As the new year approaches, it’s the perfect time to reflect, refresh, and get your brand ready for what’s ahead. From web maintenance to planning your promotions, a little preparation now can set you up for success all year long. Here’s a checklist to help your brand start the new year strong.

Website Maintenance

Your website is often the first place customers will go to learn about your brand, so it’s crucial that it’s updated and running smoothly. Start the year by conducting a thorough review:

• Update your copyright date to reflect the new year.

• Ensure all plugins and software are up to date.

• Review your site for broken links or outdated information.

Review and Leverage Last Year’s Analytics

Before jumping into the new year, take some time to review your website and social media analytics from the past year:

• Which pages got the most traffic?

• What type of content performed best?

• How did visitors find your site? Use this data to refine your strategy. Identify what worked well and what needs improvement so you can focus on high-impact activities that will grow your brand.

Set New Goals

What do you want to achieve this year? Whether it’s increasing traffic to your site, improving conversion rates, or launching a new product line, setting specific, measurable goals will help you stay on track throughout the year. Break your goals down into smaller, actionable steps, and revisit them quarterly to ensure you’re making progress.

Content Planning

A strong content strategy is key to building relationships with your audience. Use the start of the year to plan ahead:

• Outline relevant blog post topics, newsletters, and social media content for the coming months.

• Focus on seasonal trends, product launches, and any major events coming up.

• Consider updating old content with fresh insights or new SEO strategies. Planning ahead allows you to stay consistent, save time, and ensure your messaging is aligned with your business goals.

Plan Your Sales and Promotions

The New Year is a great time to map out your promotional calendar for the year. Decide on your big sales events and create a schedule for each:

• Consider seasonal sales (spring cleaning, back-to-school, holiday sales).

• Plan around key holidays or industry-specific events.

• Outline your promotional strategies and create assets (email campaigns, social posts, etc.) in advance to avoid last-minute scrambling. Being proactive about your sales and promotions will make it easier to execute a smooth marketing campaign when the time comes.

Review Privacy Policy and Legal Documents

If your business handles customer data, it’s important to regularly review your privacy policy and other legal documents. Regulations change, and keeping your policies updated ensures compliance and protects your brand’s reputation. If you’ve made changes to how you collect or store data, now’s the time to update these documents and notify your customers.

Refresh Your Branding

A new year can be the perfect time to give your brand a little refresh. Maybe it’s time to tweak your logo, update your color scheme, or roll out new messaging that reflects your current mission. Even small updates can breathe new life into your brand and attract fresh attention.

At Evergreen&Ink, we’re here to help you prep for the new year with website management, content planning, and branding strategies that work. Reach out to us today, and let’s make this your brand’s best year yet!