Where to list your product after launch
George · 3 min read
The short answer: list your product where your users already look: launch boards, niche and integration directories, newsletters, and communities with a place to show projects. Skip mass directory submissions, reuse one listing kit everywhere, and keep the places that actually send you visitors.
Your launch day is over. You got some visitors, maybe a few signups, and a launch page that will stay online. The next step is to be findable in more of the places your future users look.
There are hundreds of directories and lists online. Some are worth your time. Many are not. Here is how to choose.
Start with places your users already visit
The best listing is one your target user actually browses. Before submitting anywhere, ask: would the people I am building for ever visit this site?
- Launch boards where people come to discover new products.
- Niche directories for your category, such as tools for designers, developers, or marketers.
- Marketplaces and integration directories for the platforms you connect to. If your product works with a popular tool, its app directory may be the best listing you can get.
- Communities with a showcase or "show your project" thread, following their rules.
A listing on a small site your users love beats ten listings on huge sites nobody browses.
Comparison and alternatives pages
Many people search for "alternatives to" a well-known product. Sites that publish alternative lists can send motivated visitors who are already looking to switch. If your product is a genuine alternative to something popular, it is worth being listed there.
You can also write your own comparison page on your site, as long as it is fair and accurate.
Newsletters and roundups
Many niche newsletters feature new tools each week. Reaching out with a short, specific note about why your product suits their readers often works better than a generic press release. Read a few issues first so your pitch fits.
Be careful with mass directory submissions
You will see services offering to submit your product to hundreds of directories at once. Be careful:
- Many of those directories get little real traffic.
- Some exist mainly to sell listings and links.
- Large numbers of low-quality links do little for search and can look unnatural.
A handful of relevant listings with real visitors usually beats hundreds of automatic ones.
Prepare a listing kit
Most sites ask for the same things. Write them once and reuse them:
- Product name and one-line description.
- A short and a long description.
- Logo in a square format.
- Three to five screenshots, the first one showing the main result.
- Categories and tags.
- Links: website, pricing, and social profiles.
- Founder name and a short bio.
Keep the descriptions consistent across sites. Mentions that describe your product the same way help people, search engines, and AI tools understand what you do.
Keep your own launch page working for you
Your ShipDesk.dev launch page stays online after your week ends, with your description, screenshots, and a followed link to your site. It appears in the list of every launch, in its categories, and on your founder page. If your launch finished in the top three, the medal stays on the page.
Put your badge on your website if you want visitors to see where you launched, and keep your launch page's description current when your product changes.
Track what each listing brings
Use your analytics to see which listings actually send visitors and signups. Add a simple tag to the links you control, such as a ref parameter, so you can tell sources apart. After a month, drop the places that brought nothing and spend more time where your users really are.
A simple plan for the month after launch
- Write your listing kit once.
- Pick five to ten places your users actually visit.
- Submit to integration and niche directories first.
- Pitch two or three relevant newsletters with a personal note.
- Check your analytics after a few weeks.
- Double down on what worked, and skip what did not.
Launching once gets you seen. Being listed in the right places keeps you findable long after launch week.