Krzysztof
    Krzysztof•Updated January 2025

    (guy who created LaunchDirectories)

    The 10 Highest Authority Directories to List Your Product

    Domain authority matters for SEO, credibility, and the quality of traffic you'll get. These high-authority directories can boost your search rankings while driving targeted visitors who are actively looking for products like yours.

    I've personally submitted to all of these platforms and tracked the results. Some drove immediate traffic, others built long-term SEO value. A few did both. The key is understanding what each platform offers and how to approach them strategically.

    This isn't just a list of high DR sites - it's a strategic guide to the directories that actually move the needle for startups. Each entry includes real experiences, traffic potential, and specific tactics for getting accepted and maximizing your results.

    High Authority Directories Ranked by Domain Rating

    1

    Reddit

    Reddit is brutal but worth it. I've seen founders get 50K+ visitors from a single well-timed post in r/SideProject or r/entrepreneur. The trick? Don't sell anything. Share your journey, ask for feedback, or post something genuinely helpful. I once shared a failed startup story and got more leads than any paid campaign. The community will destroy you if you're being promotional, but they'll champion you if you're being real. Focus on subreddits where your target users hang out, not just startup ones.
    DR 95 • 1.7B monthly visits • Free
    Visit Site
    2

    TechCrunch

    Getting covered by TechCrunch is like winning the startup lottery. Most indie hackers will never make it here unless they've raised serious money or built something genuinely revolutionary. But here's the thing - their paid content options exist, and sometimes that's your only shot. I know founders who've paid for sponsored content and seen immediate investor interest. The organic route needs a compelling story: hitting $1M ARR, solving a massive problem, or having impressive growth metrics. Don't waste time pitching a standard SaaS tool.
    DR 94 • 35M monthly visits • Paid
    Visit Site
    3

    Product Hunt

    Dofollow
    Product Hunt is where every founder thinks they'll 'make it,' but most launches fizzle out. I've launched 3 products here - one hit #1, two barely got noticed. The difference? Community prep. Start building relationships 2-3 weeks before launch, not the day of. The 12:01 AM PST thing is real - set alarms. Even if you don't hit the top 5, you'll get solid early feedback and a permanent page that ranks well in Google. The traffic spike lasts about 48 hours, so have your onboarding dialed in.
    DR 92 • 4.2M monthly visits • Free
    Visit Site
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    4

    Hacker News

    Hacker News is where the real techies hang out - engineers from big tech, successful founders, and VCs who actually know what they're talking about. Getting to the front page is pure gold but incredibly hard. I've had posts get 500+ upvotes and others die at 2. The secret sauce? Either solve a technical problem everyone has, share genuine insights from building something, or ask a question that sparks debate. Don't bother with fluff content. The comments can be brutal but they're usually right. Even small discussions here beat most other traffic sources.
    DR 88 • 7.2M monthly visits • Free
    Visit Site
    5

    AngelList

    Dofollow
    AngelList is essential if you're fundraising, but it's also useful for recruiting and getting on investors' radars even when you're not actively raising. I've gotten inbound interest just from having a solid profile. The key is being specific about your traction - actual numbers, not vague growth statements. Update it regularly with new metrics and milestones. Even bootstrap founders should have a presence here because investors browse for interesting companies. The job board side (Wellfound) is solid for startup hiring too.
    DR 85 • 2.1M monthly visits • Free + Paid
    Visit Site
    6

    AlternativeTo

    AlternativeTo is a hidden gem for SaaS founders. People go there specifically looking for alternatives to existing tools, so the traffic is incredibly targeted. I get consistent signups every month from my listing there, and it ranks super well in Google for '[competitor] alternative' searches. The trick is positioning yourself correctly - don't try to be an alternative to everything. Pick 2-3 similar tools and focus on what makes you different. Users leave real reviews, which helps with social proof too.
    DR 80 • 8.5M monthly visits • Free
    Visit Site
    7

    Indie Hackers

    Dofollow
    Indie Hackers is home base for bootstrap founders. This is where you'll find the most honest conversations about building profitable businesses without VC money. Share your revenue milestones, ask for advice on growth tactics, or just vent about the struggles. The community actually helps each other instead of just networking. I've made genuine founder friends here and gotten solid business advice. Post your monthly updates, share what's working, and be transparent about your numbers. The forum discussions often turn into customer discovery goldmines.
    DR 75 • 1.1M monthly visits • Free
    Visit Site
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    8

