find-product-directories
Use whenever the user wants to find, rank, or shortlist directories, listing sites, or launch platforms where they can submit a software product, SaaS, app, tool, or startup — to get backlinks, referral traffic, and launch-day reach. Triggers on "where can I submit my SaaS for launch", "list of Product Hunt alternatives", "directories to get backlinks for our app", "high-authority software listing sites", "where should I list my startup", or "pull submission details for these 8 directory domains", even when described indirectly (we're launching next week, where do we post; how do we get backlinks by listing in directories). 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 and find-ai-directories for AI-tool / AI-agent / agent-skill listings. Skip finding a firm/agency to hire (use the find-* agency skills), finding products *inside* a directory ("recommend the best CRM"), building a directory site (do-the-work), local/business directories for brick-and-mortar listings, and link-building *services*.
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/nostrband/ServiceGraph /tmp/find-product-directories && cp -r /tmp/find-product-directories/skills/find-product-directories ~/.claude/skills/find-product-directoriesSKILL.md
# find-product-directories
Drive the **ServiceGraph API** (`https://api.servicegraph.co`) to find and
rank **directories where a founder can submit a software product** — SaaS
review sites (Capterra, G2, SaaSHub), launch platforms (Product Hunt and its
alternatives), app/startup listings, and general software directories — via
the `product_directory` dataset. The catalog has **1,000+ directories**, each
enriched with **Domain Rating (`dr`)**, backlink counts, and **organic
traffic**, so you can rank by *real SEO value and reach* instead of guessing.
**This is a "where to launch / where to get backlinks" skill, not a "who to
hire" skill.** Each row is a *directory you submit to*, not a firm and not a
product. The payoff for the user is twofold: a **backlink** from a
high-authority domain (SEO) and **launch-day referral traffic**.
Any HTTP client works (curl, fetch, requests). Examples below use curl.
## Sibling skills — defer when the niche is specific
If the user's product is specifically one of these, defer to the dedicated
skill (its catalog slice and recipes are tuned for it):
- **MCP servers** ("where do I list my MCP server", "MCP directories") →
`find-mcp-directories`
- **AI tools / AI agents / agent skills** ("directories for my AI app",
"where to list my AI agent", "agent-skills directories") →
`find-ai-directories`
This skill is the **umbrella** for everything else founders launch — SaaS,
web apps, mobile apps, dev tools, startups in general — and is the right pick
when the ask spans niches or names none.
## MCP server (preferred for authed calls)
If your harness has the ServiceGraph MCP server loaded (recognizable by tool
names containing `servicegraph`), prefer those tools — the harness handles
credentials in its own sandbox via OAuth 2.1 + PKCE, so no token enters LLM
context. Otherwise use the REST flow below.
## API surface (dataset id: `product_directory`)
Every endpoint requires the bearer (`Authorization: Bearer vk_…`). There is
no anonymous tier.
| 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 (e.g. `industry`, `has`). |
| `GET /v1/datasets/product_directory/check?filter=…` | free | Validate a filter. Returns `{valid, normalized}` or `{valid:false, error}`. |
| `POST /v1/datasets/product_directory/translate-intent` | free | `{intent}` → LLM-generated DSL filter + sanity count. |
| `GET /v1/datasets/product_directory/search?filter=…&limit=&offset=` | free | Brief directory 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 batch; 30-day TTL; `was_cached:true` rows free. |
| `GET /v1/me/credits` | free | Balance. |
**Cost model.** Discovery / validation / search / brief reads are free —
including the `dr` ranking signal. Unlocking a row costs **10 credits** and
lasts **30 days**; it reveals the **gated fields**: `editor_note` (the
hand-written submission note — *how* to submit and *whether the listing gives
a backlink*), `organic_traffic`, and `total_visits`. Re-fetching an unlocked
row within TTL is free.
## Auth
Tokens are `vk_*` API keys minted in the dashboard.
**Keep the token out of the LLM context** — never read `.env*` into your
context; dispatch every authed call through a shell wrapper.
1. **Just try the call** through a shell 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 unauthorized`**, prompt the user (don't accept the key in chat):
> "Open **https://servicegraph.co/profile/api-keys**, sign in, click
> **Create key**, and copy the `vk_…` value. Then add
> `SERVICEGRAPH_API_KEY=vk_…` to `.env.local` here (or export it in your
> shell). Tell me when done. Please don't paste the key into chat."
3. **Retry** the same call after the user signals ready. A later 401 means the
key was rotated/revoked — re-prompt.
## Filter DSL
GitHub-search-style.
```
filter := orExpr
orExpr := andExpr ("OR" andExpr)*
andExpr := notExpr (("AND")? notExpr)* # whitespace = implicit AND
notExpr := ("NOT" | "-") notExpr | atom
atom := "(" filter ")" | predicate
predicate:= IDENT op valueOrList | bareword
op := ":" | "=" | ">=" | "<=" | ">" | "<"
```
**Four rules that bite:**
1. **AND binds tighter than OR.** `a OR b c` parses as `a OR (b AND c)`. Use parens.
2. **Comma list = OR within one predicate.** `industry:software_saas,fintech` = either.
3. **Negation is `-x` or `NOT x`.** Use `saas -crm`, not `keyword:saas,-crm`.
4. **Bareword = keyword search.** Free-text substring across the directory's
name, title, description, listed metadata, **and the dir-catalog `niche`
tag** (so `saas` matches dirs whose niche is "SaaS products"). Multiple
barewords AND. Wrap multi-word phrases in double quotes (`"product launch"`).
## Fields that matter here
This dataset ranks directories by *SEO value and reach*, so the numeric
signals are the point:
| Field | Free in brief? | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| `dr` | **yes** | Ahrefs-style Domain Rating 0–100. The **primary authority filter** — a backlink from `dr>=70` is worth far more than from `dr<30`. Briefs are returned **sorted by `dr` descending**, so the strongest domains come first. |
| `referring_main_domains` | yes (when populated) | Distinct apexes linking in — "is this a real backlink source?". `>=100` decent, `>=1000` strong. |
| `backlinks` | yes (when populated) | Total inbound links; a sanity flUse 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.