Local BusinessYear-End Website Checklist for Western NC Businesses
Thirty checks to run before January, grouped so you can split them between you and your web person. Most take five minutes. A few can save your website.
By David Golubev, founder of Local Business ConsultingUpdated November 202610 min read
Photo: Unsplash contributor on Unsplash
- Start with access and renewals. An expired domain or a lost login causes the worst problems.
- Then fix what costs you leads: forms, phone links, Google hours and outdated information.
- Finish by setting a simple plan for January to March, one focus a month.
The end of the year is the best time to look at your website with fresh eyes. Things are a little quieter, you are already planning next year, and anything you fix now works for you in January when people start searching again.
For many businesses in our region, the past two years also brought a lot of change: new hours, new locations, services added or dropped. Your website and Google listing may not have caught up. This checklist is the one I use with clients. Work through it in an afternoon, or download the printable version.
1. Access, ownership and renewals
- Write down who has the login for your domain registrar, hosting, website admin, Google Business Profile, Google Analytics and Search Console
- Make sure the domain is registered to you or your business, not a former web designer or employee
- Check the domain renewal date and turn on auto-renew
- Check the hosting renewal date and the card on file
- Remove admin accounts for people who no longer work with you
- Turn on two-factor sign-in for every admin account
Not sure who owns what? Start with my domain, hosting and access checklist.
2. Security, speed and backups
- Confirm automatic backups are running and stored somewhere other than your server
- Restore one backup to a test copy, or ask your host to confirm it works
- Update WordPress, your theme and plugins, and delete plugins you do not use
- Check the SSL certificate is valid and the site loads on https everywhere
- Test the homepage and one service page on a phone over mobile data
3. Forms, calls and email
- Submit every form on the site and confirm it arrives in the inbox, not spam
- Tap every phone number on a phone and confirm it dials
- Check that booking links and calendars still work
- Confirm form entries are also saved on the website as a backup
If form emails are missing or landing in spam, read why your website's emails go missing, and how to fix it.
4. Content that is out of date
- Update services, prices and packages that changed this year
- Remove expired promotions, past events and old holiday notices
- Check team photos and bios, and remove people who have left
- Make sure the footer shows the current year, ideally automatically
- Read your homepage out loud: does it still describe what you do now?
5. Google and local listings
- Add special hours for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's in your Google Business Profile
- Check your address, phone, website link and service area are correct
- Reply to every review from the past year
- Add new photos of your team, work and location
- Check Apple Maps, Bing Places, Yelp and Facebook show the same information
Moved this year? Follow my guide to updating your Google Business Profile after a move.
6. Tracking and results
- Open Google Search Console and check for indexing errors
- Check that Google Analytics is still collecting data
- Note this year's calls, form leads and top pages so you have a baseline
- Pick one or two goals for next year, such as 20% more form leads
7. Plan January to March
Do not try to fix everything at once. Give each month one focus and you will get more done than with a 40-item wish list.
For a longer-term view, see building a digital growth roadmap and my website maintenance plan guide.
All 30 checks on two pages, with space for notes and owners. Print it or share it with your team.
Frequently asked questions
When should I do a year-end website review?
Early to mid December works well for most businesses, before the holiday rush slows decisions down. It gives you time to fix anything urgent and plan January before the new year starts.
What is the most important thing to check before the end of the year?
Your domain and hosting renewal dates and who controls those accounts. An expired domain takes your website and email down together, and it is the one problem that can be hard to undo.
Do I need to update the copyright year on my website?
It is a small thing, but an old year in the footer makes a site look abandoned. Most themes can show the current year automatically so you never have to change it again.
How do I set holiday hours on Google?
In your Google Business Profile, open Edit profile, then Hours, and add special hours for each holiday. Google shows them only on those dates, so your regular hours stay the same the rest of the year.
How much should a small business plan to spend on its website next year?
It depends on the site, but budget for the basics first: domain, hosting, a maintenance plan with backups and updates, and time to refresh content. A site that is maintained and updated usually outperforms a new design that is left alone.
Founder of Local Business Consulting, a marketing consultancy in the Asheville area working with owner-led businesses across Western North Carolina, the US and Canada. Consulting since 2018.
Want a second pair of eyes before January?
Book a free 30-minute year-end review. We will go through your website, Google profile and forms and give you a short, prioritized list for the new year.