A good directory submission description is 2 to 4 plain sentences that say what your site offers, who it is for and where you are, without links, hype or a list of keywords. This free kit builder takes one description and fits it into the lengths most directory forms ask for, so you can copy and paste instead of rewriting the same text fifty times.
What a directory editor wants to read
Directory editors read many submissions a day. When I ran the Bloghints directory, free listings had to follow the submission rules, and the easy approvals were the ones that described the site honestly in normal sentences. Editors usually decline text that reads like an advert or a pile of keywords.
A strong description answers three questions:
- What is it? "A family bakery", "a blog about home gardening", "a web design studio".
- Who is it for? "for people in Portland", "for beginners", "for small online shops".
- What can a visitor do there? "order cakes online", "read step-by-step guides", "book a free call".
How to write a directory submission description
- Start with your real name. Write "Sunrise Bakery is…", not "Best cheap bakery Portland". Google's own rules for business profiles say the name should match the real-world name, without taglines or extra keywords, and most good directories follow the same idea.
- Write one sentence per idea. Short sentences survive cutting better. The tool shortens your text at the end of a sentence whenever it can.
- Use your main keyword once, naturally. "We bake sourdough bread every morning" already contains "sourdough bread". Repeating it three times looks like spam.
- Leave out URLs, prices and dates. Most directories remove links from descriptions, and prices or years go out of date.
- Write in the third person or the plain "we". Avoid "the best", "No. 1" and capital letters for emphasis.
Common length limits on directory forms
Every directory sets its own limit, but most forms fall into a few groups. The kit builder creates a version for each one, and you can add a custom limit if a form shows an exact number.
| Field | Typical limit | What fits |
|---|---|---|
| Title | 30 to 100 characters | Your real name, sometimes a short tagline |
| Short description | 100 to 160 characters | One clear sentence |
| Description | 200 to 250 characters | Two sentences |
| Long description | 500 characters or more | Three to four sentences |
| Keywords | 5 to 10 terms | Topics people search for, separated by commas |
When the tool has to shorten your text, it marks the version "shortened, read it once". Always read that version before you paste it. A sentence that ends early can change its meaning.
Should every directory get a unique description?
Unique text is nice but not required. Directories are not your main content, and nobody expects fifty different stories about the same business. A practical middle way:
- Write two or three versions of your description with different openings.
- Use the long version for the best directories and the short ones for quick forms.
- Keep the facts identical everywhere: name, address, phone and URL.
That last point matters most for local businesses. Search engines compare your name, address and phone number (often called NAP) across sites. "St." on one site and "Street" on another is fine for humans but can make listings look like two different businesses. Open the "Address and phone" section of the tool and copy the one-line NAP into every local business directory, exactly as it is.
Using the kit with the tracker
The kit builder saves your details in your browser, so they are still there tomorrow. Open it next to the Submission Tracker: copy your text from the kit, paste it into the directory form, then mark the directory as submitted in the tracker. With both tools open, a careful submission takes a few minutes instead of a quarter of an hour.
Before you start, pick your directories with care. Google lists "low-quality directory or bookmark site links" as link spam, so a few edited directories from the free directory list beat hundreds of automatic ones. A clear directory submission description makes each of those few submissions count.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a directory submission description be?
Write a full version of about 300 to 500 characters, then let the tool cut it to 100, 160 and 250 characters. Those lengths cover most directory forms. If a form shows its own limit, type that number into the custom limit box.
Can I put keywords in my directory title?
Use your real site or business name as the title. Most edited directories reject titles stuffed with keywords, and Google's business profile rules ask for the real-world name too. Put your topics in the keyword field and once in the description instead.
Is my information sent to Bloghints?
No. The kit builder runs in your browser and saves your details only on your own device. Click "Clear form" when you use a shared computer.
