The Trailhead Framework
How the three-shield check works
Trailhead reads your website the way three audiences do, then turns what it finds into one number from 0 to 100 — in plain English, with what to fix first.
The three shields
Defend
The goal
Your site can't be exploited and your email can't be spoofed.
- What we look at
- We look at how your site is served and how your email is set up, from the outside only.
- Why it matters
- When the basics hold, visitors stay safe and messages sent in your name reach the inbox as you.
Discover
The goal
Google and social platforms find the right page when they look.
- What we look at
- We check how clearly your pages describe themselves to search engines and social platforms.
- Why it matters
- When a platform can read your pages cleanly, it shows the right one to the right person at the right moment.
Recommend
The goal
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and Apple Intelligence cite you when answering relevant questions.
- What we look at
- We check whether AI assistants can read, understand, and stand behind what your site says about you.
- Why it matters
- AI assistants increasingly weigh how clearly a site presents itself when they decide whom to name in an answer.
What your tier means
Your Trailhead score lands you in one of four tiers. Each one comes with a clear next step.
Iron-clad
Enterprise-class — your foundation is set. Periodic check-ins keep it there.
Solid
A few refinements from iron-clad. A focused sprint together closes the gap.
Gaps
Specific gaps to close, with a clear path to iron-clad. We map the route; you keep doing what you do best.
Foundation
Foundation work ahead, with a documented path up. We carry the technical load so you can focus on your craft.
You focus on what you do best. We’ll carry the technical load.