How to Track Directory Submissions
The 9-column tracker, the follow-up cadence, and the UTM strategy that turn directory submissions from a one-off task into an ongoing SEO and referral channel.
Why Most Founders Lose Track
The typical flow: submit to 50 directories in two days, mean to track them later, never do it. Six months on, you have no idea which listings are live, which broke, which lost DoFollow status, or which actually drove sign-ups.
A simple 9-column tracker fixes this. Set it up once at the start of your submission push, fill it as you go, and audit it quarterly. That alone separates founders who get ongoing SEO and referral value from founders who just collect a one-time list of approval emails.
The 9 Columns You Need
| Column | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Directory Name | For sorting and grouping in audits. |
| Submission URL | The form/page you submitted on, for re-submission if needed. |
| Submission Date | Anchors your follow-up cadence. |
| Status | Pending, Approved, Rejected, Resubmitted, Live. |
| Approval URL | The live listing, the only column that proves the link exists. |
| DR / Domain Rating | Lets you sort the spreadsheet by SEO value at any time. |
| Link Type | DoFollow vs NoFollow, needed for SEO reporting. |
| UTM Source | Used to attribute referral traffic to the directory in analytics. |
| Notes | Reviewer requests, login info hint, or specific issues, which saves you on resubmission. |
Follow-Up Cadence
When to check, when to follow up, when to walk away.
Day 0
Submit listing. Add row to tracker with status = Pending.
Day 7
Email confirmation check because many directories require email confirmation that founders forget.
Day 14
First check on stricter directories. Update status if approval/rejection email received.
Day 30
Follow-up check. If still Pending and the directory has a contact form or social channel, send a polite check-in. Otherwise wait.
Day 60
If still Pending after 60 days with no SLA, mark as Stale and move on.
Quarterly
Audit all Live listings: confirm URL still works, check link is still DoFollow, refresh description if outdated.
UTM Strategy: Attribute Every Sign-Up
Add UTM parameters to the URL you submit. The pattern that works:
https://yoursaas.com/?utm_source=producthunt&utm_medium=directory&utm_campaign=launch2026
utm_source = the directory slug (producthunt, betalist, alternativeto, etc.),
used for filtering.
utm_medium = always "directory", separating this channel from social, email,
ads.
utm_campaign = your batch label (launch2026, q2-2026, ai-push), for cohort comparisons.
Six months later, your analytics will show exactly which directories drove sign-ups vs. just clicks and which ones are worth doubling down on.
Set Up Your Tracker, Then Submit
700+ directories ready when you are. Start the spreadsheet, then start submitting.
| # | Name | DR | Type | Pricing | Link Type | URL | Submit URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Trustpilot | 94.0 | Review Platform | Free | Nofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 2. | SourceForge | 92.0 | Software Directory | Free | Nofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 3. | Clutch | 91.0 | General Directory | Free | Nofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 4. | Hacker News | 91.0 | General Directory | Free | Nofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 5. | Product Hunt | 91.0 | Launchpad | Free | Dofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 6. | CrunchBase | 91.0 | Startup Directory | Free | Nofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 7. | G2 | 91.0 | Review Platform | Free | Dofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 8. | AI Tools Neil Patel | 91.0 | AI Directory | Free | Dofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 9. | Indie Dev Tools | 90.0 | Startup Directory | Free | Dofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 10. | DEV Community | 90.0 | Community | Free | Dofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 11. | Telegraph | 88.0 | Others | Free | Dofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 12. | Devpost | 87.0 | Software Directory | Free | Nofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 13. | FinancesOnline.com | 87.0 | Software Directory | Free | Nofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 14. | Built In | 86.0 | General Directory | Free | Nofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 15. | YourStory | 85.0 | Startup Directory | Free | Dofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 16. | GeekWire | 85.0 | Startup Directory | Free | Nofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 17. | TrustRadius | 84.0 | Review Platform | Free | Nofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 18. | HackMD | 83.0 | Others | Free | Dofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 19. | AppSumo | 83.0 | Software Directory | Free | Dofollow | Visit | Submit |
| 20. | Startup Fame | 83.0 | Startup Directory | Conditional Free | Dofollow | Visit | Submit |
Tracking FAQ
We Track Every Submission for You
Every package ships with a full submission report covering directory, status, approval URL, DR, link type, and notes. UTM-tagged on request. No spreadsheet on your end.
Basic
Ideal for businesses starting their journey to enhanced online visibility.
Choose $60 package- Submission to 60+ directories
- Guaranteed DR increase from 0 to 10+
- Complete submission report
- Paid directories are not included
- Get valuable backlinks
- Generate organic traffic
- Save over 12 hours of your time
- 48-hour turnaround time
Premium
Our most comprehensive package for maximum visibility and SEO impact.
Choose $140 package- Submission to 140+ directories
- Guaranteed DR increase from 0 to 20+
- Complete submission report
- Paid directories are not included
- Get valuable backlinks
- Generate organic traffic
- Save over 28 hours of your time
- 48-hour turnaround time
Standard
Accelerate your growth and expand your online recognition.
Choose $100 package- Submission to 100+ directories
- Guaranteed DR increase from 0 to 15+
- Complete submission report
- Paid directories are not included
- Get valuable backlinks
- Generate organic traffic
- Save over 20 hours of your time
- 48-hour turnaround time
Ready to boost your SaaS?
We're here to help! For a quick response, contact us via email or our X account. We usually reply within 24 hours.
Start Your SaaS Visibility Journey Here
Our expert service takes care of every directory submission, securing more backlinks, driving organic traffic, and dramatically expanding your SaaS's online presence.