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GEO / AI visibility
How many subheadings does a good web page need?
A content page should carry at least three headings, because AI programs break pages into individual segments along the headings and process each segment separately. Our check also uses this threshold for full marks. A page with no subheadings is a single unwieldy block of text to an answer engine, one it struggles to cite from.
Machines break pages into segments
Answer engines like ChatGPT don't process long texts as a single piece. They break every page into segments, called "chunks" in the jargon, and headings are the natural break points for that. Every segment is stored individually and checked individually as a possible answer to a question. A well-structured page therefore breaks into several clearly defined, self-contained pieces — each one its own chance to be cited. A page with no structure, on the other hand, becomes a single diffuse block that fits no specific question well. Structure therefore multiplies the opportunities where your website could come up as a source.
Structure helps readers just as much as machines
Subheadings are first and foremost a reader convenience. Most visitors don't read a web page word for word, they skim it and their eyes catch on headings. Three to six meaningful subheadings work like a table of contents: the visitor finds the paragraph that matters to them within seconds. What matters is that every heading genuinely names its section's content. "More information" says nothing; "How the check works" says everything. Word headings specifically enough that a reader in a hurry can follow the page's thread from the headings alone. Then the page works equally well for people and answer engines.
How our check assesses the structure
Our check system counts every heading level one through six on visiting the page. From three headings onward, you get full marks. With one or two headings, you get half marks, with a note that several clearly defined sections increase citability. With no headings at all, the check reports that the page is a block that can't be broken up. What matters is genuine heading format: a bold-formatted line of text looks like a heading to people, but is plain text in the code. So use your content management system's heading function, usually called "Heading 2" or "H2".
- Structure every content page into at least three sections, each with its own subheading.
- Use your content management system's heading function instead of bold-formatted text lines.
- Word every heading specifically enough that it sums up its section on its own.
- Read just your page's headings in sequence — if a clear thread emerges, the structure is right.
- Split paragraphs covering more than one topic into two sections.
FAQ
What does chunking mean for web pages?
Chunking refers to breaking a web page into individual segments before an AI program processes it. Programs prefer to split at headings, since that's where a new topic recognisably begins. Every segment is then checked individually as a possible answer to user questions. Well-structured pages provide many usable segments and get cited more often as a result.
Does bold text count as a heading?
No. Machines only recognise headings from the heading element in the page code, not from the font styling. A bold-formatted line stays plain text to them. So use the "Heading 2" through "Heading 4" styles in your content management system, instead of the bold button. You can still style the appearance freely — the element carries the meaning.
Can a page have too many headings?
Yes, that's possible. If each heading has only one or two sentences underneath it, the page splinters into fragments with no substance, and no section works as a self-contained answer any more. A good rule of thumb: one idea per section, spelled out in a few sentences. Our check requires three headings as a minimum — there's no upper limit.