If your website has started to feel outdated or just a little “off,” it might be time for a website refresh. Whether you’re noticing your images no longer reflect your best work, your copy doesn’t speak to your dream clients, or your site is just overdue for some TLC — you’re not alone. A website refresh doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. In fact, small intentional updates can go a long way in making your site more strategic, beautiful, and aligned with the kind of clients you want to attract.

This checklist was originally created for my own clients — wedding pros, event creatives, and service-based business owners — and now I’m sharing it with you. These are the same steps I recommend whether you’re in the middle of a total redesign with a designer or simply carving out a few hours between bookings. Ready to elevate your online presence? Start here.

🎧 You can also listen to this post in podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or right here:

Why a Website Refresh Matters More Than You Think

Your website isn’t just a digital business card — it’s your first impression, your silent salesperson, and your hardest-working brand asset. For creative entrepreneurs and wedding pros, it often determines whether someone hits “inquire” or clicks away.

If you haven’t updated your website in a while, chances are it no longer reflects your best work, your dream client, or your pricing. A website refresh helps realign your site with where you are now — and where you’re going. It’s less about a full redesign and more about refinement. You’re polishing what’s already there so it performs better, feels more aligned, and gets results.

Before You Dive In: Look at Your Website Like a Client Would

Before you even start editing, take a step back and review your site like your ideal client. Ask yourself:

• Can they clearly tell what I offer and who it’s for?
• Is my value obvious within the first few seconds?
• Does my site feel easy to navigate and inviting to explore?

Sometimes the biggest “aha” moments come before you even open your design software. Try scrolling your site on mobile and desktop with fresh eyes — or ask a trusted peer to do the same.

1. Refresh Your Images

I wrote a blog post all about how to choose quality, strategic images during your website refresh. This is the same resource I give to my clients to help them feature only their best work. Take a look here.

When choosing images, don’t just think about what’s new — think about what’s aligned. The work you show should reflect the clients you want to attract. That might mean replacing older galleries with more refined, editorial, or modern events. Or choosing photos that speak to inclusivity, diversity, and the values your brand holds.

Bonus reminder: Every image on your site is a chance to boost your SEO and accessibility. Add alt text, rename your file names, and make sure your images are compressed for quick load times (but not so much that they lose clarity).

2. Read through your copywriting in the mind of your ideal client.

Copywriting, also known as the text on your website, should be written with your ideal clients’ needs prioritized first. One quick tip to check if your website is geared towards your ideal client is to read through your copy and count how often you use “I” and how often you use “you.” When you talk about what you do for your clients, try to phrase your copy in a way that puts the focus on them — their goals, their transformation, and their experience.

This is also a great time to naturally incorporate keywords that align with your services and location (like “Austin wedding planner” or “destination floral design”). Just be sure to integrate them smoothly, not stuffed awkwardly into your text.

3. Add more Call to Actions, or refresh the ones you have.

A Call to Action (CTA) is basically what it sounds like — a spot on your website where you invite visitors to take action. This could mean leading them to your contact form, encouraging them to make a purchase, or giving them more information by linking to your services, a freebie, or a blog post.

Use your website refresh as an opportunity to improve the flow of each page. Ask yourself: are visitors being guided where to go next? Could you add 1–2 extra buttons per page that help them take the next step?

Try to include one CTA per screen scroll, especially on desktop. Vary them throughout your site so you’re not saying “Contact me” over and over — mix in CTAs to read more, explore your gallery, or download something helpful.

4. If you’ve redone your branding before your website refresh, update your logo and brand colors on the site.

Here’s the hard truth that not everyone wants to hear: if your branding doesn’t work, then your website refresh won’t give you as much of a return on investment. Branding is one of the most foundational pieces of a strong website, so if you’ve gone through a rebrand, make sure your fonts, colors, and logo are consistently updated across all pages.

Try to stick to:

• 2–3 font selections max
• 6–8 core brand colors used with consistency

When applied thoughtfully, these elements bring polish, elevate your credibility, and make your site feel cohesive and professional.

Want to refresh your colors yourself? Download my free brand colors guide.

