Website Updates to Make in the New Year: A Simple Checklist
There’s something about the new year that makes everything feel possible again.
Not because the calendar magically resets your life — it doesn’t.
If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten.
But when you set fresh SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound) goals, build better habits, take strategic risks, and choose courage one day at a time… yeah, you can absolutely go places. And if you’re a creative business owner — designer, photographer, coach, shop owner, maker — I can speak your language! Whatever sphere you find yourself in, let’s build something that can actually bring goodness and flourishing into the world.
That matters.
As a family, we’re building three businesses at the same time (while strategically prioritizing some over others):
Story Reimagined — my web design + business growth studio
Above The Shoulders — my husband’s baseball coaching business
The Boca Raton Front Porch — our new front porch styling service here in Palm Beach County
And I’ll be sharing more of that journey here on the blog — the why behind doing this, what’s working, what isn’t, and how we’re building.
We’re moving with intentionality, excellence, and godly ambition — to serve people well and steward the gifts we’ve been given by God. And one thing I’m constantly reminded of:
👉 If your business is growing… your website has to keep up.
👉 And if your business isn’t growing… your website may be part of the problem.
Your Squarespace website is often the first “meeting” someone has with you — before a DM, email, or discovery call. So the new year is the perfect time for a focused digital clean-up. Not a full rebrand. Not a three-month overhaul. Just smart, simple website updates for the new year that move your business forward.
Below are five high-impact updates you can make as part of your new year business planning — especially if you’re considering a Squarespace website refresh.
1️⃣ Refresh Your Homepage Copy + Visuals
Your homepage should feel like a strong, confident “hello” — not an outdated résumé.
Ask yourself (honestly):
Are you still leading with an offer you don’t even want to sell anymore?
Do your prices, packages, and messaging actually align with where you’re headed?
Are you speaking to the right audience — the people you actually want to serve?
Do your photos still reflect your brand… or are they three seasons old?
Does your hero text clearly say what you do and who you serve — in under 3 seconds?
If someone lands on your site and feels confused, overwhelmed, or unsure… they leave. Fast.
If you’ve launched something new — a digital product, group program, seasonal offer, template, or updated coaching package — put it front-and-center. Rewrite your headlines with clarity. Replace outdated images. Clean up clutter.
Think of your website like a storefront window. What do you want people to notice first?
And remember — clarity is kind. Confusing people isn’t.
2️⃣ Check Every Link + Form (Yes… Every Single One)
This isn’t glamorous. But it’s powerful.
Over time…
Platforms change
Email integrations break
Lead magnets get replaced
Contact forms stop routing correctly
So click through everything:
✔️ Contact forms
✔️ Newsletter sign-ups
✔️ Lead magnet downloads
✔️ Buttons on your homepage + footer
✔️ Anything that says “Book Now,” “Apply,” or “Learn More”
Submit your own forms. Make sure you receive the confirmation email. Double-check automations.
Because here’s the hard truth: Missed opportunities often hide in broken workflows.
And if you need entirely new systems to serve people better? Build them now. Ask friends, colleagues, or beta clients to test and give feedback. Excellence honors God and serves people — sloppiness and idleness don’t.
3️⃣ Update Your Services or Products
Your website should support the direction you’re going — not compete with it.
So if your focus changed this year, make it translate to your website.
Remove offers you no longer want to fulfill.
Clarify your packages.
Update timelines, expectations, pricing, and processes.
Make these obvious:
What you do
Who it’s for
The transformation they can expect
The next step to work with you
If you sell products, refresh descriptions and highlight what’s actually selling — not just what feels sentimental.
Clarity creates confidence — in you and in your audience.
4️⃣ Review Your Mobile Experience
Most people will find you on their phone — probably while juggling kids, work, errands, or life. That’s reality.
So open your site on your phone and scroll like a real human.
Look for:
Text that’s tiny or crowded
Buttons that are hard to tap
Images that crop awkwardly
Weird spacing
Pop-ups blocking content
Slow-loading pages
If someone can’t navigate your site with one thumb… it’s time to tighten it up.
A clean mobile site builds trust — and trust leads to action.
5️⃣ Review Your SEO Basics
You don’t need to become an SEO expert — but the basics matter. Especially if you want people to actually find you when they search for things like:
Squarespace website refresh
website updates for new year
new year business planning
Squarespace designer
creative business website design
Audit your:
✔️ Page titles
✔️ Meta descriptions
✔️ Headings
✔️ Image alt text
✔️ Keywords
Ask: Does each page clearly say what it’s about — for both humans and search engines?
If not, rewrite. Small tweaks now = long-term discoverability later.
The Bottom Line: Small Updates = Big Impact
You don’t need a full rebrand to step into the next season with purpose. Sometimes a thoughtful website refresh is enough to realign your online presence with the ambition, clarity, and focus you’re bringing into this year.
When your website reflects your vision:
You show up with more confidence.
Your message gets sharper.
And the right people find you faster.
Build with excellence. Serve people well. Steward your gifts. And as for me and my household, do it all for the glory of God.
That’s the kind of ambition worth pursuing.
Ready for a Fresh Start?
If you want support, I’ve built tools and services designed to help:
🔹 Grab a Done-For-You Squarespace Template
Perfect if you want a beautiful, strategic site — without the overwhelm.
🔹 Book a 2-Week Template Customization Sprint
You bring the content — I turn it into a polished, high-converting website.
🔹 Join My Newsletter
I share behind-the-scenes of building multiple businesses, entrepreneurship, website strategy, and honest lessons I’m learning along the way.
Want a fresh start? Try a new template or book a 2-week template customization — let’s make 2026 your most strategic, intentional year yet.
