Ready, Set, Refresh: Your End-of-Year To-Do List
This is the final part of our End-of-Year Checklist Series. See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
This story was written using methods created or honed by Clarity Channels Communications.
The start of a New Year is a time for fresh beginnings—and that applies to your communications tools as well. Think of it as decluttering: clearing out the outdated, refreshing what works, and setting yourself up for success. A little time spent now reviewing and updating your materials can make a big difference in how smoothly projects run in the year ahead.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a checklist of essential areas to review and refresh.
Brand Guidelines
Did you work on any projects in the last year that required some discussions and decisions surrounding your brand? If so, now is a good time to ensure those decisions are enshrined within your brand guide.
Writing Style Guidelines
Do you have any new terminology or acronyms that should be added to your writing style guide? Did you make any decisions on language use that need to be captured?
Editorial Calendar
We’re a big fan of updating this at least once a month, but December is a great time to do a full-year sweep of your editorial plan. (If you’re just getting started with editorial planning, we’ve pulled together a guide for you)
Website Audit
Have you switched dates and deadlines to reflect the new year? Are bios correct? Events updated? News links added? Are old events archived? Do you have any broken links? Do you have to manually update the copyright in the footer? Updating your website is not only important from a customer/user experience standpoint, it will also potentially give you a nice SEO boost.
Social Media Pages
Are your “about/bio” sections updated? Are your community guidelines still relevant? How old is that pinned post – is it time for a fresh one?
Marketing Materials
Do your brochures and one-pagers contain current data and information? Do the URLs listed still work? Is the contact information still accurate?
Media Kits
Whether it’s posted on your website or provided on an ad-hoc basis, does your media kit need updated materials? Is the data included still accurate? Is the branding up to date?
Internal Process Documentation
Review any written processes you have such as onboarding procedures, approval processes, brand trainings, or workflow information. Are these documents still accurate, or have you made changes in the last year that need to be reflected?
By tackling these updates now, you’ll save time, reduce frustration, and keep your communications running like a well-oiled machine. Whether it’s refining your website, polishing your media kit, or freshening up your social media, these small steps will ensure you’re ready to put your best foot forward in the new year.