Hey Reader,

February 17th marks the Lunar New Year. We are saying goodbye to the Year of the Snake and welcoming the intense energy of the Year of the Fire Horse, a time for rapid change and profound transformation.

I don’t usually put much stock in fortunes or astrological forecasts, but after the heaviness and uncertainty of the past few months, I’ve found myself looking for hope in unexpected places.

One Lunar New Year tradition I love to do is deep cleaning in the days leading up to New Years Day. Cleaning sweeps away bad luck and makes space for what’s next. On New Year’s Day itself, you’re not supposed to clean, take out the trash, or even wash your hair, so you don’t wash away your luck.

A lot of symbolism, I know.

But the idea translates surprisingly well to your website.

So here are three simple things you can do to “sweep away” bad luck, refresh your website, and prepare for growth in the Year of the Horse.

1. A Simple Footer Fix

When was the last time you checked the year in your website's copyright statement? If you manually update it, make sure that "2025" is now a crisp, new "2026."

This tiny detail builds trust with your visitors! It shows them that your site is actively maintained and that you are still in business. While copyright protection is difficult to enforce, the trust factor alone makes this small update worth doing.

Pro-Tip: Save yourself the trouble next year. You can copy and paste this code into your footer to have the year update automatically (just don't forget to update "2018" to the year that you started and "Your Company Name"):

2. Protect Yourself: Update Your Website Policies

Every year, new privacy and data laws are passed. It is important to know that if your website is accessible in a state, even if your business is not located there, you are responsible for abiding by those laws.

Last year, we saw a concerning rise in opportunistic lawyers targeting small businesses with demand letters for non-adherence to laws like the CIPA (California Invasion of Privacy Act). Unfortunately, these predatory practices are still happening into 2026.

This is why I always recommend Termageddon for generating and maintaining your policies (Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions, Cookie Policy, etc.).

It is a game-changer because once you add their code to your website, it automatically updates your policies based on newly passed legislation. You get peace of mind and protection without the yearly scramble.

Get Protected: Use my affiliate code TRACY to receive 10% off your first year and let Termageddon handle the vigilance for you.

3. Ensure Security with Up-to-Date PHP Version

Did you know that PHP version 8.1 stopped receiving security updates on December 31, 2025?

PHP is the scripting language your site’s server uses to run content (especially WordPress sites). Having an up-to-date version is crucial for your site’s security, performance, and compatibility.

If you log into your site and see a banner (like the one above) telling you to update your PHP version, do not ignore it!

• ​Website Care Clients: I have already checked your PHP version and upgraded it as needed, you are good to go!
• Not a Client? If you need help updating the version or just want a point in the right direction, contact me and I will be happy to help.

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A little housekeeping now can save you stress later—and set your website up to move confidently into a year of growth and transformation.

Here’s to clearing out the old and making room for what’s next. Happy Lunar New Year!

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