5 Automated Tactics for Filling an Empty Directory
praneetbrar7
Introduction
Filling an empty directory can feel like shouting into the void—especially when you’ve invested countless hours building it from scratch. Whether it’s a curated list of AI tools, remote jobs, no-code platforms, or something as niche as Chrome extensions, the initial traction is critical. Fortunately, today’s digital landscape provides a wealth of automated tactics that remove most of the manual effort. In this blog post, we’ll explore 5 automated tactics for filling an empty directory, designed specifically for indie hackers, solopreneurs, and anyone seeking scalable growth solutions.
If you’re new to managing directories or simply looking to increase submissions, these strategies will give you a strong foundation for consistent growth based on automation, personalization, and relevance.
1. Automated Outreach to New Product Hunt Launches
Why Product Hunt Is a Goldmine
Every day, over 50 innovative products are launched on Product Hunt. These new founders are hungry for visibility, backlinks, SEO traction, and exposure. When you reach out to them right after launch—when excitement (and inbox activity) is high—conversion rates climb.
Leveraging Automated Tools like Nurturing Mails
Nurturing Mails was specifically built for directory owners to close this opportunity gap. It monitors Product Hunt in real-time and automatically sends out congrats-style, personalized cold emails on your behalf.
- Emails include founder and product name for personalization
- Sent every 15–20 minutes to prevent spam filtering
- Crafted with a warm, non-pushy tone
- Averages a 150% increase in directory submissions
This form of automation is more than just a time-saver—it’s a conversion booster. For more information on plans and packages, check their pricing page, or explore a full list of features.
Advantages Over Traditional Cold Outreach
Most cold email campaigns lack relevance or timing. By automatically syncing with new Product Hunt launches, tools like Nurturing Mail ensure your outreach is timely, contextual, and welcome. No need for a sales team or CRM setup—just hands-off growth. Get started even quicker with a look at their common FAQs.
2. Dynamic Submission Incentives for New Users
Gamify the Submission Process
Gamifying your submission flow can significantly improve your fill rate, especially for a new directory with limited UGC (user-generated content).
Simple automations can allow you to:
- Offer a badge to early adopters (“Top 100 Founders”)
- Automate thank-you follow-ups with social sharing prompts
- Automatically assign verified status based on email domain match or LinkedIn profile
Integrate Submission Forms with Zapier or Make
Using platforms like Zapier or Make, you can automate response handling records, tags, thank-you emails, and even assign ranks or statuses within your directory. This leads to dynamic, real-time updates that showcase a thriving community—even when you’re just starting out.
3. Alternative Outreach Using AI Contact Discovery
Use Tools to Find Startup Contact Info
Directories like UNO Directory and Aura++ have successfully used machine learning and scraping tools to discover detailed info about potential contributors. You can do the same by pairing sources like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Product Hunt with tools like:
- Apollo.io – for finding emails with intent filters
- Hunter.io – to automate email finding from domains
- PhantomBuster – for scraping and outreach personalization
Scale Personalization with AI Email Writers
AI writing assistants such as OpenAI’s GPT or tools like Praneet Brar’s marketing solutions can help you write bespoke emails that sound genuinely human—ensuring outreach feels less like spam and more like opportunity.
Pair these tools with detailed Airtable or Google Sheet workflows to batch-upload lists, auto-segment users, or sync responses in real time.
4. Use Submission Forms That Auto-Publish
Encouraging Self-Serve Publishing
Reduce your own friction and workload by building a submission form that auto-publishes listings. Tools like Tally or Formcarry integrate easily with Webflow, WordPress, or Notion-based directories. The goal is to allow startups to immediately see the fruits of their submission: a live page, a backlink, and shareable content.
For example, you could use the following automation:
- Submission form via Tally → Webhook → Airtable
- Airtable record triggers webhook in Make.com
- Make.com auto-publishes or nudges admin for a ✅ approval in Notion/CMS
Directory Tools with Built-in Automations
If you’re still evaluating where to build your directory, consider platforms like:
- Pory – built on Airtable
- Super.so – turns Notion pages into websites
- NoCodeAPI – sync forms to frontend in real-time
Setting up these kinds of no-code automation flows can turn what used to be manual submissions into a self-service community engine that grows while you sleep.
5. Tap into Communities With Continuous Backlink Exchanges
Create Reciprocation Engines
A powerful way to encourage startups to list on your directory is to create mutual benefit: a backlink for a backlink, visibility for visibility. Doing this at scale sounds hard—but it becomes easy with automation.
Schedule an outreach flow offering a “Featured Founders” badge that links back to them. Let your automation include instructions on where to place backlinks (like their blog or their Product Hunt comments), and track these mentions using tools like:
Examples of This Working Well
Directories like UNO Directory and Aura++ leverage consistent cross-linking by engaging in Twitter and Indie Hackers communities. Startups that benefit from backlinks are more likely to return the favor, helping you build a snowball of SEO authority over time.
For maximum leverage, offer automatic embeds and logos in your founder listing confirmation emails. Automate these emails with Nurturing Mails or a Zapier-integrated CRM like Close.
Conclusion
An empty directory can’t sell itself—but automations sure can. From smart cold outreach, dynamic self-serve forms, gamified incentives, to AI-driven personalization, tools like