find-mcp-directories
find-mcp-directories queries the ServiceGraph API to identify and rank directories and registries where builders can list Model Context Protocol servers for backlinks and discovery. Use it when someone asks where to publish their MCP server, submit to MCP registries, or get their server discovered by agent builders. The skill queries a catalog of 1,000+ directories enriched with domain rating and traffic data, focusing specifically on MCP-dedicated registries like registry.modelcontextprotocol.io and smithery.ai.
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/nostrband/ServiceGraph /tmp/find-mcp-directories && cp -r /tmp/find-mcp-directories/skills/find-mcp-directories ~/.claude/skills/find-mcp-directoriesSKILL.md
# find-mcp-directories
Drive the **ServiceGraph API** (`https://api.servicegraph.co`) to find and
rank **directories and registries where a builder can list an MCP server**
(Model Context Protocol) via the `product_directory` dataset. The catalog has
**1,000+ directories**; ~20 are dedicated **MCP registries** (e.g.
`registry.modelcontextprotocol.io`, `smithery.ai`, `mcp.so`, `glama.ai`,
`pulsemcp.com`), each enriched with **Domain Rating (`dr`)**, backlinks, and
**organic traffic**.
**This is a "where to publish / where to get backlinks" skill, not a "who to
hire" skill.** Each row is a *registry you submit to*, not a firm and not a
server. The payoff is a **backlink** from a high-authority domain (SEO) plus
**discovery** by agent builders browsing for servers.
Any HTTP client works (curl, fetch, requests). Examples below use curl.
## Sibling skills — defer when the niche is broader
- **General AI tools / AI agents / agent skills** ("where to list my AI tool",
"agent-skills directories") → `find-ai-directories`. (Several registries list
MCP servers *and* skills/tools — if the artifact is specifically an MCP
server, this skill is the right pick.)
- **General SaaS / software / app launch** ("Product Hunt alternatives") →
`find-product-directories`.
## MCP server (preferred for authed calls)
If your harness has the ServiceGraph MCP server loaded (tool names contain
`servicegraph`), prefer those tools — credentials stay in the harness sandbox
via OAuth 2.1 + PKCE, no token in LLM context. Otherwise use the REST flow.
## API surface (dataset id: `product_directory`)
Every endpoint requires the bearer (`Authorization: Bearer vk_…`).
| Endpoint | Cost | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| `GET /v1/datasets/product_directory/fields[?include_values=1&q=]` | free | Filter-field catalog + DSL grammar. Call first per session. |
| `GET /v1/datasets/product_directory/values/:field[?q=&limit=]` | free | Enumerate values for one field. |
| `GET /v1/datasets/product_directory/check?filter=…` | free | Validate a filter. |
| `POST /v1/datasets/product_directory/translate-intent` | free | `{intent}` → DSL filter + sanity count. |
| `GET /v1/datasets/product_directory/search?filter=…&limit=&offset=` | free | Brief cards (incl. `dr`) + per-row `unlock` hint + `total`. |
| `GET /v1/datasets/product_directory/:apex` | free | Single row brief; **gated fields only if unlocked**. |
| `POST /v1/datasets/product_directory/unlocks` | **10 credits / row** | `{apexes:[...]}` ≤100. Atomic; 30-day TTL; `was_cached:true` free. |
| `GET /v1/me/credits` | free | Balance. |
**Cost model.** Discovery / search / brief reads are free — including the `dr`
ranking signal. Unlocking a row costs **10 credits**, lasts **30 days**, and
reveals the **gated fields**: `editor_note` (how to submit + whether the
listing gives a backlink), `organic_traffic`, and `total_visits`.
## Auth
Tokens are `vk_*` API keys. **Keep the token out of the LLM context** — never
read `.env*` into context; route authed calls through a shell wrapper.
1. **Try the call** through a wrapper that sources `.env.local`:
```bash
( set -a; [ -f .env.local ] && . ./.env.local; set +a;
curl -sS -H "Authorization: Bearer $SERVICEGRAPH_API_KEY" \
'https://api.servicegraph.co/v1/datasets/product_directory/fields' )
```
2. **On `401`**, prompt the user (don't accept the key in chat):
> "Open **https://servicegraph.co/profile/api-keys**, sign in, create a key,
> and add `SERVICEGRAPH_API_KEY=vk_…` to `.env.local` (or export it). Tell me
> when done — please don't paste the key into chat."
3. **Retry** after the user signals ready.
## Filter DSL
GitHub-search-style. AND binds tighter than OR; comma list = OR within one
predicate; negation is `-x` / `NOT x`; any **bareword is a keyword search**
across the directory's name, title, description, listed metadata, **and the
`niche` tag** (so `mcp` matches dirs whose niche is "MCP servers"). Multiple
barewords AND; wrap multi-word phrases in double quotes.
