Don't Let Your Website Go Cold: A Fall Tune-Up Checklist

As the weather cools down and we start swapping iced coffees for hot ones, there’s one more thing that needs a seasonal refresh: your website.

Think about it. your website doesn’t take holidays. It’s working while your team is in meetings, offline, out of the office, or enjoying that second slice of pumpkin pie. So before we slide into the holiday slowdown, now is the perfect time to make sure your digital presence is working hard and looking sharp.

Here’s your Fall Website Tune-Up Checklist to make sure your site is ready for Q1 (and beyond).

1. Check Your Homepage Clarity

The first 5 seconds on your homepage matter more than most businesses realize. If visitors can’t answer these instantly, they leave:

• What do you do?
• Who is it for?
• Why does it matter?

If your hero section is doing the “mystery brand poetry” thing, it’s time for a rewrite. Say it simply. If your ideal customer can’t describe your business after one quick glance, clarity is your biggest opportunity.

2. Audit Your Call-to-Actions (CTAs)

A seasonal slowdown often equals fewer form fills, not because demand is lower, but because friction is higher.

Ask yourself:

• Are your CTAs clear and compelling?
• Do they guide a visitor down a path (not just ask for a demo)?
• Do they meet your buyer where they are — not where you wish they were?

Consider adding:

• “Watch a 60-second overview”
• “See how it works”
• “Try a quick self-assessment”
• “Save this guide”

If you make the first step easy, conversion will follow.

3. Test Your Forms & Automations

Nobody loves an online form, but when someone willingly fills one out, it better work. Make sure to check the following:

• Does every form still route to the right inbox?
• Are notifications going to the right team?
• Is the follow-up email branded, helpful, and not from noreply@?
• Do leads flow into your CRM with clean data?

One broken form can quietly tank lead gen for weeks, so it’s important to fix those now.

4. Refresh Key Copy for SEO

Small SEO refinements now can help improve organic rankings by Q1, which is why fall is a great time to tune up:

• Meta titles + descriptions
• Headline structure (H1/H2s)
• Image alt-text
• Outdated stats or messaging

5. Improve Page Speed & Accessibility

If your site feels like waiting in line the day before Thanksgiving, then we have a problem. Accessibility and speed aren’t just nice to have. They’re important ranking factors. Here are some quick wins you can do:

• Compress images
• Remove unused plugins
• Clean broken links
• Ensure mobile readability
• Add alt-text for all visuals

6. Review Analytics for Behavior Patterns

Your users are already telling you what they want and need. You just have to look. Instead of guessing what to improve, look at:

• Top exit pages
• Time-on-page drop-offs
• Search terms used on-site
• Heatmaps / scroll depth data

Your website is your storefront, your salesperson, and your first impression. Make sure it’s ready for heavier traffic, end-of-year research cycles, and new-year decision planning.

Need a hand?

INT’s website design and content strategy team can help. Our approach is strategic, not flashy for the sake of it. We focus on helping your website communicate clearly, guide visitors naturally, and support your business goals in a way that feels polished and intentional. Your website should work harder for you, and we can help you get there.

Let’s tune it up before Q1 hits.