    About.me

    About.me is basically a professional homepage that ranks really well in Google when someone searches your name. As a founder, this is crucial when investors, journalists, or potential partners look you up. Mine shows up #2 when you Google my name. Keep it simple - what you're building, your background, and how to reach you. It's especially useful if you have a common name that gets buried in search results. Takes 30 minutes to set up and gives you a clean, professional presence online.
    DR 70 • 2.8M monthly visits • Free
    Visit Site
    9

    BetaList

    Dofollow
    BetaList is perfect for pre-launch and early-stage products. The audience is genuinely interested in trying new tools, not just browsing. I submitted my SaaS 2 weeks before launch and got 800 email signups plus incredibly detailed feedback from beta users. They're picky about what they accept, so make sure your product is actually ready for testing. The traffic isn't massive, but it's high-quality early adopters who'll give you real feedback and become your first advocates if you build something they love.
    DR 65 • 180K monthly visits • Free
    Visit Site
    10

    SaaSHub

    SaaSHub is another solid option for B2B SaaS tools. It's like AlternativeTo but specifically for software-as-a-service products. The users here are decision-makers researching solutions for their companies, so the leads tend to be more qualified. I get 2-3 demo requests per month from my listing. Make sure your pricing and feature descriptions are accurate because people use this for actual software evaluation. It's not flashy, but it brings consistent, targeted traffic from people with budgets.
    DR 62 • 1.2M monthly visits • Free
    Visit Site

    Sources: Domain Rating scores from Ahrefs third-party tools (2025), traffic estimates from SimilarWeb and internal analytics.Disclaimer: Domain ratings and traffic numbers are estimates and may vary. Results are based on personal experience and may not reflect your specific outcomes.

    Why High Authority Directories Matter

    85+ DR

    Average domain rating of top 5 directories

    SEO Boost

    Backlinks from high authority sites improve rankings

    Quality Traffic

    Higher conversion rates from authority sites

    Authority vs. Relevance Strategy

    High domain authority doesn't always mean high conversion rates. Reddit (DR 95) can drive massive traffic but low conversions if you're not authentic. TechCrunch (DR 94) brings qualified leads but is nearly impossible to get featured organically. The sweet spot is finding directories with both high authority AND relevant audiences for your specific product category.

    High Authority Directory FAQ

    What is domain rating and why does it matter for directory submissions?

    Domain Rating (DR) is a metric from Ahrefs that measures a website's authority on a scale of 0-100, based on the quality and quantity of backlinks pointing to it. Higher DR typically means better SEO value when you get a backlink from that site.

    For directory submissions, high DR sites can boost your own search rankings through backlinks, but more importantly, they often have more established audiences and better traffic quality. A listing on a DR 90 site usually outperforms ten listings on DR 30 sites.

    How do I get accepted to high authority directories?

    High authority directories are selective because they want to maintain their reputation and user experience. Your product needs to be polished - good design, clear value proposition, and working functionality. Many require actual screenshots, not just landing pages.

    For community-driven sites like Reddit and Hacker News, focus on providing value first. Share insights, help others, and build relationships before promoting your product. For formal directories like TechCrunch, you need a compelling story - significant traction, unique solution, or notable team background.

    Should I prioritize high DR directories over niche-specific ones?

    It depends on your goals. If you're focused on SEO and building domain authority, high DR directories are valuable. But if you want immediate customers and conversions, niche directories with lower DR but highly relevant audiences often perform better.

    The best strategy is a mix: use high DR directories for SEO and credibility, while targeting niche directories for qualified traffic. A backlink from a DR 40 directory in your exact niche can be more valuable than a DR 80 general directory.

    How long does it take to see results from high authority directory submissions?

    Traffic results can be immediate or take weeks depending on the platform. Reddit and Hacker News can drive traffic within hours if your post gains traction. Product Hunt gives you 24-48 hours of visibility. Directory listings like AlternativeTo build traffic gradually over months.

    SEO benefits from backlinks typically take 3-6 months to show impact in search rankings. Don't expect overnight SEO improvements, but do track referral traffic and brand mentions which can happen much faster.

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