```
mcp dr>=60
mcp OR "model context protocol"
mcp servers # → keyword:mcp AND keyword:servers
```
## Fields that matter here
| Field | Free in brief? | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| `dr` | **yes** | Domain Rating 0–100 — the primary authority filter. Briefs come **sorted by `dr` descending**, so rank for free. |
| `referring_main_domains`, `backlinks`, `organic_keywords` | yes (when populated) | Backlink-source strength signals. |
| `organic_traffic`, `total_visits` | **gated** | Real reach. Filterable while hidden (`organic_traffic>=1000`); value shows after unlock. |
| `editor_note` | **gated** | Submission instructions + backlink yes/no. |
| `industry`, `has` | yes | Coarse refiners; for MCP the `mcp` keyword on `niche` is sharpest. |
Because `dr` is free and briefs are pre-sorted by it, **rank a shortlist by
authority for zero credits** — unlock only to reveal submission notes + traffic.
## Identifying rows — `apex`
Keyed by **apex domain** (`smithery.ai`, not a full URL; subdomains like
`registry.modelcontextprotocol.io` are kept as-is when that's the catalog
key). Strip user-supplied URLs before `:apex` or unlock calls.
## Recipes
### A. The MCP registry shortlist
User: *"Where should I list our new MCP server?"*
```
GET /v1/datasets/product_directory/search?filter=mcp&limit=20
# → registry.modelcontextprotocol.io (dr 90), smithery.ai (75), glama.ai (72),
# mcp.so (72), cursor.directory (69), pulsemcp.com (68), … sorted by dr desc
```
Present the top N by `dr` (free).
### B. High-authority only (backlink quality)
User: *"Only the registries with real domain authority for SEO."*
```
GET /v1/datasets/product_directory/search?filter=mcp+dr>=60&limit=15
# → the ~7 strongest MCP registries by DR
```
### C. Rank by real reach (organic traffic)
`organic_traffic` is gated but **filterable** — gate to surface high-traffic
registries, then unlock to see the numbers:
```
GET /v1/datasets/product_direcUse whenever the user wants to find, shortlist, vet, or enrich US AI/ML/data consulting firms (consultancies) — AI/ML development, MLOps, generative AI / LLM apps (RAG, chatbots, agents), computer vision, NLP, recommendation systems, data engineering, BI/analytics. Triggers on "find an AI/ML consulting firm to build our recommendation engine", "shortlist three RAG/LLM consultancies for an enterprise chatbot", "compare three AI/ML consulting firms with strong ratings", or "pull contact info for these 8 AI consultancy domains", even when described indirectly (we want to use AI for X, deploy ML to production). Drives the ServiceGraph API (api.servicegraph.co) — a 100k+ US firm catalog filterable by industry, services, location, size, ratings. Defer to find-software-developer for general app/backend work where AI is just a feature. Skip in-house ML/data hires, LLM/AI-tool comparisons (ChatGPT vs Claude), "how do I fine-tune X" DIY questions, AI courses for individuals, non-US firms, individual freelancers.
Use whenever the user wants to find, rank, or shortlist directories and listing sites where they can submit an AI product — an AI tool, AI app, AI agent, or agent skill / plugin — to get backlinks, referral traffic, and discovery. Triggers on "where can I list my AI tool", "directories to submit my AI agent", "agent-skills directories", "best AI tool directories for backlinks", "where do I get my GPT/Claude app discovered", or "pull submission details for these AI-directory domains", even when described indirectly (we built an AI agent, where do we get it in front of people). Drives the ServiceGraph API (api.servicegraph.co) — a catalog of 1,000+ product directories enriched with Domain Rating, backlinks, and organic traffic. Defer to find-mcp-directories for MCP-server listings specifically, and to find-product-directories for general SaaS/software/app launches with no AI angle. Skip finding an AI consultancy/agency to hire (use find-ai-consultancy), comparing AI products ("ChatGPT vs Claude"), building an AI tool (do-the-work), and AI link-building *services*.
Use whenever the user wants to find, shortlist, vet, or enrich US accounting and tax firms (CPA firms) — financial-statement audit, SOC 1/2 audit, corporate tax, bookkeeping for businesses, advisory/fractional CFO, M&A diligence, 409A valuations, R&D tax credits, IPO readiness, sales-and-use tax. Triggers on "find me a CPA firm for our delaware c-corp series A audit", "shortlist three audit firms with SaaS experience", "we need a tax advisor for our M&A", or "pull contact info for these 10 accounting firm domains", even when described indirectly (audit our books, fractional CFO support, file our 1120). Drives the ServiceGraph API (api.servicegraph.co) — a 100k+ US firm catalog filterable by industry, services, location, size, ratings. Skip personal/consumer tax preparation (1040, individual estate, retirement planning), in-house controller/CFO hires, "how do I file my taxes" DIY questions, accounting-software comparisons (QuickBooks vs Xero), non-US firms, individual freelance bookkeepers.
