10 Goals You Should Be Setting for a Kick A** 2026

Another year is almost behind us. Soon, it will be time to turn the calendar to 2026. The bad news is that you may still have a list of things you intended to do in 2025. The good news is that a new year brings the opportunity to recalibrate the list. Get rid of the things that aren’t that important, and set a list of new priorities.

Planning now can set the stage for innovation and growth in the new year. At PaperStreet, we want to help you reach your marketing goals. Before we can do that, we need to know what those goals are. Here are 10 goals your firm should set now to make 2026 its best year yet.

Refresh Your Website Before It’s Outdated

Up to 64% of potential clients start their search for an attorney online. They judge the credibility of a law firm based on two things about your website: design and site speed. An outdated website says volumes about your firm. It is the modern equivalent of a waiting room with worn carpet, peeling wallpaper, and magazines that are 10 years old.

A five-second delay in loading increases the possibility that a visitor will bounce from your website by 90%. In addition, an attorney’s website that is not ADA-compliant is not only a regulatory issue, but a commentary on the judgment of the law firm hosting it. Make this year the year you update and redesign your site to be a client magnet and not a referral source for your competitors.

2. Double Down on Local SEO

Most searches for legal services are local. When someone searches, “An attorney near me,” Google’s algorithm prioritizes geographically relevant results. This means if your SEO is strong locally, you’ll show up above competitors. Google Business Profiles (GBP) are key for local SEO visibility. Consistent listings (including name, address, and phone number) across directories like Avvo, FindLaw, and Yelp reinforce credibility.

The first quarter of the new year is an ideal time to designate a team member to ensure your profile remains verified, accurate, and up to date. Encouraging satisfied clients to leave reviews improves both visibility and trust. Also, consider going hyper-local. Blogs that contain references to local places and attractions catch the attention of Google’s algorithms.

Make Content Actually Useful (Not Just Keyword-Stuffed)

In the not-so-distant past, Google’s algorithm fed off of keywords. Stuff in enough keywords and the traffic would flow to your site. That was then. This is now. When clients read keyword-stuffed blogs, they question the abilities of the law firm that would write that way. Google’s updated algorithms feel pretty much the same way.

You need to write blog posts, FAQs, guides, and practice area pages that are tailored to the needs of your clients. Set a goal to update five high-traffic pages per quarter and write five new pieces. The staff at PaperStreet can help you develop content that both your clients and Google will love.

4. Audit Your Intake Process

If leads go unanswered for 24 hours or more, you’re losing clients. Set a goal of auditing your intake process by the end of the first quarter. Implement a lead tracking system and invest in CRM automation.

The new year is also a good time to address any issues with your intake process. If your front office and intake process aren’t seamless, all the money you are spending on marketing is being wasted. Make time for the intake staff to shadow paralegals and attorneys so that they understand the office’s workflow. Also, consider role-playing scenarios with difficult clients or situations to make sure they are handled in a way that drives business to your firm, not away.

5. Launch (or Revive) a Newsletter

This year is the time to launch or, more likely, revive the firm newsletter. Newsletters have become increasingly simple in the digital world – no more folding and postage. Newsletters build brand loyalty, but only if they show up consistently. Include legal updates, firm wins, and community involvement.

Set measurable goals. Some firms opt for a short newsletter every month. Other firms do a larger piece quarterly. The key to success is to assign a staff member who is interested and willing to lead the project. Dumping it on someone who is already overworked and not interested is a recipe to make sure your newsletter never gets off the ground.

6. Invest in Video

This year should be the year your firm invests in a video presence. Analytics show that videos on a website boost trust and engagement. Video explainers often do a far better job than written blogs at explaining complex topics. Views of the video will help to drive your Google rankings.

Set realistic goals for videos. Again, there is no perfect number, but one new video a quarter is sustainable and will build content on your website. The team at PaperStreet can handle all aspects of the video production, making the process seamless for you.

7. Build Authority with Thought Leadership

Being a thought leader has two requirements. The first is having something worthwhile to say. The other is actually saying it. Make this the year of “yes.” Submit your firm to directories. Agree to write guest blogs. Agree to the speaking engagements that come your way.

Too often, we turn down the opportunity to write or speak because it just seems like one more thing to add to our already overbooked lives. This year, that has to change. Make a list of at least three opportunities to pursue. Get involved in the bar association and other professional groups. Let people know you are available to speak or write.

8. Strengthen Your Firm’s Brand Voice

What is the tone of your firm: formal, compassionate, or aggressive? If you don’t know, nobody else will. Branding helps differentiate your firm from an increasingly crowded marketplace. The goal of branding is to be instantly recognizable. It’s what sets you apart from your competitors.

Set a goal to develop a style guide for your firm by the end of the second quarter. PaperStreet has professionals on hand to guide you in this process. If you already have a style guide, make 2026 the year you update it and start to use it. Select a staff member to oversee ensuring that all marketing and communications align with the style guide. By this time next year, you will know what your brand is, and others will too!

9. Track ROI on Every Marketing Dollar

The New Year is the perfect time to do a deep dive into analytics. Use Google Analytics and tracking software to identify what’s actually driving leads. Being clear on this enables you to double down on what works and cut out what doesn’t work, and probably never did.

By the end of the first quarter, have a plan to start tracking your marketing statistics. If you need help, PaperStreet has the tools and the professionals to make this happen.

10. Plan for Growth, Not Survival

The new year brings with it the gift of a blank slate. It’s the time of the year that we can agree to let the mistakes of the past live in the past. One mistake many firms repeatedly make is insufficient planning. If your only goal is to keep the doors open, it is doubtful that you will accomplish much more than that. If you want “bigger,” you have to think bigger.

Before the new year gets here, take some time to plan it. Forecast new hires, new practice areas, or satellite offices. Tie goals to measurable growth, for example, “increase qualified leads by 25%,” not “get more cases.” Build the roadmap that takes you to December 2026 and beyond.

Forward to 2026

Now is the perfect time to set clear, achievable goals that will set you up for success in the new year. Whether you are modernizing your website, strengthening your brand, or streamlining your intake process, the key to success is planning ahead. Positive changes are the result of imagining what can be and implementing the steps to make it real.

At PaperStreet, we help law firms turn those goals into results through expert design, targeted SEO, and proven marketing strategies. Let’s make 2026 your best year yet. Schedule your strategy session with PaperStreet today.