The Real Reason Directories Stay Empty (and How to Solve It)
praneetbrar7
Why So Many Online Directories Remain Empty
Online directories suffered a big boom during the rise of the indie hacker era. From niche SaaS listings to hand-curated AI tools, launching a directory has become a popular side hustle and business strategy. Yet a staggering number of directories remain empty or suffer from poor-quality submissions, rarely fulfilling their potential. So what’s the real reason behind these ghost-town directories? And more importantly—how can you solve it?
Understanding the Modern Directory Landscape
The Directory Boom
With the rise of no-code and low-code tools, creating and launching a directory is easier than ever. Indie developers and solopreneurs are spinning up niche-focused directories democratizing discoverability.
Websites like UNO Directory and platforms like Aura Plus Plus prove that well-executed directories can thrive. But for every successful one, dozens more struggle to attract users or get people to submit their sites.
The Illusion of “Build it and They Will Come”
This outdated mindset is one of the key reasons why directories stay empty. Many creators assume that by simply building a great-looking directory and writing a few blog posts, users will start submitting. In reality, what’s missing is a system—specifically, a consistent outreach system that generates ongoing interest and submissions.
The True Reason Most Directories Stay Empty
Lack of Consistent Outreach
The primary problem isn’t with the directory concept or its design—it’s with visibility. Without a steady stream of outreach or promotion, your directory becomes another forgotten project on the internet. The startups and makers you want to feature don’t know your directory exists, and they’ll never randomly stumble upon it.
No Timely Engagement with Founders
Timing is everything. When a startup founder launches on Product Hunt, they’re actively looking for visibility and SEO opportunities. If you don’t reach out then, you’ve missed the window. A week later and the momentum — and interest — is gone.
Solving the Problem: The Outreach Solution
Automated Outreach With Human Touch
Cold email is one of the most effective marketing tools when done right. But personalized outreach at scale is not easy—unless you automate intelligently. That’s where Nurturing Mails comes in.
Nurturing Mails is a done-for-you outreach engine that connects your directory to freshly launched startups on Product Hunt. It sends personalized warm cold emails—including the founder name and product—congratulating them and inviting them to list on your directory. With a friendly, rapport-building tone and automated delivery, you get high-value submissions without ever writing a single email yourself.
Key Benefits of Systems Like Nurturing Mails
- Outreach happens daily, automatically.
- Each email includes personal touches: founder name + their product.
- Sent at 15–20 minute intervals to avoid spam filters.
- No dashboard or complex UI—just plug and go.
- Average 150% increase in submissions within 60 days.
Real Use Cases That Work
These outreach solutions are ideal for:
- Solopreneurs launching new directories with little visibility.
- Owners of niche AI tool collections who want to stay fresh.
- Marketing teams looking to scale without hiring salespeople.
- Experiments with new directory themes to test interest.
Building a Repeatable Submission Pipeline
Mission: Get Founders to Care
Startups on Product Hunt already care about:
- SEO back-links to drive organic growth.
- Visibility boost in front of their niche audience.
- Reputation gain from being listed among other high-quality tools.
If your email to them makes that clear—and feels genuine—it converts. The problem? Most directory owners don’t know what to write or have time to write hundreds of emails. Services like Nurturing Mails handle all of this, using proven high-converting templates already fine-tuned for Product Hunt startups.
Filling the Top of Funnel—Every Day
Directories don’t need 50 submissions a day—but they do need a steady trickle of fresh, relevant additions. Those add up to improve SEO rankings, build authority, and show other founders that your platform is active and trustworthy. Over time, this volume and activity turns your once-empty directory into a growth asset.
Other Tools and Strategies Worth Exploring
Outbound Tools
While platforms like Nurturing Mails are purpose-built for directories, you might consider other cold outbound systems such as:
- Mailshake – Mass outreach built for marketers.
- Woodpecker – Cold emailing SaaS with reply tracking.
- Lyne.ai – AI-forged personalizations at scale.
Complementary Growth Tactics
| Strategy | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Directory submission to SEO sites | Boost your own backlinks and visibility |
| Content Marketing with a Blog | Draw traffic and introduce your mission to directory visitors |
| Launch on IndieHacker and Hacker News | Engage tech-savvy founders from Day 1 |
| Incentivized Submissions | Offer backlinks, featured badges or credibility reviews |
For blog inspiration, check out Praneet Brar, whose insights into SaaS growth and web app development provide useful guidance for digital entrepreneurs building directories, SaaS tools, and launch platforms.
How to Get Started With Outreach
To start fixing your empty directory today, all you need to do is implement a systemized outreach flow. Look at options like Nurturing Mails Pricing, choose the plan that fits your scale, and connect it to your email address.
You’ll begin by targeting early-stage founders who just launched on Product Hunt. With simple setup and automated onboarding, you’ll avoid the technical overwhelm and focus on doing what truly matters: building a trusted, useful, and popular directory.
Final Thoughts
The reason most directories fail isn’t because their idea was bad—it’s that the owners built it and then hoped for magic. Without outreach, without systems, without consistent visibility—you’re shouting into the void. To build a directory worth visiting, automate the way people learn about it.
Start using tools like Nurturing Mails and leverage the daily momentum of Product Hunt launches. Your outreach won’t just fill your directory—it’ll create real community, backlinks, and purpose. Fix your submission funnel. Because empty directories shouldn’t be the norm—they should be your competitor’s problem, not yours.