Use whenever the user wants to find, shortlist, vet, or enrich US cybersecurity firms — pen-testing/red team, security audits, vCISO, SOC 2 readiness, incident response, managed SOC, IAM, cloud security, and AppSec. Triggers on "find me a pen-testing firm for our SOC 2 audit", "shortlist three vCISO services for our healthcare-tech startup", "we need an incident response retainer", or "pull contact info for these 8 security firm domains", even when described indirectly (we got breached, prepare us for the compliance audit, get us SOC 2 ready). Drives the ServiceGraph API (api.servicegraph.co) — a 100k+ US firm catalog filterable by industry, services, location, size, ratings. Skip in-house security hires, "how do I patch CVE-X" or "configure firewall Y" DIY questions, security-product reviews (CrowdStrike vs SentinelOne, etc.), generic security knowledge questions, consumer/personal security advice, non-US firms, individual freelancers and bug-bounty hunters.
Use whenever the user wants to find, shortlist, vet, or enrich US design and creative agencies — graphic design, UX/UI, product design, brand identity, packaging, illustration, motion design, and creative direction. Triggers on "find me a UX/UI design agency for our SaaS product", "shortlist three brand-identity studios in NY", "packaging design firm for a CPG launch", or "pull contact info for these 10 design studio domains", even when described indirectly (brand refresh, design our app, build our visual system). Drives the ServiceGraph API (api.servicegraph.co) — a 100k+ US firm catalog filterable by industry, services, location, size, ratings. Defer to find-marketing-agency for marketing-led engagements where design is one of several services. Defer to find-web-developer when the deliverable is a built website. Skip in-house designer hires, "design me a logo" DIY asks, design-software comparisons, consumer/personal-design (weddings, hobby projects), non-US firms, individual freelancers.
Use whenever the user wants to find, shortlist, vet, or enrich US engineering firms — civil, structural, MEP, mechanical, electrical, geotechnical, transportation, environmental, and manufacturing. **For real-world engineering (buildings, infrastructure, manufacturing) — NOT software engineering.** Triggers on "find civil engineering firms in Florida for transportation", "shortlist three structural engineering firms with high-rise experience", "MEP consultancy for a hospital project", or "pull contact info for these 12 engineering firm domains", even when described indirectly (PE-stamped drawings, building-permit review). Drives the ServiceGraph API (api.servicegraph.co) — a 100k+ US firm catalog filterable by industry, services, location, size, ratings. Defer software-dev / "engineering team" / SaaS-architecture asks to find-software-developer. Skip in-house engineering-manager hires, DIY questions, software-product comparisons (Revit, AutoCAD), non-US firms, individual freelancers.
Use whenever the user wants to find, shortlist, vet, or enrich US B2B law firms — corporate, IP/patent, M&A and securities, employment, commercial litigation, regulatory/compliance, data privacy/cyber, real estate, and tax. Triggers on "find three boutique IP law firms in California", "shortlist M&A counsel for a Series-B fundraise", "patent prosecution for our hardware startup", or "pull contact info for these 10 law firm domains", even when described indirectly (outside counsel, cap-table review, GDPR/SOC2 oversight). Drives the ServiceGraph API (api.servicegraph.co) — a 100k+ US firm catalog filterable by industry, services, location, size, ratings. Skip personal/consumer legal services where the user is the end client (divorce, personal injury, criminal defense, family law, estate planning, wills) — the catalog is B2B-only. Also skip in-house GC hires, "is this NDA enforceable" DIY questions, non-US firms, individual freelancers.
Use whenever the user wants to find, shortlist, vet, or enrich US management consultancies — strategy, operations, executive coaching, leadership development, org-development/change management, PMO/program management, sales/revenue operations consulting. Triggers on "find me three top strategy consultancies in California", "shortlist boutique ops-consulting firms with healthcare experience", "we need an executive coach for our new CEO", or "pull contact info for these 10 consulting firm domains", even when described indirectly (post-merger integration help, change-management partner, fractional COO). Drives the ServiceGraph API (api.servicegraph.co) — a 100k+ US firm catalog filterable by industry, services, location, size, ratings. Skip in-house strategy hires, "help me build a strategy" do-the-work asks, framework comparisons (Lean vs Agile, BCG matrix, etc.), academic/MBA-program questions, life/career coaching for individuals, non-US firms, individual freelancers.