directory-submissions

Autonomous Startup, AI & MCP Directory Submissions

Every software review site, startup launchpad, AI tool directory, MCP registry, and GitHub Awesome list asks for the same ~25 product fields in slightly different character lengths and aspect ratios.

Instead of rewriting copy 100 times by hand, prepare one submission-manifest.json, propagate your repo across 15+ MCP & agent registries in one step, and work through the 5-wave directory sequence below — logging every submission idempotently in submissions-log.json.

Companion resources:

• Full 850+ Directory Database (14 categories, DR, traffic, free vs. paid & dofollow/nofollow filters): https://linkdr.com/resources/directories
• Free 71-Point SEO Launch Checklist & 5-Wave Directory Tracker: https://il.ly/growth (https://il.ly/growth/directories)

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Step 1: Prepare submission-manifest.json Once

Before opening any form or Pull Request, build submission-manifest.json in your project root (inspecting the codebase, package.json, landing page metadata, and public /images assets first, and asking the user only for missing facts):

{
  "product": {
    "name": "YourProduct",
    "slug": "yourproduct",
    "domain": "yourproduct.com",
    "url": "https://yourproduct.com",
    "pricing_url": "https://yourproduct.com/pricing",
    "contact_email": "[email protected]",
    "contact_page": "https://yourproduct.com/contact",
    "privacy_url": "https://yourproduct.com/privacy",
    "terms_url": "https://yourproduct.com/terms"
  },
  "copy": {
    "tagline_40c": "Punchy plain-English value prop (<=40c)",
    "tagline_60c": "Search-intent headline naming what the tool does (<=60c)",
    "mcp_description_100c": "Strict <=100 character summary required by Official MCP Registry validator.",
    "awesome_list_bullet": "- [YourProduct](https://yourproduct.com) - Factual one-line description with zero hype.",
    "description_160c": "15-25 word summary stating who it is for, what input it takes, and what output it produces (<=160c).",
    "description_500c": "Two-paragraph factual overview (minimum 510 chars) covering the core workflow, supported integrations/formats, and concrete differentiators — zero em-dashes or AI buzzwords.",
    "key_features": [
      "Concrete input -> output capability",
      "Verification, speed, or accuracy guarantee",
      "API, CLI, SKILL.md, or MCP integration support",
      "Export formats or team controls"
    ]
  },
  "taxonomy": {
    "primary_category": "Developer Tools / AI Tools / SaaS",
    "tags": ["ai", "saas", "developer-tools", "automation", "seo"],
    "competitors_replaced": ["CompetitorA", "CompetitorB", "CompetitorC"],
    "pricing_model": "Freemium",
    "starting_price_usd": 19,
    "free_tier_details": "Exact free tier or trial allowance"
  },
  "assets": {
    "favicon_64": "https://yourproduct.com/favicon.ico",
    "logo_square_512": "https://yourproduct.com/logo-512x512.png",
    "og_image_1200x630": "https://yourproduct.com/og.png",
    "screenshots_16x9": [
      "https://yourproduct.com/screenshots/01-hero-1280x800.png",
      "https://yourproduct.com/screenshots/02-workflow-1280x800.png",
      "https://yourproduct.com/screenshots/03-output-1280x800.png"
    ]
  },
  "agent_and_mcp": {
    "mcp_endpoint": "https://yourproduct.com/mcp",
    "github_repo": "https://github.com/yourorg/yourproduct"
  }
}

---

Step 2: One Repo → 15+ MCP & Agent Registries (If You Ship an MCP Server or SKILL.md)

Adding six tiny files to your public GitHub repository lets agent marketplaces index your product automatically:

1. server.json — Keep description strictly ≤ 100 characters or the Official MCP Registry validator rejects it.
2. glama.json — { "$schema": "https://glama.ai/mcp/schemas/server.json", "maintainers": ["your-github-handle"] } (required to claim on Glama and pass awesome-mcp-servers CI).
3. .cursor-plugin/plugin.json + .mcp.json — Indexed by Cursor Marketplace (cursor.com/marketplace) and cursor.directory.
4. .claude-plugin/plugin.json + .mcp.json — Indexed by Claude Code plugin directories.
5. gemini-extension.json + repo topic gemini-cli-extension — Auto-indexed within 24 hours by Google's Gemini CLI Extensions gallery.
6. SKILL.md — Auto-indexed by skills.sh, ClawHub (clawhub.ai), and MCP Market (mcpmarket.com).

