With the 2026 only weeks away, I want to share a few quick and easy (and company agnostic) diagnostic checks you can run for your website to make sure you web presence is well-positioned heading into 2026:
1. Make sure your website performs well in Google's PageSpeed Insights. Learn more here.
2. Make sure that your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is filled out as completely as possible and that your Google Business Profile information is filled out accurately (name, address and phone number). Find out how to check.
3. Make SURE you have a working backup of your website. If you don't, stop reading this right now and go make a backup or ask your web developer for a copy :). If they refuse to give you a copy, find a new web developer (seriously - if your web developer won't give you a copy of your website then you need to find someone else to work with).
4. Make sure that the forms on your website work (so you receive a notification when a request is submitted), and ideally that it redirects to a thank you page so you can track the number of requests.
5. Please make sure your website password (if you have one and especially if you are using WordPress) is complex, and that your username is NOT admin.
6. Make sure that your website's citations are consistent across the web (we use Bright Local for our clients).
7. Check that your website is indexed in Google and that the number of pages is "just right". Run a search that looks like this: "site:shorthillsdesign.com" but swap out our domain name for your own. If your website has 10 pages and you see 10,000 listed -- or 1 listed -- then you know something is wrong. If you do have a problem you can head over to Google Search Console to get more information.
8. Make sure you have access to Google Analytics (GA4). GA4 is a free tool from Google that measures website traffic and user interaction, and should be installed on every website. Here's how to get access.
If you have any questions about the above, feel free to get in touch!
