HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

Submit to Niche Directories and Cold-Email the Admins

Submit to Niche Directories and Cold-Email the Admins is a first users & traction tactic for getting your first users: Listing the product on topical tool directories (AI-tool sites, since their extension was ChatGPT-based) drove installs, and emailing directory owners directly got them listed faster.

It's a strong fit for AI products teams, and works especially well for Tools that fit a clear, searchable category (AI, Chrome extensions, no-code). As a first users & traction play, plan for low effort and expect results to arrive at a steady pace, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

First users & tractionLow effortMedium

Why does first users & traction work for this?

Category directories deliver pre-qualified, intent-driven traffic for free, and a direct email to the admin jumps the queue.

The exact steps (4)

The full step-by-step this founder ran, what they posted, where, and in what order, plus the watch-outs, is part of the library.

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Sources

Works for
AI products

Frequently asked

What kind of products does the "Submit to Niche Directories and Cold-Email the Admins" tactic work for?
It is a good fit for AI products — pick it when your product looks like that, since the play is shaped around how those users find new tools.
How is the "Submit to Niche Directories and Cold-Email the Admins" tactic verified?
It is drawn from 1 primary source — a real founder write-up or interview, not generic advice. It is linked in the Sources section above so you can read the original account yourself.
How much effort is it and how fast are results?
It is low effort, and results tend to be medium.
Where can I see the exact step-by-step?
The full step-by-step a founder ran, documented via Source — IndieHackers, is in the paid library.

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