The key takeaway - As 2026 approaches, French businesses with a website would benefit from conducting a comprehensive audit of their online presence, covering performance, security, SEO, and user experience, in order to start the new year with a fully operational and competitive digital tool.
The end of the year is approaching, and with it, the perfect time to take stock of your online presence. Your website often represents the first contact between you and your future customers. It's worth making sure it's in top shape to welcome 2026.
We've compiled the 7 essential points to check before turning the page. A concrete checklist, without unnecessary jargon, to start the year on the right foot.
1. Your site's performance: the key to success
A slow site means a lost visitor. Studies show that beyond 3 seconds of loading time, more than 50% of users abandon. Google also penalizes poorly performing sites in its search results.
Test your site with free tools like PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix. If your score drops below 70, it's time to act. Unoptimized images, heavy scripts, and inadequate hosting are often the culprits. Performance optimization can radically transform your visitors' experience.
2. Mobile display: a requirement, not an option
In 2024, more than 60% of web traffic comes from smartphones. If your site displays poorly on mobile - text too small, impossible-to-click buttons, dysfunctional menus - you're losing the majority of your potential audience.
Take your phone and navigate your own site. Is the experience smooth? Can you fill out a form without difficulty? Is essential information accessible within seconds? Be critical: your visitors will be.
3. Security: SSL certificate and updates
The green padlock in the address bar is no longer a luxury, it's a prerequisite. Without an SSL certificate, browsers display security alerts that instantly drive away your visitors. Verify that your certificate is valid and doesn't expire in the coming weeks.
Beyond SSL, security updates are crucial. An outdated CMS or extensions represent vulnerabilities exploitable by hackers. Regular website maintenance is not a superfluous expense - it's insurance against unpleasant surprises.
4. Natural referencing: your SEO foundations
Your site may be beautiful, but if no one finds it on Google, its impact remains limited. A few quick checks are in order:
- Does each page have a unique title and relevant meta-description?
- Do your images have descriptive alt attributes?
- Does your content answer the questions your potential customers are asking?
- Is your site generating 404 errors on old pages?
A basic SEO audit can reveal significant improvement opportunities without major investment.
5. Up-to-date information: legal notices and contact details
Nothing looks more amateur than a copyright displaying "2022" or outdated opening hours. Review all your practical information:
- Correct address and phone number
- Updated opening hours
- Legal notices compliant with current legislation
- Up-to-date privacy policy (especially regarding cookies)
These details may seem trivial, but they directly affect the trust you inspire in your visitors.
6. Forms and features: everything must work
When did you last test your contact form? Are requests actually arriving in your mailbox? Does the booking button work correctly?
We regularly see sites where the contact form has been broken for months - and the owner only realizes it when noticing the absence of inquiries. Test every interactive feature: forms, share buttons, social media integration, booking systems.
7. Statistics: knowledge for better decisions
If you haven't configured an analytics tool, you're navigating blind. Google Analytics (or a privacy-friendly alternative like Plausible) tells you:
- How many visitors view your site
- Which pages attract the most attention
- Where your visitors come from
- What devices they're using
This data is valuable for guiding your decisions in 2026. Take the time to configure it properly before the new year.
Take action before December 31st
This checklist is nothing revolutionary, but it covers the essentials. Dedicate an hour or two to these checks - it's a minimal investment for real impact on your business.
If some points exceed your technical skills, don't panic. We regularly support professionals in maintaining their website and improving its performance. The important thing is to identify problems now, to solve them at the right time.
Your website deserves to enter 2026 in top form. It's your move.