Your business's online reputation begins with accurate information. Ensuring your brand is consistent across the Internet matters, and online directories are a natural entry point for gaining control of your digital footprint.

Search engine optimization (SEO) means more than keywords sprinkled throughout your website and blog--uniform descriptions within online directories equals an SEO lift. Essentially, links to your website in the listings count as inbound links in the eyes of search engines and serve as votes of confidence from third-party directories.

First steps?

• If you haven't taken a look at your brand lately, use this as an excuse, and make the changes necessary to reflect your company's personality and offerings.
• Decide what information (basics and additional brand elements, such as images and coupons) you can provide across the board.
• Create a tagline and develop a very short business description, and include in all listings that provide options for adding additional content.

A 2014 study found that more than half of local searches turn into sales. That's convincing motivation to list your business on as many relevant directories as possible, take the time to complete fully, and—most importantly—keep them updated. (Manta.com)