Submit Checklist
Web and SaaS
startup directory submission
SHOW HN2018
How HN took it
4 positive, 8 neutral or asking, 4 mixed, 20 critical, out of 36 comments about the project. Thread score -0.37.
Idea: 3 for, 15 againstPricing: 1 for, 1 againstPrivacy: 0 for, 2 againstExecution: 0 for, 1 againstDesign: 0 for, 1 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Handy list of directories
From 2 comments
Whilst this is pretty handy, I balked at the "let us submit for you for $89". Like - eek! Really?! Also - the "get the pdf version" is really a dark pattern since you're not…
philbarr on HNThis is neat! To all of the naysayers - submitting to messageboards is a perfectly fine way to get the word out about a product! Plus, I'd expect it to help with its…
memset on HN
$89 submission service is a bargain for saved time
From 2 comments
Interesting, I actually found the $89 a bargain given how long it will take to just create accounts on all these services before I can submit anything. That alone will take…
canterburry on HNAgreed. $89 is basically 89 cents per submission. My time is worth a lot more than that. I would be glad to pay for this service (and probably will) just for the backlink juice.
goatherders on HN
Objections
Directory submissions are SEO spam with little real traffic
From 3 comments
What's the benefit of directory submissions? 5 visits? If you think are doing it for the magic word called SEO, think again
WhiteSource1 on HNHow is this SEO spam on the front page?
SmellyGeekBoy on HNI'd argue what's the point of submitting to 99% of these? Drive by visits rarely net anything, and I'd be willing to bet most of these won't even generate drive bys.
city41 on HN
Startups should target customers directly, not directories
From 2 comments
AKA how to lose time pretending you are working for your startup. Much better spending the same time acquiring a single customer by talking with people, doing things that do not…
antirez on HNWhy do you think that my _particular_ audience frequents either of these directories? Entrepreneurs should go after their customers, first and foremost. Submitting to irrelevant…
tmoravec on HN
Paid submission risks being flagged as spam and burning press relationships
From 3 comments
Just to be clear, something like this will 99% get marked as a spammer and probably blocked or downvoted in HN. Also, I HN it's very useful that the owner/submitter can answer…
gus_massa on HNI would be glad to pay for this service (and probably will) just for the backlink juice. You should be very wary about doing that. Some of the link in the list are news sites (eg…
onion2k on HNYou didn't submit the link though. When a journalist does a quick search of their email to see what correspondence there's been before they won't see you. They'll see…
onion2k on HN
Many listed directories are inactive or irrelevant
From 2 comments
What's the point of "submitting" to f6s? I only ever use them when I'm entering into a startup competition run through their site. I never thought of them as a place to submit…
gnicholas on HNWow, this reminds me of the days in the late 90's to early 2000's where you would make a Windows downloadable application, and submit it to the hundreds of near identical…
robodale on HN
Requests
Remove the confusing $0 PDF pricing flow
From 3 comments
Whilst this is pretty handy, I balked at the "let us submit for you for $89". Like - eek! Really?! Also - the "get the pdf version" is really a dark pattern since you're not…
philbarr on HNok, maybe dark pattern is a bit strong, but I clearly clicked the button thinking I could just download it, and instead was presented with a form to buy it. It's a least a little…
philbarr on HNThe UX is kind of confusing but it will accept $0 and email you the pdf, just tried it!
chuckgreenman on HN
List of places where customers actually gather
From 1 comment
What would be more interesting to me would be a list of places/social media that my customers frequently visit, and then grab my company name on those sites. Plenty of times I've…
elliottwilliams on HN
Questions
Is there a startup that submits sites for a fee
From 1 comment
wasnt there a startup that submits your site to all these directories for you for a price?
jaequery on HN
Does the directory list help with SEO or backlinks
From 2 comments
I would not submit to every directory, but definitely a good starting point just to get some backlinks, SEO juice, and mentions here and there.
topicseed on HNWhat's the benefit of directory submissions? 5 visits? If you think are doing it for the magic word called SEO, think again
WhiteSource1 on HN
Alternatives named
A startup that submits your site to directories for a fee
From 2 comments
wasnt there a startup that submits your site to all these directories for you for a price?
jaequery on HNNow they will do that for you for a $89 fee. "LET US SUBMIT FOR YOU 89$" A startup about startups about startups.
eruci on HN
Springwise and Beeline Reader as a one-sentence pitch success
From 1 comment
A couple years ago, I saw a similar submission list for startups. Having recently launched, I took the list very seriously — checking out the sites and ranking them in order of…
gnicholas on HN