Then publish once to the Official MCP Registry so downstream directories (glama.ai, pulsemcp.com, mcp.directory, apitracker.io, claudemcp.org) sync automatically:

brew install mcp-publisher
mcp-publisher login github
mcp-publisher publish

---

Step 3: Work Through the 5-Wave Directory Sequence (50 High-Signal Picks)

Wave 1 — Software Review & Entity Verification Sites (Do First)

Google's Knowledge Graph, ChatGPT, and Perplexity cross-check these domains when users search "best X" or "X alternatives":

Directory	DR	Submit URL	Notes
Awesome Tools	80	https://awesome.tools/submit	Free verified dofollow listing (badge) or instant Featured Launch; supports JSON API & WebMCP
AlternativeTo	81	https://alternativeto.net/manage-item/	Free dofollow link · 1–5d moderator review · Top LLM citation source for "X alternatives"
SaaSHub	80	https://www.saashub.com/submit	Free dofollow link (2–4w) or paid fast-track
GoodFirms	86	https://www.goodfirms.co/get-listed	Free vendor profile · 3–7 business days
G2	91	https://sell.g2.com/create-a-profile	Free vendor profile · #1 B2B citation source in ChatGPT & Perplexity
Capterra / GetApp / Software Advice	90	https://www.gartner.com/en/digital-markets/Role-Selection	One Gartner Digital Markets application lists on all 3 sites
ProvenExpert	81	https://www.provenexpert.com/en-us/registration/	Free profile · Live right after registration
StackShare	78	https://stackshare.io/submit	Free developer tool profile · 1–5d review
SoftwareWorld	74	https://www.softwareworld.co/register/	Free vendor listing · 3–7 business days
Alternative.me	73	https://alternative.me/how-to/submit-software/	Free software listing · 3–7d review
LibHunt	72	https://www.libhunt.com/repo/submit	Free developer & open-source tool tracking
Tekpon	68	https://tekpon.com/get-listed/	Free SaaS vendor profile · 3–7 business days

Wave 2 — MCP & AI Agent Registries

• GitHub MCP Registry (https://github.com/mcp · DR 98 — pulls from Official MCP Registry)
• OpenAI ChatGPT App Directory (https://platform.openai.com/plugins · DR 93 — verify /.well-known/openai-apps-challenge)
• Cursor Marketplace (https://cursor.com/marketplace/publish · DR 84) & cursor.directory (https://cursor.directory/ · DR 69)
• ClawHub Skills Registry (https://clawhub.ai/ · DR 83)
• Official MCP Registry (https://modelcontextprotocol.io/registry/quickstart · DR 82)
• Smithery (https://smithery.ai/ · DR 79), Glama (https://glama.ai/mcp/servers · DR 77), LobeHub MCP (https://lobehub.com/mcp · DR 76)
• mcpservers.org (https://mcpservers.org/submit · DR 71) & MCP Market (https://mcpmarket.com/submit · DR 62)

Wave 3 — Startup & Developer Launchpads

• Hacker News (Show HN) (https://news.ycombinator.com/submit · DR 91) & Product Hunt (https://www.producthunt.com/posts/new · DR 91)
• Fazier (https://fazier.com/submit · DR 84), Twelve Tools (https://twelve.tools/submit · DR 83), Findly.tools (https://findly.tools · DR 82)
• Peerlist Launchpad (https://peerlist.io/user/projects/add-project · DR 78), BetaList (https://betalist.com/submit · DR 77), PeerPush (https://peerpush.com/submit · DR 77)
• Uneed (https://www.uneed.best/submit-a-tool · DR 76), LaunchIgniter (https://launchigniter.com/submit · DR 75), DevHunt (https://devhunt.org/account/tools/new · DR 68)

Wave 4 — AI Tool Directories

• ShowMeBest.AI (https://showmebest.ai/submit · DR 77), Good AI Tools (https://goodaitools.com/submit · DR 75), AI Agents Directory (https://aiagentsdirectory.com/submit-agent · DR 75)
• Supertools / The Rundown (https://www.therundown.ai/tools · DR 72), Insidr.ai (https://www.insidr.ai/submit-tools/ · DR 71), aidirectori.es (https://www.aidirectori.es/submit-ai-tool · DR 71)
• AItrendytools (https://www.aitrendytools.com/submit · DR 69), Foundr.ai (https://foundr.ai/submit · DR 64), DokeyAI (https://dokeyai.com/submit · DR 62), Easy With AI (https://easywithai.com/submit-tool/ · DR 60)

