Suede Directory Distribution

Suede treats directory distribution as a verifiable discovery layer, not a submission-count contest. Build the user's backlink and buyer-discovery foundation by selecting the right directories, sequencing them around real launch moments, adapting truthful positioning, and checking that each listing and backlink actually landed.

Iron Law, approval is per destination:

No external submission, account creation, paid placement, or review request
happens without explicit approval for that exact destination, copy, assets,
timing, and maximum cost. Approval for research or for another destination
never transfers. Any delta is re-approved before it ships.

Before Starting

Check for product marketing context first: If .agents/product-marketing.md exists (or .claude/product-marketing.md, or the legacy product-marketing-context.md filename, in older setups), read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task.

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Core Philosophy

Directory submissions can add discovery surfaces, referral paths, and backlinks, but their value varies by product, directory, listing quality, and current platform rules. Treat each benefit as a hypothesis to verify with listing status, referral analytics, search data, and qualified outcomes. A directory plan complements destination pages and other distribution; it does not guarantee authority, citation, traffic, ranking, or leads.

The full directory catalog lives in references/directory-list.md. The positioning variant library lives in references/positioning-variations.md. The submission tracker template lives in references/submission-tracker-template.csv.

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Three Operating Rules

Rule 1: Foundation before submission

Before recommending a submission, verify the directory's current official requirements and record the source URL and check date. The linked page should be publicly reachable, truthful, useful to the directory's audience, and measurable. Prepare only the assets the current form requires, using real product screenshots and approved brand files. Add pricing, legal pages, video, schema, or additional formats when the product, jurisdiction, or verified directory rules call for them; do not invent universal prerequisites.

Rule 2: Destination pages before directories

Choose the most relevant verified destination for each audience: a homepage, use-case page, integration page, comparison page, template, or documentation page. It must accurately fulfill the listing promise and have a measurable next step. Do not impose a fixed page count or block a suitable listing merely because an unrelated content type does not exist.

Rule 3: Positioning varies by directory type

Adapt the description to the directory's verified fields, audience, and rules. Reuse approved facts, but change emphasis when that improves relevance; do not claim that duplicate descriptions trigger a search or AI penalty without current evidence. See references/positioning-variations.md for templates.

Surface	Lead with	Why
Startup directories	Outcome	Audience is other founders. They care what it does.
SaaS directories	Alternative framing	People search "[competitor] alternative": meet them there.
AI directories	AI-first architecture	TAAFT/Futurepedia audiences explicitly want AI tools.
Agent/MCP directories	Agent/MCP angle	Use only for a live compatible capability.
No-code directories	Ease + power	Audience values speed-to-build over depth.
Dev directories	Technical depth	Dev audiences reward technical substance.
B2B review sites	ROI + use case	Buyers want outcomes and case studies.

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Workflow

Step 1: Readiness assessment (Phase 0)

Assess the selected directory against current requirements:

1. Is the product publicly accessible (no password wall)?
2. Is there a pricing page (even "free while in beta")?
3. Are privacy policy + terms live?
4. Are the required approved logo, screenshot, and video assets available?
5. Does the destination page match the proposed listing copy and CTA?
6. Is referral and conversion measurement configured?
7. Does the current directory policy allow this product, claim set, and category?
8. For review sites, are there genuine eligible users and a policy-compliant ask?
9. Who has authority to create the account, accept terms, and submit?

A missing current platform requirement, truthful destination, or submission authority is a hard block for that directory. At the block: stop work on that directory, name the blocker in one line ("<directory>: missing <requirement>"), list the resolution options (obtain the requirement, substitute a truthful destination, get explicit submission authority, or drop the directory from the tier), and wait for the user's pick before submitting there. Other gaps are prioritization inputs, not universal launch blockers.

Step 2: Choose the tiers

Full catalog in references/directory-list.md. Summary:

Tier	When	Illustrative candidates to verify
Flagship launch	Around a relevant launch	Product Hunt, BetaList, HN Show HN, Fazier, DevHunt
Startup/SaaS	Launch and rolling	AlternativeTo, SaaSHub, G2, Capterra, F6S
AI directories	If the product has a substantiated AI capability	TAAFT, Futurepedia, Toolify, Future Tools
Agent/MCP registries	If a live compatible integration exists	Glama, APITracker, LF MCP Registry
No-code directories	If the product genuinely serves that audience	NoCodeFinder, No Code MBA
Integration marketplaces	When the integration ships	The integration owner's official marketplace
Profiles and vertical directories	When audience and category fit	Relevant company profiles or industry-specific catalogs

Triage rule: Only submit where the product is a genuine fit under the platform's current eligibility and category rules.

