As we wrap up the year, small business owners across the Phoenix metro area are reviewing finances, prepping for the holidays, and planning their 2026 goals. But in the rush of year-end tasks, there’s one area that often gets ignored — your website. Even if it seems to be “working fine,” there are small but meaningful updates you can make right now to improve your site’s effectiveness, speed, and visibility heading into the new year.
Think of this as your annual website checkup. Just like your business, your website needs regular care to stay healthy. Whether you built it yourself, had someone else create it, or you haven’t touched it since last January, this guide walks you through 12 simple but powerful updates you can make before the year ends. And don’t worry — you don’t need to be tech-savvy to handle most of them.
1. Update your homepage message
Your homepage should reflect who you are today — not who you were at the start of 2025. Businesses evolve quickly, especially in Phoenix’s fast-paced small business landscape. Review your headline, subheader, photos, and main call-to-action. Do they still match your current offerings? Did you add services this year? Change your branding? If anything feels outdated, refresh it.
2. Test all your forms
Forms break more than most people realize. A plugin update, old code, or broken integration can silently stop your emails from arriving. Submit a test entry through every form on your site — contact forms, quote forms, newsletter opt-ins, booking requests, etc. Make sure they arrive in your inbox as expected. A broken form can mean missed leads, missed revenue, and poor first impressions.
3. Check for broken links
Broken links frustrate both users and Google. Free tools like BrokenLinkCheck.com or Dead Link Checker can scan your entire site in minutes. Fixing these issues improves credibility and helps keep your pages indexed properly.
4. Refresh your photos
Outdated photos can make your site feel stale. Swap in updated headshots, new office pictures, recent portfolio examples, or refreshed product shots. Even updating just one or two key photos — like your hero image or about-page portrait — can make your site feel instantly more modern and current.
5. Optimize your images for speed
Large, unoptimized photos are the fastest way to slow down your site. Tools like TinyPNG, Squoosh, or WordPress’ built-in compression can reduce file size dramatically without losing quality. Ideally, no individual image should be more than 300–400KB. Faster sites rank better, convert better, and keep customers from bouncing away.
6. Review and update your Google Business Profile
A well-maintained Google Business Profile is essential for local SEO in Phoenix. Update your hours, add fresh photos, review your categories, and write a new post. If you’re running a year-end offer or holiday closure, add that too. Your website and GBP work together to help customers find you.
7. Review your meta titles and descriptions
These are the first things customers see in Google search results. Make sure they are:
- Clear
- Accurate
- Keyword-rich
- Written in plain English
- Unique for each page
If you see duplicates or missing descriptions, fix them before the new year.
8. Improve your top-performing service page
Instead of trying to overhaul your entire site, pick one highly profitable service and strengthen its page. Add clearer explanations, more photos, testimonials, or FAQs. Google rewards pages that are thorough and helpful.
9. Check mobile friendliness
Most Phoenix customers browse on their phones. Visit your site on your own mobile device and test:
- Are buttons easy to tap?
- Is text readable without pinching/zooming?
- Does the menu work smoothly?
A poor mobile experience is one of the biggest reasons customers leave websites.
10. Publish one fresh blog post
Even one quality blog post can help Google see your site as active and relevant. End-of-year topics perform especially well:
- “Year-End Website Checklist”
- “2026 Small Business SEO Tips”
- “Local Phoenix Trends to Watch in 2026”
Fresh content helps establish expertise and authority.
11. Check your site speed
Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool can show you what’s slowing your site down. You don’t need a perfect score — focus on major issues like large images, unused plugins, or render-blocking scripts. A few improvements can make a big difference.
12. Back up your site
Before you update anything for the new year, make sure you have a complete backup. Many hosts offer daily backups, but double-check anyway. If not, install a plugin like UpdraftPlus.
Final Thoughts
Your website is one of your hardest-working employees — it promotes your business 24/7, represents your brand, and helps customers trust you. A simple year-end checkup ensures your site stays healthy, optimized, and ready to support your 2026 goals.
If any tasks on this list feel overwhelming (or you want someone to do this entire checkup for you), Sunflwr & Co. is here to help. We specialize in supporting Phoenix small businesses with intentional, affordable web design and SEO improvements — without the overwhelm. Reach out if you’re ready to get started!