Wave 5 — Curated Web Design Galleries (Once Your Landing Page Is Polished)

• One Page Love (https://onepagelove.com/submit · DR 79), Land-book (https://land-book.com/submission-guidelines · DR 66), Recent Design (https://recent.design/signup · DR 64)
• Lapa Ninja (mailto:[email protected] · DR 61), Minimal Gallery (https://minimal.gallery/submit/ · DR 61), Hover States (https://www.hoverstat.es/about/ · DR 56)
• Curated Design (https://www.curated.design/submit · DR 52), Footer Design (https://www.footer.design/submit · DR 52), TOOOLS.design (https://www.toools.design/submission · DR 48)

Need all 856+ vetted directories across 14 categories with DR, organic traffic, link type (dofollow/nofollow), and direct submit links? Unlock the full filterable database with any backlink order at linkdr.com/resources/directories.

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Step 4: Hard Operational Rules for Autonomous Agent Submissions

When running browser or GitHub PR submissions as an AI coding agent, enforce all 10 rules:

1. Zero Unapproved Spend: Submit only to free tiers unless the user explicitly approves a paid fast-track checkout. If a submission lands on a Stripe/PayPal paywall with no free path, record status: "skipped_paid_only" and continue.
2. Privacy & Anti-Scraper Contact Hygiene: Directories get scraped across 500+ aggregator sites. Never submit personal phone numbers, home/registered-agent street addresses, or internal holding LLC names. Always use the product brand name, "Media Relations", a generic role email (press@<domain>), empty phone/address fields, and https://<domain>/contact.
3. Human-Written Factual Copy: Never use em-dashes, emojis, or hype buzzwords ("unleash", "revolutionize", "seamless", "game-changing"). Editors and Awesome-list maintainers auto-reject AI-sounding marketing fluff.
4. Check Agent-First Endpoints Before Browser Forms: Check whether the directory exposes a direct JSON/MCP/agent endpoint first (for example https://awesome.tools/api/tools/submit, /agent, /api/mcp, or /llms.txt) before driving a browser UI.
5. Strict Anti-Honeypot Filter: Never fill any input that is hidden (!isVisible(), aria-hidden="true", tabindex="-1", type="hidden", style*="scale(0)", display:none) or carries spam-trap names/labels (opl_hp_field, _honeypot, bot-field, website_url alongside a visible url field, or "Leave this empty").
6. Unwrap Cross-Origin Embedded Forms: If a /submit page renders an embedded widget ([data-paperform-id], tally.so, typeform.com, airtable.com, embed.fillout.com), open the standalone form URL directly in a top-level tab so inputs and file uploads work cleanly.
7. Asset Readiness: Keep 512×512 PNG + 48×48 WebP logos, a 1200×630 OG image, and three 1280×800 screenshots (<300 KB WebP + PNG) ready before starting batch submissions.
8. Close Email Verification & OTP Loops: Poll or check press@<domain> for magic links and 6-digit verification codes immediately so listings don't stall in unverified state.
9. GitHub Awesome PR Etiquette: Before opening any Awesome-list PR:
   • Read CONTRIBUTING.md, .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md, .github/workflows/, and the last 3 merged PRs. Respect any repo that restricts AI-submitted PRs or SaaS products.
   • Edit the real source-of-truth file (README.md, applications.json, data/*.csv, or multi-locale READMEs), match exact ordering (alphabetical vs. end-of-section) and dash/punctuation style, and strip all ?ref= / UTM parameters.
   • Use a collision-safe fork name (<repo>-<upstream-owner>).
10. Idempotent submissions-log.json Tracking: Check submissions-log.json before every target and append a structured receipt after each attempt:

{
  "name": "Awesome Tools",
  "url": "https://awesome.tools",
  "submissionUrl": "https://awesome.tools/submit",
  "wave": 1,
  "status": "submitted",
  "liveOrPrUrl": "https://awesome.tools/t/yourproduct",
  "submittedAt": "2026-11-11T16:00:00Z",
  "notes": "Free verified dofollow path"
}