New year, new website! Well, kind of. Even if you don’t plan on rebranding or totally revamping your website this year, it’s still important to refresh it every few months. What better time to do this than the start of the new year?

Updating your website is important for two reasons:

1. It keeps it fresh (so you’re not sharing information that might be outdated).
2. It helps your SEO.

Here’s a checklist of the top 3 things you should be updating on your website in 2024. Ready? Let’s go!

2024 SEO Checklist

1. Replace website images and optimize them

Go through your website, and replace any outdated images. Here are a few places you should be looking:

• Your home page hero image or slider
• Your about page (Outdated headshots? No thanks!)
• Your products or services page (Remove any seasonal images and replace it with evergreen images)
• Your contact page

As you’re replacing these images, you’ll want to ensure that the new images are optimized correctly. What I mean by “optimized” is you want to ensure they are 1) sized correctly, and 2) they have the appropriate alt text.

I have a whole blog post on optimizing images for your website, which you can read here.

2. Post to your Google Business Profile

* Quick note: Google Business Profile is the new name for Google My Business. If you ever hear them used interchangeably, they’re the same thing ☺️

Google Business Profile posts are a great way to connect with your audience quickly. If someone finds your website via a Google search, these Business Profile posts are going to be the first thing they see. 

I recommend creating a post content schedule, just like you would on Instagram. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated – just keep your posts short and sweet. Here are some ideas of what you can post:

• Product updates and launches
• Seasonal specials
• Special hours or closing times (for local businesses)
• Virtual and/or in-person events

And, if you don’t have a Google Business Profile already…create one! It’s totally free, and it helps your website show up on Google.

3. Review and update old blog posts and pages

Finally, the last thing you should do is audit your website for outdated content. For example, if you wrote a blog post titled, “Best SEO Tips for 2023” or “2023 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide,” you’ll want to update these to say 2024. 

Make sure you keep the URL/permalink the same, as changing it will negatively affect your SEO. I recommend adding a line at the top of the blog post that says “Updated on [date],” so readers know they’re looking at the most up-to-date information.

Here is an example of a blog post that I update every year.

As for your website pages, scroll through them and review the copy. It’s likely that some of the messaging is outdated or no longer relevant, so be sure to make a list and update your website pages accordingly.

Wrapping it up

At the very least, I recommend reviewing and updating your website at least once a year. If you can, do it once a quarter. Your website is your storefront on the internet, and it’s important that you keep it in tip-top shape.

Think of it like spring cleaning. If you owned a storefront, you wouldn’t let the windows and floors get all dusty, right? The same concept applies to your website 😉 I hope you enjoyed my 2024 SEO checklist!

Need new photos for your website?

Luckily, I’ve got you covered! You can download five free marketing images:

Save to Pinterest