As 2007 draws to an end, small business website owners should take a moment for a year end checkup. If you use a copyright year in the credits or footer of your website, update it in the first week of January to 2008. Having a date that is 2-3 years old is a sign your website lacks fresh content and remains stale. Better yet, leave off the year. You do not need the year to lay claim to your rights. Simply publishing content establishes domestic and international copyright.

Next, review your domain registration and hosting expiration dates. If your site is fairly new, consider renewing the registration for 5 years, or more. The length of your registration is public information available to visitors or search engines checking you out. Sites with multi-year registrations have more credibility because extended years show a commitment to be online for the long haul. Prepaying hosting for 12 to 24 months avoids being nicked small monthly amounts, and most hosting providers offer discounts for prepayment.

Finally, scrutinize your business model and see if the website content matches any changes to your business plan. If you lack content to fully present your product or services, it’s time to consider adding more. A blog is the perfect way to add original quality content often. If SEO, Search Engine Optimization, is part of your strategy you should consider an ongoing budget for small business website promotion. Maintaining an effective and competitive site requires an ongoing annual budget, so look ahead and plan accordingly.