How to Write a Startup Directory Description That Gets You Listed
Most directory rejections and poor-performing listings come down to one thing: a weak description. The right description gets you accepted, placed in the right category, and clicked on. Here's exactly how to write one.
In this guide
- 1.The Three Versions You Need
- 2.What Every Good Description Must Include
- 3.Language That Gets You Rejected
- 4.The Formula That Works
- 5.Adapting for Different Directories
The Three Versions You Need
Different directories have different character limits. Prepare three versions before you start:
Tagline (under 100 characters): One sentence describing what you do. *Example: "Manual startup directory submissions — 50 directories for $35."*
Short description (100–200 characters): Two to three sentences covering what, who, and why. *Example: "SubmitWell manually submits your startup to 50–200+ directories. No bots. Screenshot proof of every submission. Starting at $35."*
Long description (150–400 words): A full pitch including features, target user, and what makes you different.
Having all three versions ready means you can adapt to any directory's requirements without rewriting from scratch each time.
What Every Good Description Must Include
What it does — In plain language. Avoid vague descriptions like "AI-powered platform." Be specific: "Transcribes and summarises Zoom calls in real time."
Who it's for — Name your user. "For product managers", "For remote teams", "For indie hackers with side projects." This helps directories categorise you correctly and helps visitors self-identify.
What makes it different — One differentiator. Cheaper, faster, simpler, more accurate than alternatives. Don't list ten. Pick the strongest one.
Pricing — At minimum, say whether it's free, freemium, or paid. Directories use this to filter and visitors use it to decide whether to click.
Language That Gets You Rejected
Directories reject or deprioritise submissions with these patterns:
Marketing superlatives — "Revolutionary", "game-changing", "world's best", "next-generation." These are empty claims that every submission makes.
Vague category claims — "The ultimate productivity solution." What does it actually do?
Passive voice and jargon — "Leveraging cutting-edge machine learning algorithms to facilitate seamless workflow integration." Just say what it does.
All-caps and excessive punctuation — "GET LISTED ON 200+ DIRECTORIES TODAY!!!" Looks like spam.
Write like you're explaining it to a smart friend, not writing an ad.
The Formula That Works
Use this formula for your short description:
[Product name] [verb] [specific task] for [specific user]. [Key differentiator]. [Price or free tier hook].
- "SubmitWell manually submits your startup to 50–200 directories. 100% human, no bots. Starting at $35."
- "Linear helps software teams plan and track issues. Designed for speed — keyboard-first, minimal UI. Free for small teams."
- "Cal.com lets you share your availability and accept bookings. Open source and self-hostable. Free to use."
Notice: specific action, specific user, one clear differentiator, pricing in one sentence.
Adapting for Different Directories
Different platforms have different cultures:
Product Hunt — Slightly warmer, community feel. First person ("We built this because...") works well. Mention your backstory briefly.
SaaSHub / AlternativeTo — More factual and feature-focused. Bullet points of features work well here.
Hacker News — Technical audience. Be precise, acknowledge limitations, avoid marketing language entirely.
General directories — Stick to your standard short and long descriptions. No need to customise heavily.
Let us handle the descriptions too
Fill in our onboarding form once. We adapt your description for every directory and handle all submissions manually. Starting at $35.
See Plans — Starting at $35Frequently Asked Questions
How long should my directory description be?
Prepare versions for different lengths. Tagline under 100 characters. Short description 100–200 characters. Long description 150–400 words. Most directories fall into one of these three buckets.
Can I use the same description for every directory?
Your core description can be the same, but adapt the length and emphasis to each directory's character limit and category system. Identical copy-paste across all directories isn't optimal, but it's far better than not submitting at all.
Does SubmitWell write the descriptions for me?
We use the information you provide in our onboarding form to craft appropriate descriptions for each directory. You don't need to rewrite your description for every platform — we handle the adaptation.
Related Resources
Let us handle the descriptions too
Fill in our onboarding form once. We adapt your description for every directory and handle all submissions manually. Starting at $35.
See Plans & PricingOne-time payment. No subscription.