A useful marketing review should leave you with a short list of priorities, not a folder full of reports. This checklist is designed for independent businesses across Devon preparing for 2027. Work through it once, note the gaps that matter and choose what you will improve first.
1. Can people understand the business quickly?
Open your homepage on a phone and look at the first screen. Does it state what you do, who you help and the area you serve? Is the main next step obvious? Ask someone outside the business to look for ten seconds and tell you what they think you offer.
2. Are the practical details correct everywhere?
Check your name, phone number, email, opening hours and address across the website, Google Business Profile and social pages. Update old team information, services and prices. Small inconsistencies create unnecessary doubt.
3. Does every core service have enough information?
Each important service should have a useful page explaining the audience, outcome, process and next step. Add recent examples and answer the questions that normally arise before an enquiry.
4. Is the local evidence current?
Add recent work from the places you genuinely serve, whether that is Exeter, East Devon, Torbay, the South Hams or further across the county. Review your Google categories and service areas. Ask happy customers for honest reviews and reply to the ones you already have.
5. Does the site feel good on a phone?
Test the menu, forms, buttons and page speed on mobile data as well as Wi-Fi. Check that text is comfortable to read and that a visitor never needs to pinch or zoom. Submit your own contact form and confirm where the message arrives.
6. Is your social content balanced?
Review the last month. Does it include useful advice, proof of work, personality and a clear invitation? If it is mostly offers, add more evidence and help. If it is all advice, give people a clearer route to buy.
7. Are you capturing useful material as you work?
Create a simple habit for photos, short clips, customer questions and project notes. Good content becomes much easier when the raw material is collected during real work rather than recreated at the end of the month.
8. Can you tell which marketing creates enquiries?
Check that website analytics and Search Console are working. Ask new customers how they found you and record the answer consistently. Focus reporting on calls, forms, bookings and suitable leads rather than followers alone.
You do not need to fix everything in January. Choose the three improvements most likely to make the customer journey clearer.
9. Is there a plan for the first quarter?
Choose one commercial focus for each month and plan content around real customer needs, seasonal demand and available capacity. Give every campaign a destination page and a clear measure of success.
Once the basics are accurate, the biggest gains usually come from consistency. A clear website, credible proof and regular useful communication will take a local business further than constantly changing tactics.