Year-End Blog Maintenance Tasks That Book Bloggers Need to Complete

I would actually be the first to tell you that I spend a whole lot of time creating content that I often forget that a lot of what makes or breaks a blog happens on the back end. 

The truth is, if you don’t have a good handle on all that maintenance stuff behind the scenes, you’re putting yourself in a lot of trouble because all your hard work can end up being in vain if one little thing goes wrong. 

I know that trying to keep up with all of this on a daily, weekly, or even monthly basis may be a little difficult, so if you’d rather leave everything for the end of the year, this is a checklist you can run through for your blog’s yearly maintenance.

I would actually advise you to try to do at least one of these every week, and so many of them can even be set up on autopilot so that you don’t have to touch them again throughout the year. 

Then, at the end of the year, you just assess and determine whether you need to switch things up or not. 

But for bloggers like me, who are essentially running everything – from social media to content creation to promotion and all of that – on our own, it can be very stressful. 

So, while we prepare and while the year is slowly winding down, here are some things you can do on the back end to make sure your blog runs smoothly.

1. Clean Up Your Media Gallery

This one was long overdue for me. 

In the past year, I’d uploaded so many book covers, seasonal graphics, and random screenshots for Pinterest that my gallery turned into a chaotic mess. 

Some images were duplicates, some were ridiculously large files (seriously, why was one pin 12MB?), and some were for posts I never even published.

Doing a full cleanup took a while, but it felt amazing afterwards.

To get started, you can:

• Delete duplicate and unused images.
• Resize large files – your blog doesn’t need billboard-size images.
• Organize if your platform allows folders (book covers, seasonal graphics, reviews, etc.).

This cleanup not only freed up space but also made creating new posts so much faster.

No more scrolling endlessly to find the right image or finding multiple duplicates and all that. 

2. Check for Broken Links

Broken links happen to all of us. 

Books go out of stock, authors change websites, and sometimes we accidentally mistype URLs. 

I finally ran a broken link checker this year, and there were more than I thought.

It’s tedious, but it matters for two reasons:

• Readers don’t like clicking on dead links.
• Google doesn’t either.

You should use a plugin like Broken Link Checker (for WordPress) or an online tool.

And, replace outdated links with newer sources (swap Amazon for Bookshop.org if it’s available).

You can also redirect where you can, or just remove them if there’s no good replacement.

It took me a few days, but I felt so much better knowing readers won’t run into dead ends anymore.

3. Do a Social Media Sweep

This is another one I actually did this year, and I’m so glad I did. 

Socials can get messy – outdated bios, inactive accounts you follow, pins that lead nowhere, or highlights that don’t make sense anymore.

I went through and updated my bios across platforms, archived old stories, and cleaned up my Pinterest boards. 

Pinterest especially needed love since it’s a big traffic driver. 

I even talked about my Pinterest pinning strategies in a separate post, and doing this sweep really aligned my boards with where I want my blog to go.

During your sweep, you should refresh bios with current blog info, unfollow inactive or irrelevant accounts, delete outdated pins and re-save with correct URLs, and highlight seasonal content that’s still relevant.

This little sweep makes your socials look polished and current.

4. Refresh Old Blog Posts

If you’ve been blogging for a while, you probably have posts that are still bringing in traffic but feel outdated. 

For me, that was some of my older list posts. 

They had great bones but needed updates with newer book releases, fresh covers, and updated affiliate links.

Refreshing old posts is one of the smartest things you can do.

This is because it takes way less effort than writing a brand-new post but keeps your content relevant and evergreen.

Some things I do include:

• Update book covers, blurbs, and release years.
• Add new recommendations to list posts.
• Refresh affiliate links and double-check availability.
• Add internal links to newer related posts.

For example, if you wrote a Christmas books list in 2023, add 2024 titles so it stays current. 

I’ve been slowly updating mine, and the traffic boost is worth it.

5. Update Navigation, Categories, and Tags

Categories and tags are like the shelves in your blog’s library. 

If they’re messy, readers won’t find what they’re looking for.

Earlier this year, I did a small clean-up by merging similar categories (did I really need both Rom-Com and Contemporary Romance?) and deleting unused tags. 

It made browsing my blog so much easier.

This step doesn’t take long but makes a huge difference in user experience.

6. Back Up Your Blog

Not the most exciting task, but it’s one of the most important. 

I learned the hard way once when a plugin crash messed up my settings. 

Thankfully, I didn’t lose posts, but it taught me a valuable lesson: always back up your blog.

You can use a plugin like UpdraftPlus (for WordPress) and make sure to save copies of posts, images, and theme settings.

And, I advice that you export your email list as well.

Now I try to back up quarterly, but end of year is the best reminder if you don’t do it regularly.

7. Review Affiliate Links and Income Sources

If you use affiliate programs (Amazon, Bookshop.org, Kobo, etc.), it’s worth checking in at the end of the year.

Some programs change their rules, links expire, or maybe your disclosures need updating.

I also like looking at which posts converted best since it helps me plan content for the next year. 

I even wrote a post on affiliate-driven New Year content ideas, and going through my data made it clear which kinds of lists I should double down on.

It’s not the most glamorous part of blogging, but it’s worth doing if you want to monetize better next year.

8. Audit Your Email List

If you’ve been collecting emails, you know they can pile up.

End of year is the perfect time to tidy them.

You can start with removing inactive subscribers (most email services can do this automatically) and updating or rewriting your welcome email sequence.

And, you should absolutely double-check that your freebies or lead magnets still work.

This cleanup helps with deliverability and makes sure you’re only talking to readers who really want to hear from you.

9. Check Site Speed and Mobile Friendliness

A slow blog can turn readers away fast. 

