As the year wraps up, this is the perfect moment to give your website a quick check-in.
Nothing major, just a few simple touch-ups that help your business head into the new year looking polished, current, and ready for whatever’s next.
This checklist keeps things warm, easy, and stress-free. Think of it as your stress-free end-of-year tune-up.
1. Update Your Contact Info & Holiday Hours
Before everyone gets swept into the holiday rush, make sure the basics on your site are accurate:
- Holiday or special hours
- Phone number
- Contact email
- Forms or booking availability
- Menu or service updates
A small detail, but worth noting: consistency really does matter more than you’d think. Clear, matching information helps customers trust they’re getting the right details — especially during the chaotic holiday season.
2. Refresh Your Homepage Banner
Your homepage is the first thing people see — and a tiny refresh goes a long way. Even swapping in a new photo, an updated headline, or a seasonal banner shows visitors that your business is active and paying attention.
Bonus (if you have a minute):
Add a short, warm holiday message. Something simple like:
“Wishing you a joyful holiday season! Thank you for supporting our business this year.”
It adds a human touch without requiring extra design work.
3. Give Your Website a Quick Speed Check
Holiday traffic can make slow sites feel even slower. A quick check keeps your site running smoothly:
- Compress large images
- Remove plugins you aren’t using
- Clear out unnecessary files
- Make sure nothing is weighing down your homepage
If you want to explore the “why” behind page speed, check out this article where we cover Why Fast Website Load Times Matter. → https://starkcreate.com/articles/why-fast-website-load-times-matter-for-user-experience-and-seo/
4. Update Your Services, Products, or Portfolio
The end of the year is the perfect time to ensure your website accurately reflects what you currently offer.
Consider updating:
- New services you started offering
- Recent projects you’re proud of
- Fresh photos or testimonials
- Any pages that no longer match what you do
It helps keep your online presence accurate, polished, and aligned with where your business is today.
5. Give Your Navigation a Little Declutter
Think of this as tidying up before guests arrive. Clean, simple navigation makes your site easier to use, and have quicker loading time.
Look for:
- Pages you no longer need
- Broken or outdated links
- Redundant menu items
- Sections that could be simplified
Small changes here can make the whole site feel smoother.
6. Check That Everything Looks Good on Mobile
Most holiday browsing happens on phones. Take a moment to preview your site on mobile and look for:
- Tiny or hard-to-read text
- Buttons that are tough to tap
- Images that look too big or too small
- Layouts that feel cramped
7. Prep for a Smooth Start to the Upcoming Year
Before you officially check out for the holidays, set yourself up to glide into January with confidence. You don’t have to do anything major, just a few small steps:
- Make sure your homepage still matches your goals for the upcoming year
- Double-check that your contact forms and buttons still work
- Pick one simple update or announcement you want to share in January
- Take a quick peek at your analytics to confirm everything’s tracking
- Make sure your main CTA still makes sense moving forward
Nothing overwhelming, just the basics to help you start strong.
Our Final Thoughts
Your website doesn’t need a full holiday makeover, just a thoughtful tune-up. These small updates help you show up polished, prepared, and connected during one of the busiest seasons of the year. And if you want support refreshing your website for the holidays or setting things up for a strong start in the new year, the Stark Create team is ready to help!