5. Think through your packaging and pricing, and update as needed.

Use your website refresh time to re-evaluate your services. Are your packages clearly laid out? Is your pricing still accurate (or overdue for a raise)? Does each offering make sense in the order it’s presented?

This is a great moment to align your pricing with your ideal client and current market. Even if you’re not doing a full overhaul, take this chance to make sure your offers and pricing feel fresh, strategic, and in tune with your goals for the year ahead.

6. Run your website through a broken link checker.

Broken links in your buttons or navigation can quietly hurt your SEO and user experience. Run your site through a free online tool like BrokenLinkCheck.com, and fix anything that’s no longer active.

Common culprits include links to older blog posts, external vendor pages that have been rebranded, or even buttons that were created but never given a URL. Cleaning these up is a fast and easy win.

7. Connect your website to Google Analytics if you haven’t already.

If you’re not tracking your website traffic yet, now’s the time. Google Analytics gives you insight into who’s visiting your site, how they found you, and which pages they’re exploring most. This data helps guide your marketing, blog content, and more.

Important note: If you were using Universal Analytics (UA), it’s no longer supported as of July 2023. Be sure to switch to GA4 (Google Analytics 4) and install the new G-code on your site to keep your data flowing.

Wedding professional SEO expert and one of my business friends, Sara Dunn, put together a helpful blog to show you how to update to the G4 version of Google Analytics.

8. Give a website refresh to your mobile version.

It’s easy to forget how many people visit your site on mobile — and how different that experience can be. During your website refresh, make time to check your entire site on your phone.

• Are your images scaling correctly?
• Can users tap buttons and fill out forms easily?
• Does the site load quickly and feel intuitive?

If your platform doesn’t provide strong mobile functionality, consider if a future redesign might include a platform switch.

9. Consider adding new pages to your website and optimize those for SEO.

Once your core pages are dialed in, you can take things a step further by building out “hidden” or secondary pages that improve SEO and support your services.

Some ideas to add:

• A detailed page for each package or service you offer
• A client experience page that explains your process
• A resources or media page with freebies, podcast links, or guest features

These pages don’t have to be linked in your top navigation — they just need to exist on your site for Google to find and rank them. Over time, they’ll help bring in more qualified leads and show off more of your brand’s depth.

10. Brainstorm blog topics for the next 1-2 quarters.

You can never really blog too much — but you can make it easier on yourself by planning ahead. Keep a running list of blog ideas that speak to your ideal client’s biggest questions and needs. Think: what are people asking during sales calls, or what do they wish they knew before hiring you?

Batch content when you can and schedule it out over the coming months. This keeps your website active in the eyes of search engines and positions you as a helpful, trustworthy expert.

Bonus tip: If you’re using WordPress or Showit, install Yoast SEO to help optimize every post with keywords and meta descriptions that improve your rankings.

Need a Second Set of Eyes? Consult with a Designer

Redesigning a website can be overwhelming — even for designers. If you’re feeling stuck, don’t hesitate to get support. Whether it’s with me or another designer, many of us offer services at different price points to meet you where you are.

If you’re looking for a low-budget way to get personalized guidance, a website audit could be a great fit. I offer $300 audits that include a dedicated 1-hour call (recorded for your reference) where we walk through your site together. You’ll leave with clear, actionable steps to move forward.

👉 Contact me to book your website audit — I’d love to support you through your refresh!

After You Hit “Publish”: Don’t Forget These Final Touches

Once your site is refreshed and live, don’t forget to:

• Test your contact form on desktop and mobile
• Announce your refresh on Instagram, email, or your blog
• Monitor your traffic via Google Analytics
• Keep a running list of future tweaks for your next CEO day

Refreshing your website isn’t a one-time task — it’s a living part of your business. Make a plan to revisit your site every quarter or after every major business shift, so it always reflects the most aligned and elevated version of your brand.

Want a Printable Version? Download the Elevated Website Checklist!

This checklist is also available in a free, easy-to-follow format that you can use as you update your site:
👉 Download the Elevated Website Checklist

🎧 Prefer to listen on the go? Catch the full episode of Engage Your Brand on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or right here: