Winter break offers schools a brief pause—a chance to wrap up the semester, reset, and prepare for the final admissions push that comes in January and February. Amid exams, events, and end-of-year tasks, this is a perfect moment for a fast digital tune-up that helps your school start the new year organized and confident.
At Connect.ED, we know schools don’t need a long list of projects right now. You need simple, impactful updates that take minutes — not hours. This 10-minute checklist keeps your online visibility accurate, up to date, and ready for the increased search traffic that naturally follows the holidays.
Below are five quick checks that offer immediate value, plus a few expert insights to help you get even more from each step.
1. Update
Update Your Hours & Holiday Information
This is one of the fastest visibility improvements you can make — and one of the most overlooked. Families often check your availability, hours, or contact details during school breaks, and inconsistent information can easily lead to confusion.
Where to update:
- Google Business Profile
- Website contact page
- Admissions Visit page
Pro Tip:
On Google Business Profile, make sure to set each closed day individually rather than changing your regular operating hours. This ensures Google Search and Google Maps display your schedule accurately for every user.
Your Google Business Profile often appears before your website in search results. Keeping it current ensures families receive accurate information on their very first touchpoint.
2. Review
Do a 30-Second Homepage Review
Think of this as a quick visual audit — not a redesign. You’re simply making sure your homepage still reflects your school as it is today.
Scan for:
- Outdated announcements
- Old events still showing on sliders or banners
- Admissions deadlines that are buried or unclear
- Photos that no longer match your school’s programs, people, or campus life
Avoid This:
Avoid uploading major redesigns or new navigation structures right before the break. Larger updates should wait until January, when your team is available to review.
Your homepage sets the tone for every prospective family. Even small misalignments — like an open house still featured in December — can subtly signal that your site isn’t actively maintained.
3. Test
Test Your Key Links
Broken links create immediate friction in the admissions journey — and they’re more common than many realize. Forms, especially those embedded through external platforms, can break without warning.
Test your most important links:
- Inquiry form
- Schedule-a-tour form
- Admissions overview
- Tuition & financial aid
- Any “Apply Now” button
- Form submissions and phone call tracking
Pro Tip:
Test these links on both desktop and mobile, and use an incognito/private browser window. This helps you catch issues that don’t appear when logged into your CMS.
A broken form during admissions season can lead to missed inquiries and opportunities. This 30-second check prevents January surprises.
4. Refresh
Choose One Simple Refresh for January
January is a natural visibility boost — families begin revisiting lists, searching for new options, and scheduling tours as the new year begins. A minor refresh to your main pages can help your school stand out during this spike.
Easy updates that make an immediate impact:
- Swap in a seasonal or “back-from-the-holiday-break” photo
- Publish a short “Welcome Back” message from leadership
- Highlight a winter athletic event, performance, or showcase
- Feature a recent student achievement or classroom moment
Pro Tip:
Choose one refresh that takes less than 10 minutes — like swapping a hero photo or updating a welcome message. Bite-sized changes keep your site feeling active without adding to your workload.
Fresh content signals an active, engaged community. It also encourages longer browsing time, which supports both visibility and parent engagement.
5. Digital Sweep
Do a Quick Digital Hygiene Sweep
Before your team steps away, take a moment to tidy up a few digital loose ends. These small tasks help keep your online presence organized.
Quick wins:
- Archive outdated files
- Remove expired event pages
- Clean up old blog drafts
- Ensure your footer year updates to 2026
Pro Tip:
Run your sweep in a private/incognito window and on mobile. You’ll see your pages exactly how new families experience them — and catch issues your CMS login often hides.
Quick hygiene checks prevent small errors from piling up and affecting credibility. A 5-minute sweep helps your site feel polished and ready for January inquiries — without requiring a full overhaul.