Step 3: Prepare asset variations

For each tier, prep distinct variants from references/positioning-variations.md only after inspecting the destination's current form:

• Tagline sized to the verified field limit
• Short description sized to the verified field limit
• Long description sized to the verified field limit
• Category tags limited to the verified taxonomy and product fit
• Logo assets
• Screenshots + demo video URL
• Founder story (2–3 sentences)

Keep facts consistent and approved. Adapt length and emphasis to each verified form without inventing features, customers, outcomes, or platform support.

Step 4: Batch submit

Set up the tracker spreadsheet (references/submission-tracker-template.csv). Work in evidence-backed approval batches of 3–5 directories. At the cap, submit, verify, and report that batch's results before opening the next one. Every submission is gated by the Iron Law: show the exact public copy, assets, account, destination, timing, and maximum cost first.

Per submission:

1. Verify the current form, rules, price, and account identity.
2. Prepare the exact field values and assets as a reviewable draft.
3. Obtain explicit approval for that destination (Iron Law).
4. Fill and upload only the approved values.
5. Pause before any changed price, upsell, or materially different rendered preview; re-approve the delta.
6. Submit once, then capture confirmation.
7. Log: date, URL, status, moderator notes.
8. Once live, fetch the canonical listing URL, locate the anchor pointing at the destination in the rendered HTML, and record its rel value, redirect behavior, resolved destination, and the check date in the tracker. Absence of rel in response headers does not prove link attributes: inspect the rendered page, and log the method used.

Reporting rule: a listing is reported live only when the tracker's Live URL, Rendered Link Attributes, and Destination Verified cells are all filled with a check date. Anything else is reported as submitted, unverified.

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Flagship Launch Listing

For any time-sensitive launch surface, research the platform before building the plan. Use its current official help, submission form, and community rules; record the URLs and check date. Do not present remembered algorithm behavior, ideal launch times, asset dimensions, hunter effects, or engagement thresholds as facts.

Preparation milestones

• Confirm eligibility, account standing, moderation rules, scheduling options, required assets, and prohibited promotion.
• Draft truthful positioning, an approved maker story, real product visuals, and a working destination CTA in the exact current form limits.
• Preview the listing and test the product, signup, analytics, and support path.
• Build a communication plan from channels the user owns or is authorized to use.
• Assign a responder for genuine questions and feedback.

Launch and follow-through

• Publish only after the user authorizes the listing, timing, and public copy.
• Follow current solicitation and outreach policies. Do not manipulate voting, fabricate engagement, or message people without a legitimate relationship and authorization.
• Respond helpfully, log referrals and qualified outcomes, and capture lessons.
• Share a recap only where current community rules permit it.

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Reviews Playbook

Review directories can help buyers evaluate products, but eligibility, incentive, moderation, badge, report, and paid-plan rules change. Before recommending a campaign:

1. Read the current official review and incentive policy for the chosen platform.
2. Record the source URL, check date, eligibility rules, deadlines, and maximum verified cost.
3. Identify real users with firsthand product experience; never manufacture, gate, pre-score, or script reviews.
4. Get explicit authorization for the recipient list, wording, channel, cadence, and any incentive before outreach.
5. Track requests, completed reviews, moderation status, referral outcomes, and complaints. Set targets from the actual eligible pool and user goals.

Do not claim a badge threshold, report cutoff, ownership relationship, incentive permission, plan price, or expected response rate unless it was verified from a current authoritative source. A small customer base is a planning constraint, not automatic proof that a listing is worthless.

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Destination Pages Strategy (What the Backlinks Point At)

Match each listing to the most useful truthful page available. A homepage can be appropriate when it satisfies the audience and promise; a specialized page may be better when evidence supports it.

Page type	Build it when
Alternatives page (/alternatives/[competitor])	Current customer or search evidence shows comparison intent
Use-case / ICP page (/for/[audience], /use-cases/[use-case])	Demand and product evidence justify a dedicated page
Template or asset gallery (/templates/[slug])	Templates carry standalone value and activation is measurable
Self-authored category roundup	The team can research the category and disclose its methodology
Integration page	The integration is live and the page explains setup, capabilities, and limits

On any comparison or roundup page: verify material competitor claims, state clearly when each option fits, date the comparison, and correct it when the facts change. Set output volume from quality capacity and measured demand, not a borrowed traffic or revenue story, and do not promise ranking or AI citation.

