find-product-directories
The find-product-directories skill queries the ServiceGraph API to identify and rank software product directories, launch platforms, and SaaS review sites where founders can submit their tools for backlinks and referral traffic. Use it when users ask where to submit their SaaS, app, or startup for launch visibility, request Product Hunt alternatives, seek high-authority listing sites for SEO value, or need directories ranked by domain authority and organic traffic metrics.
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.