Birds are chirping, cherry blossoms are blooming, and warmer weather has returned. That means one thing- spring is finally here! With the return of spring comes the opportunity for a little spring cleaning– and no, I’m not just talking about cleaning out your closet. In addition to cleaning up around the house, there are things should be doing now to tidy up your online presence. This will not only make you look more professional, but can also help you be discovered by your next great customer.

Here are 3 items you should include in your spring cleaning to-do list:

Develop a consistent brand.
Your brand starts with your website. This is your “home base” and where you should set the tone for all of your other marketing efforts. Use your logo, coordinating colors and fonts. The branding that you establish on your website should be consistent with and reflected in all of your other marketing channels—your email newsletter, social media presences, and anywhere else people are interacting with your business online.

Control your information.

In addition to the look and feel of your brand, you’ll also want to get a handle on the information people are finding online about your business. 75 percent of smartphone owners use their mobile device to get real-time location-based information. If the information that’s out there is inaccurate or out-of-date, you could be at risk to damage valuable relationships, or miss the chance to connect with a new customer.

Think about the information your consumers need to take their desired actions.

This starts with sharing things like hours, location, payment methods, phone number, or a link to your website. But this could also include a link to your menu, additional contact information, or photos of your storefront, interior shots, staff, or products.

Once you know the information you want is out there, you can make an inventory of the places people are finding your business online. That way you keep track of where your customers are finding you, so next time you need make a change, you don’t forget to update any of your listings.

Be findable in the right places.

It’s easy to feel like you have to be on every site that’s out there. But what’s most important is making sure you’re in the right places for the audience you want to reach. Lots of your prospects are probably in Facebook and Twitter, but it’s also important to think beyond social media, and think of places people may be searching for your business, including search engines, ratings and review sites, online yellow page, directories, and mobile apps

These sites will not only help you be found by people who are searching for your business directly, but also by people who are searching for a service or solution in your area.

With a consistent brand, accurate and up-to-date information, and a presence in all the right places — you’ll be in the best position to develop great new customer relationships.

This will not only help you do more business in the spring, but will deliver meaningful results throughout the entire year!

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Gina Watkins is a leading expert on e-marketing for small business – and has a real passion for helping businesses to succeed. Her ongoing series of dynamic lectures are filled with real-world examples, humor and results-driven wisdom garnered from more than two decades of sales, business development and marketing experience. In addition to owning her own business, she is an award-winning direct marketer, has been featured on WUSA Channel 9’s Mind Over Money show, Dr. Gayle Carson’s Women In Business radio show, Morgan State’s Briefcase Radio program, and in numerous other media. In her role as Constant Contact Regional Development Director, she’s presented to more than ten thousand seminar attendees about the keys to success with easy, affordable, highly effective technology tools that grow trusted business relationships.