Most of us upload big book covers or lots of graphics, which is fun for aesthetics but rough on loading times.

You can use tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights and you might also consider compressing images (plugins like Smush help).

I’m guilty of loving pretty plugins, but trimming down really does make a difference.

10. Organize Drafts and Future Ideas

My drafts folder looks like a graveyard sometimes – half-finished posts, random title ideas, and seasonal drafts I forgot about. 

End of year is the perfect time to either finish, delete, or reschedule them.

Think about moving your half-baked drafts into a someday folder and pan ahead using a content calendar (especially for seasonal posts like my Christmas blogging ideas).

I also enjoy pre-scheduling January content to give yourself a stress-free start.

I’ve started scheduling my January posts early, and it feels like such a relief knowing I won’t be scrambling.

11. Refresh Your About and Start Here Pages

These pages are often overlooked, but they matter so much. 

If someone new finds your blog, they’ll probably click your About page first.

You should update what you’re currently reading or focusing on, heck that your Start Here or Resources page is still helpful, and make sure your contact info is correct.

I still need to refresh mine, and it’s on my December to-do list.

12. Reflect on the Year and Plan Ahead

For this, you should take time to reflect. 

What worked? What didn’t? Which posts brought joy, and which felt like a chore?

Looking at analytics helps, but so does just listening to yourself. 

For example, I realized I love writing seasonal posts (like Christmas-themed blog ideas) but feel drained by certain types of posts – new book releases. 

That’s something I want to balance differently next year.

13. Update Your Plugins and Themes

This one doesn’t get talked about enough, but it’s one of the most important behind-the-scenes tasks. 

Outdated plugins and themes can make your site vulnerable to hacks, mess with your site speed, or even cause posts to display incorrectly. 

I used to ignore this until one of my plugins caused a formatting issue on my reviews. 

Since then, I’ve made it a habit to check them.

To start, go through your plugin list and ask yourself: Do I still use this? If not, delete it. Extra plugins weigh your site down.

And make sure to update all the active plugins to the latest version. Yes, it’s annoying when it feels like they update every week, but those updates are often about security fixes.

Do the same with your theme – check if it’s still supported by the developer. If not, consider switching to one that gets regular updates.

After updating, test your site on mobile and desktop to make sure nothing broke.

I’ve already deleted a handful of plugins this year that I thought I might need later and I didn’t. 

My site feels lighter now, and I don’t have to stress about conflicts or crashes as much.

14. Revisit Your SEO Strategy

SEO feels like an ongoing battle, doesn’t it? 

What worked even a year ago might not work now because Google updates constantly. 

At the end of the year, I like to do a mini SEO audit – not because I’m obsessed with algorithms, but because I want my posts to actually reach readers.

You can start by revisiting your most popular posts and running them through a keyword tool (even something free like Ubersuggest). See if you can add a more updated keyword.

Also, make sure to check your meta descriptions. I’ve been making mine more Pinterest-friendly (like I did in my Christmas pajama titles post) with emojis and longer-tail keywords. 

Small changes here can drive more clicks.

Another important thing is to update headings and subheadings. For example, instead of Favorite Romance Books, make it Best Romance Books for Christmas 2025.

Another traffic-helper is linking newer posts to older ones and vice versa, because it strengthens your SEO web.

I’ve already updated a few of my evergreen list posts with newer keywords, and I noticed a jump in traffic within weeks. 

It’s definitely worth the time, even if you only do it for your top 10 posts.

15. Evaluate Your Blog Design

We spend so much time writing that we sometimes stop noticing how our blog actually looks to readers. 

Is it easy to navigate? Is the font too small? Does your sidebar look like a cluttered bookshelf? 

At the end of the year, I like to step back and see my site with fresh eyes.

Open your site on mobile and scroll like you’re a first-time visitor. Is it easy to read? Are images loading properly?

Also, remember to check font size and contrast. Small, faint text might look pretty but it’s hard to read.

Then look at your sidebar – are all those widgets necessary? Do you really need 10 categories listed?

And, you should always review your header and footer. Are they highlighting your best content, or just taking up space?

I recently did a small sidebar cleanup and removed widgets that didn’t serve a purpose. 

The result? My blog looks cleaner, loads faster, and it feels less overwhelming. 

I’m still planning a bigger redesign in the future, but this mini evaluation already made a difference.

16. Celebrate Your Wins

This might not sound like maintenance, but I’d argue it’s one of the most important things you can do. 

We spend so much time fixing, editing, and planning that we often forget to look back and celebrate what we actually accomplished. 

Book blogging is a lot of work, and you deserve to pat yourself on the back.

You can start by writing down your top 5 most popular posts of the year. It feels so good seeing which ones resonated with readers.

Then, count how many books you reviewed, lists you created, or seasonal posts you published.

After that, reflect on milestones – did you hit a pageview goal? Did you get more Pinterest traffic (like I’ve been experimenting with)? Did you try something new, like affiliate content or author interviews?

Share your wins with your readers in a year-end wrap-up post. It’s a lovely way to connect and remind them why they follow you.

Personally, I’m really proud of sticking to seasonal blogging this year and experimenting more with Pinterest. 

Looking back on those wins reminds me why I love doing this, even when it gets overwhelming.

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Blog maintenance isn’t glamorous, but it’s what keeps your blog running smoothly and your readers happy. 

If you’re ready to give your blog a year-end refresh, start with the tasks that matter most to you. 

And if you’re looking for more planning inspiration, you might like:

• Christmas Blogging Ideas for Book Bloggers

• Affiliate-Friendly New Year Posts

• Pinterest Pinning Strategies for Bloggers

Here’s to starting the new year with a blog that feels tidy, refreshed, and ready for all the amazing bookish content ahead.