Get your website ready for 2026 with a Festive Season Tune-Up

Grab a cuppa – this is a 5-minute read

For a lot of regional business owners, the festive break is the first real chance all year to put the tools down, lock the door, and breathe.

And you absolutely should do that. But here’s the thing many people don’t realise – your online presence doesn’t have to go on holidays just because you do.

In fact, the quiet days between Christmas and New Year are a perfect opportunity to set your website and social media up to work a little harder for you in the year ahead, without you being glued to a desk.

Here are a few simple, low-stress things you can do over the festive break that can make a real difference.

First up, give your website a quick health check. You don’t need to rebuild it or dive into anything technical. Just look at it like a customer would. Does it clearly say what you do, where you are, and how to contact you? Is your phone number easy to find on a mobile? Are your opening hours up to date, especially if they change over the holidays? A surprising number of sites still show old hours or outdated messages, and that’s an easy win to fix.

While you’re there, read a few pages as if you’ve never seen the site before. If something feels confusing or outdated to you, it probably does to your customers too. Make a short list of things you might want to improve in the new year. You don’t have to act on it immediately – just getting it out of your head and onto paper is valuable.

Next, think about your Google Business Profile. This is huge for regional businesses. If someone in town searches for what you offer, this is often the first thing they see. Over the break, you can update holiday hours, add a short post saying when you reopen, or upload a couple of recent photos. Even a quick “Thanks for a great year, see you in January” post helps show that your business is active and cared for.

Social media is another area where a little planning goes a long way. You don’t need to post every day. One or two scheduled posts over a week is plenty. It could be a friendly end-of-year message, a behind-the-scenes photo, or a reminder of what you offer can keep you visible without being salesy. Most platforms let you schedule posts in advance, so you can set it and forget it.

This is also a great time to think about your local customers. People often assume that being in regional QLD means competing with bigger centres like Townsville is a lost cause. It’s not. Your online presence can remind locals that they don’t have to travel for everything. A simple post or website update that highlights convenience, local knowledge, or personalised service can be very powerful.

Another easy win is collecting ideas. Over the year, you’ve probably had customers ask the same questions again and again. Write them down. These make perfect website content or social posts later on. A simple FAQ page or a few short blog posts answering common questions can save you time and build trust at the same time.

Whether you sell products or take bookings online, check that everything is still working smoothly. Test a contact form. Make sure links go where they should. Little issues often go unnoticed during busy periods, and the break is a calmer time to spot them.

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of planning. You don’t need a full marketing strategy. Just think about what you’d like more of next year – more enquiries, more local customers, more online sales. Your website and social media should support that goal, not just exist because “you’re supposed to have them”.

The festive break isn’t about working harder. It’s about setting things up so your online presence quietly does some of the work for you while you enjoy a well-earned rest. And when you reopen in the new year, you’ll be glad you did.