9 Website Updates YOU Should Make (WIth Checklist)

Web Design

May 5

Your website is often the first impression of your business. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, service provider, or small business owner, your site should work like a 24/7 sales assistant: current, responsive, and effective.

Without regular updates, many websites quietly fall behind the times. Outdated info, broken links, and slow performance don’t just look unprofessional—they can actively drive customers away.

To help you stay ahead, here are 9 essential website updates every business owner should make right now—and every year. Scroll to the bottom for a helpful checklist.

1. Check Your Mobile Optimization

Over 60% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re likely losing visitors before they even scroll. Here are 10 reasons why mobile optimization matters.

Ask yourself:

Is your text legible without pinching or zooming?
Do buttons have enough space for tapping?
Are images and layouts responsive?

Use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to get a quick snapshot of how your site performs. A poorly optimized mobile experience can hurt your SEO and frustrate potential clients—two things you don’t want.

2. Update Your Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

Online privacy regulations are changing fast. If you haven’t reviewed your Privacy Policy or Terms & Conditions in the past year, it’s time.

Depending on your location (or your visitors’), you may need to comply with GDPR, CCPA, or other privacy laws. These policies aren’t just legal checkboxes—they also help build trust with site visitors.

Pro tip:
I personally use free services like Privacy Policy Online to generate compliant policies but they need to be updated each year in case any laws have changed.

3. Verify Contact Information Everywhere

Double-check that your email, phone number, address, and contact forms are all accurate and working properly.

This seems obvious, but businesses often forget to update this info when they move locations, switch CRMs, or change team members.

Also, test your contact forms—especially if you’ve updated any plugins or integrations recently. And make sure your thank-you page or confirmation message still reflects your brand tone and next steps.

4. Test All Links and Buttons

A single broken link can signal to visitors (and Google) that your site is neglected.

Do an annual audit of all:

Internal links (blog posts, navigation menus)
External links (to vendors, resources, social media)
Buttons and CTAs

Free tools like Broken Link Checker or Screaming Frog can make this process painless. Fixing or removing broken links helps your SEO and ensures a smoother user experience.

5. Refresh Homepage Content

Your homepage is prime real estate. If it’s stale, visitors may assume your business is, too.

Look for opportunities to:

Refresh hero section copy or imagery
Feature new testimonials, case studies, or services
Promote upcoming events, offers, or blog content

Aim for clarity, personality, and relevance. A fresh homepage signals that your business is active and in demand.

6. Review Site Speed and Hosting Performance

Website speed directly impacts bounce rate and conversion. Visitors won’t wait for a slow site—especially on mobile.

Use Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to identify performance bottlenecks like:

Large image files - this is the #1 offender
Bloated plugins
Outdated scripts

If your site still drags after basic cleanup, consider switching to a faster hosting provider or using a content delivery network (CDN).

7. Revisit Your SEO Fundamentals

SEO isn’t a one-time task—it’s an ongoing process. Each year, take a fresh look at:

Your keyword strategy
Meta titles and descriptions
Alt text for images
Structured data (especially for services or local businesses)

Also, re-optimize your top-performing blog posts or landing pages. Updating them with fresh statistics, FAQs, or visuals can breathe new life into your rankings.

8. Update the Copyright Year and Footer Info

While you’re at it, check for:

Outdated credentials or certifications
Retired team member names
Old logos or partner badges

These little elements add up to a big impression.

9. Add Fresh Content or Announcements

Even if you’re not blogging weekly, try to publish at least a few updates a year—whether that’s:

New blog posts
Company announcements
Event recaps or upcoming launches
Free resources or downloads

Fresh content signals to both Google and your audience that your site is active and valuable.

If content creation isn’t your thing, consider outsourcing blog writing, utilizing AI, or repurposing your social media posts into short articles.

Final Thoughts

Think of your website like a garden—it needs regular tending to stay healthy, appealing, and functional. An outdated or neglected site doesn’t just look bad; it can cost you leads, sales, and credibility.

With just a few focused updates each year, you can keep your site in top shape and ensure it continues working for your business, not against it.

DOWNLOAD THE CHECKLIST

Here’s a helpful website audit checklist that you can download and print to use every year as you make these updates to your site.

Need a Website Audit or Refresh?

If your website feels outdated or underperforming, I can help. As a professional website designer, I specialize in making sure business websites look modern, function beautifully, and actually convert.

Let’s make sure your website is ready to support your goals this year.

Schedule an audit for only $99

Website Design

Staci Bishop