that go unanswered, does not improve the page. Reach for a question heading when it genuinely mirrors how someone would phrase the concern the section resolves.
Important considerations
- All six heading levels contribute equally — an H1 question counts the same as an H6 question.
- Unlike “Headings Has Question,” this value is not capped; it can grow as large as the page’s heading count allows.
- The count does not reveal which level generated a question, only the combined total.
- More question headings are not automatically better — relevance and a matching answer matter more than volume.
- This is a descriptive signal that relates to position within a measured result set; it does not on its own cause a page to rank.
Related factors
Part of the Factors reference · how RankGear measures · glossary.