find-mcp-directories
Use whenever the user wants to find, rank, or shortlist directories and registries where they can submit or list an MCP server (Model Context Protocol server) — to get backlinks, referral traffic, and discovery by agent builders. Triggers on "where do I list my MCP server", "best MCP directories", "MCP registries to submit to", "get my MCP server discovered", or "pull submission details for these MCP-directory domains", even when described indirectly (we built an MCP server, where do we publish it). 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-ai-directories for general AI-tool / AI-agent / agent-skill listings, and to find-product-directories for general SaaS/software launches. Skip building an MCP server or asking how MCP works (DIY), finding a firm to build one (use find-ai-consultancy / find-software-developer), and MCP link-building *services*.
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.