The Steward scorecard
Every finding maps to money and implementation.
The scorecard is how Steward finds the leak. The client-facing output is simpler: what may be costing you money, what it may be worth, and how to clean it up.
0115 pts
Conversion clarity
Can a ready patient quickly call, book, request, or choose the right route without hunting?
- Make phone and appointment actions visible above the fold and sticky on mobile.
- Separate new-patient booking, urgent calls, existing-patient callbacks, and billing/admin paths.
- Explain whether an online flow is confirmed booking, appointment request, or callback.
Research avg: 1.12 · Top-decile floor: 2.24
0215 pts
Trust before form
Does the site earn trust before asking the patient to submit a form?
- Move reviews, doctor/team identity, real photos, credentials, and comfort/technology proof before high-commitment forms.
- Replace generic claims with specific visible proof.
- Add local practice cues: address, hours, team, facility, languages.
Research avg: 1.06 · Top-decile floor: 2.43
0315 pts
Service structure
Can patients and search engines find the treatments they are looking for?
- Group services by patient intent: emergency, implants, aligners, cosmetic, family, restorative, hygiene.
- Give priority services specific pages/sections with process, cost/insurance cues, FAQs, and next step.
- Link homepage → service category → specific service → booking path.
Research avg: 0.5 · Top-decile floor: 1.7
0415 pts
Mobile patient UX
Does the mobile path stay readable, tappable, and action-oriented?
- Keep phone/book actions accessible without horizontal overflow.
- Ensure the hero does not consume the full screen without action.
- Test scheduler/forms on mobile, not just desktop screenshots.
Research avg: 7.29 · Top-decile floor: 8.88
0515 pts
Local SEO and schema
Can Google and patients identify the practice, location, services, and contact routes?
- Add unique title/meta/H1/canonical and indexable robots state.
- Use Dentist/LocalBusiness schema with NAP, hours, URL, and service context.
- Keep address, hours, map/directions, and service area visible.
Research avg: 5.86 · Top-decile floor: 8.28
0610 pts
Performance proxy
Does the site load quickly enough for a mobile patient to act?
- Compress oversized images and avoid autoplay-heavy mobile heroes.
- Reduce blocking third-party scripts before first action.
- Make scheduler/contact embeds reliable and non-blocking.
Research avg: 8.02 · Top-decile floor: 8.33
0710 pts
Accessibility and usability
Can forms, buttons, images, and navigation be understood by more patients?
- Set lang, logical headings, landmark structure, useful alt text.
- Use labeled forms and descriptive button/link text.
- Keep contrast and tap targets practical on mobile.
Research avg: 5.61 · Top-decile floor: 6.62
085 pts
New-patient clarity
Does the site answer the questions that stop a patient from booking?
- Add what-to-expect, first visit, forms, insurance, financing, emergency, hours/location/parking.
- Use FAQs on priority services.
- Make cost/insurance expectations scannable before contact.
Research avg: 0.14 · Top-decile floor: 0.43