Page production at scale belongs to suede-programmatic-seo; comparison-page strategy belongs to suede-competitors.

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GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)

Directories and destination pages may appear in search and answer engines. Treat visibility as an observable outcome, not a guaranteed effect of authority scores or markup.

On-page citation tactics (headings, schema, source-dated facts, comparison tables) are owned by suede-seo-audit. Two rules stay this skill's own: earn genuine third-party discussion rather than seeding or fabricating citations, and keep authorized company profiles and live-integration registry entries consistent with verified entity facts.

Measurement

Use authorized, currently callable tools or manual checks to sample relevant queries. Record engine, account context, prompt, locale, date, result, and whether the result is reproducible. Verify any tracking product and its cost before recommending it.

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Community & Ongoing Distribution

Most directory submissions are episodic; community participation is ongoing. Measure each as a separate source before combining funnel conclusions.

Cross-posts and community links are still backlinks: publish only where the community's current rules permit it, use a canonical URL where the platform supports one, and verify the rendered link with the same Step 4.8 check applied to directory listings.

Channel selection, cadence, and post formats belong to suede-community-marketing, suede-social, and suede-content-strategy.

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KPIs & Tracking

Set baselines and goals from the user's current analytics, eligible audience, capacity, and launch objective. Do not use generic day-based forecasts.

Metric	Baseline	User-approved goal	Source and check date
Listings submitted and live
Verified referring links
Directory referral sessions
Qualified conversions by listing
Review requests and published reviews
Search or answer-engine observations
Cost and team time

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What NOT to Do

1. Don't buy a mass-submission package without diligence and explicit approval. Verify exact destinations, editorial standards, data handling, rights, maximum cost, and refund terms.
2. Don't submit to low-quality or deceptive directories. Evaluate audience fit, moderation, live traffic evidence, existing listings, outbound-link behavior, and reputation rather than relying on one authority score.
3. Don't treat directories as your entire GTM. Compare them with content, community, reviews, partnerships, and other measured channels.
4. Don't churn listings without evidence. Set a review cadence from product changes, platform notices, and observed listing issues.
5. Don't over-index on launch-day spike. The flywheel is templates + alternatives + reviews + ongoing content, not one day of PH.

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Task-Specific Questions

1. What are you launching? (Category changes tier mix. AI vs traditional SaaS vs no-code vs dev tool.)
2. When is launch day? (Work backward from verified platform requirements.)
3. Do you have destination pages built? (Alternatives, use cases, templates: if not, build first.)
4. Which flagship surface is being considered, and what do its current rules require?
5. How many eligible users could receive a policy-compliant review request?
6. Do you have a live tested MCP or agent capability? (If yes, verify compatible registries.)
7. Existing integrations? (If yes, verify each owner's marketplace eligibility.)
8. Which owned audiences can be contacted, and has the user authorized outreach?
9. Current DR and referring domain count? (Baseline for measuring the compounding effect.)

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Output Format

When the user asks for a directory plan, return:

1. Readiness assessment: which Phase 0 items are missing, which block submission
2. Tier selection: which tiers apply, which to skip, why
3. Submission order: evidence-backed batches mapped to current requirements
4. Destination page list: what to build first if missing
5. Positioning variants: the actual copy per tier (from references/positioning-variations.md)
6. Flagship listing timeline: mapped from current rules to calendar dates
7. Policy-compliant review plan: eligible audience, authorization, copy, cadence
8. Weekly measurement plan: baselines and user-approved goals
9. Tracker: link to or include the CSV from references/submission-tracker-template.csv

Keep the plan actionable. Every item should be something the user can do today.

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Boundaries

• Do not claim a directory is dofollow, indexed, high-authority, or producing leads without a current check.
• Do not submit listings, create accounts, publish copy, buy placements, or request reviews without explicit authorization.
• Do not fabricate traffic, ranking, review, or citation outcomes; label estimates and record the evidence date.
• Do not decide positioning or public product claims when the required product context is missing.

Routing

• Use suede-launch-packaging for the broader launch sequence.
• Use suede-programmatic-seo for destination pages and suede-seo-audit for search or citation checks.
• Use suede-competitors for comparison-page strategy and suede-content-strategy for editorial support.
• Use suede-free-tools for interactive destination assets, and suede-community-marketing, suede-social, or suede-content-strategy for community and social distribution.
• Use suede-public-relations when a flagship launch also warrants earned media.
• From those skills, route directory selection, listing positioning, and backlink verification back to suede-directory-submissions.