What to Refresh Before the New Year
The start of a new year is the perfect time to take stock of your brand’s online presence. Whether you’re a small business, nonprofit, or personal brand, chances are your website and social channels could use a little post-holiday cleanup and a fresh start for 2026.
Here’s your step-by-step checklist to ensure your website, social media, and Google Business Profile are polished, professional, and ready to support your goals in the new year. Feeling overwhelmed or not sure where to start? Let our team at Impact Group Marketing handle it for you so you can focus on what you do best.
Website: Your 24/7 Salesperson
Your website should be working for you, not against you. Take a few minutes to walk through it like a first-time visitor and check off the basics:
Test All Links
Click through every button, menu item, and CTA to make sure nothing is broken, especially contact forms, shop links, and social icons.
Update Time-Sensitive Info
Check your homepage, footer, blogs, and banners for:
- Old holiday promos
- Outdated event info
- Year references (change “2025” to “2026”!)
Review Contact Info
Make sure your phone number, email, and address are still accurate and test your contact form. Bonus: add an autoresponder so inquiries don’t feel ignored.
Add Recent Photos or Testimonials
Keep your site looking current with updated images or reviews from the past year. These little changes go a long way in building trust.
Refresh Your SEO
Revisit your page titles, meta descriptions, and blog content to ensure you're still ranking for the right keywords. Google favors fresh, relevant content.
Social Media Profiles: Your Brand's First Impression
Even if you post regularly, when’s the last time you looked at your bio or pinned posts? A few quick updates can make your brand feel more aligned and intentional.
Update Your Bio
Make sure your description reflects your current services, mission, or offers, and add relevant keywords for discoverability.
Refresh Your Profile Picture & Cover Image
Is your profile photo pixelated? Outdated? Celebrate the new year with a fresh, branded image.
Revisit Pinned Posts
Swap out any expired promos or older announcements with something fresh, like a top-performing reel, updated FAQ, or new service launch.
Audit Your Highlights or Featured Stories
If you're on Instagram or Facebook, clean up your Story Highlights, update the graphics, remove old content, and add new categories if needed.
Check Your Links
If you use a link-in-bio tool (like Linktree or Later), make sure all buttons work and point to your current campaigns or offers.
Google Business Profile (GBP): Your Local SEO Hero
GBP is one of the most important tools for local visibility. Make sure yours is accurate and active heading into 2026.
Update Hours of Operation
If your business has new hours for the new year (or any holiday closures), update them on GBP and your website.
Add New Photos
Freshen up your listing with recent photos of your space, team, products, or services. Listings with updated photos get more clicks!
Double-Check Categories & Contact Info
Make sure your business category and phone number are correct, especially if anything changed in 2025.
Respond to Reviews
Start the new year with a clean slate by replying to all outstanding Google reviews, good or bad. Engagement helps your ranking!
Bonus: Don’t Forget Other Platforms
If you're using additional platforms or ad channels like:
- TikTok
- YouTube
- Pinterest
- Reddit Ads
- LinkedIn Company Pages
Do a quick scan to ensure your bios, links, branding, and ad targeting are still relevant. Old info or expired promos can hurt credibility and conversions.
Ready to Start 2026 Strong?
A few small updates now can save you a lot of missed opportunities later. If you need help refreshing your website, optimizing your social media, or planning your 2026 strategy, Impact Group Marketing is here to help.
Let’s make 2026 your most impactful year yet. Call today!