Directory launch plan for AI tools
22 places worth your time, in order. Paste your site to get one built around your product.
Week 16 steps · 50 min
Get the basics in place
Established directories with their own domain. These make your product findable and give reviewers elsewhere something to verify.
Day 110 min
-
DR 57 DR4 30 Good link Free
Fill in the formabout 5 min with the extension
Open the submit page and let the extension fill it. Check the category before you send it, then mark this step done.
- SaaSHub
Buyers comparing SaaS tools in a category
DR 80 DR4 76 Strong link Free
Fill in the formabout 5 min with the extension
Open the submit page and let the extension fill it. Check the category before you send it, then mark this step done.
Day 215 min
- Crunchbase
Investors, press, sales researchers
Watch out: Not a launch traffic channel — maintain accurate company data over time
DR 91 DR4 91 Strong link Free
Create a profileabout 15 min with the extension
Claim or create your company profile and complete every field. Keep your name, logo and description identical to your other listings.
Day 35 min
- Turbo0
Software evaluators browsing directories
DR 80 DR4 53 Strong link Free
Fill in the formabout 5 min with the extension
Open the submit page and let the extension fill it. Check the category before you send it, then mark this step done.
Day 45 min
- TechDirectory
Buyers evaluating software options
DR 66 DR4 56 Good link Free
Fill in the formabout 5 min with the extension
Open the submit page and let the extension fill it. Check the category before you send it, then mark this step done.
Day 515 min
- Startup Ranking
Investors, press, and industry researchers
DR 61 DR4 67 Good link Free
Create a profileabout 15 min with the extension
Claim or create your company profile and complete every field. Keep your name, logo and description identical to your other listings.
Week 26 steps · 30 min
Go where people look for AI tools
Smaller audiences, better fit. People here are already looking for this type of product.
Day 610 min
- There's An AI For That
People searching for AI tools by task
Watch out: Crowded — “AI-powered everything” positioning gets ignored
DR 77 DR4 73 Strong link Paid
Fill in the formabout 5 min with the extension
Open the submit page and let the extension fill it. Check the category before you send it, then mark this step done.
- Future Tools
AI enthusiasts and early adopters
DR 69 DR4 65 Strong link Free
Fill in the formabout 5 min with the extension
Open the submit page and let the extension fill it. Check the category before you send it, then mark this step done.
Day 75 min
- Dang.ai
AI tool shoppers
DR 82 DR4 74 Strong link Free
Fill in the formabout 5 min with the extension
Open the submit page and let the extension fill it. Check the category before you send it, then mark this step done.
Day 85 min
- Toolify.ai
People hunting AI tools by use case
DR 73 DR4 67 Strong link Paid
Fill in the formabout 5 min with the extension
Open the submit page and let the extension fill it. Check the category before you send it, then mark this step done.
Day 95 min
- TopAI.tools
People hunting AI tools by use case
DR 64 DR4 56 Strong link Paid
Fill in the formabout 5 min with the extension
Open the submit page and let the extension fill it. Check the category before you send it, then mark this step done.
Day 105 min
- Ben's Bites
AI practitioners and newsletter subscribers
DR 63 DR4 59 Visibility Free
Fill in the formabout 5 min with the extension
Open the submit page and let the extension fill it. Check the category before you send it, then mark this step done.
Week 35 steps · 2.2 h
Launch in public
These reward timing. Post them close together so the attention builds, and be around to answer comments.
Day 1120 min
- Product Hunt
Early adopters, buyers, and makers on launch day
Watch out: Nofollow links — treat as launch campaign, not backlink SEO
DR 91 DR4 91 Visibility Free
Schedule a launchabout 20 min with the extension
Schedule it for 12:01 am Pacific time and prepare your gallery images in advance. Stay online all day and reply to every comment.
Day 1230 min
- Hacker News
Developers, technical founders, and YC-adjacent builders
Watch out: One shot — no re-posts within ~6 months; promotional tone gets downvoted
DR 91 DR4 91 Visibility Free
Post a Show HNabout 30 min
Show HN needs something people can try without a long sign-up. Keep the tone plain and technical, and answer criticism directly.
Day 1320 min
- Startup Stash
Makers launching new products
DR 66 DR4 64 Strong link Free
Schedule a launchabout 20 min with the extension
Prepare your images and first comment before launch day, and pick a day you can stay online to reply to everyone.
Day 1430 min
- Reddit
Topic-specific communities (varies by subreddit)
Watch out: Promotional posts get removed — follow subreddit rules; build karma first
DR 95 DR4 96 Visibility Free
Write a postabout 30 min
Choose one or two subreddits where your users already are, and check each one’s self-promotion rule. Share the story, and only link if it is allowed.
Day 1530 min
- Quora
People asking specific product/category questions
Watch out: Blatant self-promotion gets collapsed — answer the question first
DR 92 DR4 92 Visibility Free
Answer questionsabout 30 min
Find three questions people are already asking about this problem. Answer them properly, and mention your product only where it truly helps.
Week 45 steps · 1.8 h
Collect proof
Reviews, comparisons and coverage work best once you have a few real users who can vouch for you.
Day 165 min
- AlternativeTo
Users actively replacing an existing tool
Watch out: Vague positioning underperforms — name competitors and differentiation explicitly
DR 80 DR4 81 Strong link Free
Fill in the formabout 5 min with the extension
Open the submit page and let the extension fill it. Check the category before you send it, then mark this step done.
Day 1725 min
- G2
Software buyers comparing vendors before purchase
Watch out: Empty profiles die — you need 5–10+ verified reviews to see real value
DR 91 DR4 92 Strong link Free
Claim and ask for reviewsabout 25 min
Claim your free profile, then ask three to five happy users for an honest review. Never pay for reviews or write them yourself.
Day 1825 min
- Capterra
Business software buyers with purchase intent
Watch out: Pay-per-lead model in competitive categories — validate unit economics first
DR 91 DR4 91 Strong link Free
Claim and ask for reviewsabout 25 min
Claim your free profile, then ask three to five happy users for an honest review. Never pay for reviews or write them yourself.
Day 1925 min
- GetApp
SMB software buyers
Watch out: Plan review collection — empty profiles rarely generate meaningful traffic
DR 85 DR4 85 Strong link Free
Claim and ask for reviewsabout 25 min
Claim your free profile, then ask three to five happy users for an honest review. Never pay for reviews or write them yourself.
Day 2025 min
- Trustpilot
Consumers and businesses checking reputation
Watch out: Needs genuine customer reviews — empty profiles add little
DR 94 DR4 94 Strong link Free
Claim and ask for reviewsabout 25 min
Claim your free profile, then ask three to five happy users for an honest review. Never pay for reviews or write them yourself.
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