Getting Your Website Ready for the New Year: a Checklist

The start of a new year is the perfect time to take a critical look at your website. Just as you give your office a good clean, your website deserves an annual refresh.

Use this checklist to make sure you don't miss anything.

Content & information

Check your contact details: is your phone number, email, and address still correct?
Update your opening hours: also on Google Business Profile
Remove outdated content: old offers, expired events, non-existing products
Update your copyright year: nothing says "neglected" more than © 2021 in the footer
Check your prices: are they still current?
Refresh your text: reread your pages with fresh eyes

Technical health

Test your website on mobile: open every page on your smartphone
Check all links: broken links are bad for SEO and user experience
Check your load speed: use Google PageSpeed Insights
Check your SSL certificate: is https:// active?
Update your CMS and plugins: outdated software is a security risk
Test your forms: send a test message via your contact form

Tip: Schedule this check as a recurring item in your calendar. Once per quarter, 30 minutes is enough to prevent major problems.

SEO & findability

Check your Google Business Profile: are all details correct and complete?
Review your Google Search Console: are there errors or warnings?
Update your meta titles and descriptions: do they still contain the right keywords?
Publish fresh content: Google loves websites that are regularly updated
Ask for new Google Reviews: start the year with fresh ratings

Design & user experience

Look at your website with fresh eyes: would you trust it as a visitor?
Check your images: are they sharp and professional?
Simplify where possible: less is more. Remove distracting elements
Check your call-to-actions: are they clear and prominent enough?

Legal & privacy

Check your privacy policy: is it still current with the latest regulations?
Check your cookie notice: does it comply with GDPR?
Review your terms and conditions: if applicable

Ready for a fresh start?

If during this checklist you notice your website needs more than a refresh, it might be time for a completely new website.

Calculate what that costs or get in touch for advice. I'm happy to think along with you.