Overview
Directory submissions are one of the fastest ways to build domain authority and establish your business in search. GTM Suite automates the hardest parts — matching you to relevant directories, writing the outreach email, and tracking every submission through to a live backlink.
Go to SEO → Directories & Backlinks to get started.
Stats Dashboard
The top of the page shows a live summary of your backlink pipeline:
| Stat | Description |
|---|
| To Contact | Directories identified but not yet approached |
| Pending | Submissions awaiting directory approval |
| Approved | Submissions accepted with a live backlink |
| Avg Relevance | Average match score across your directory pipeline |
| Estimated DA Boost | Projected domain authority increase from approvals |
| Success Rate | Percentage of submissions that were approved |
How Directory Matching Works
The GTM Suite builds a business profile from your workspace data — pulling from your ICP, brand kit, website URL, and industry — and uses it to score every directory in the database for relevance. The result is a ranked list where each directory gets a match score from 0 to 100.
Directories with a match score of 80 or above appear in the Recommended For You section at the top of the page.
You can click Business Profile at any time to see exactly what GTM Suite knows about your business and what it’s using to generate matches and outreach.
Browsing Directories
Recommended For You
Shows only high-relevance directories (match score ≥ 80). This is the best place to start — these are the listings most likely to drive meaningful authority and traffic for your specific business.
All Directories Tab
The full directory database with search and filter options:
- Search — Filter by directory name in real time
- Category — Narrow to a specific industry or content category
- Sort by — Match Score, Domain Authority, Response Rate, or Name
- Sort direction — Ascending or descending
Each directory card shows:
| Field | Description |
|---|
| Name | Directory name and logo (if available) |
| Domain Authority | DA score of the linking domain |
| Match Score | Relevance to your business (0–100, color-coded) |
| Category | Industry or niche classification |
| Region | Geographic focus (e.g. US, Global, UK) |
| SEO Impact | High / Medium / Low expected impact |
| Submission Type | Email, Form, or API |
| Response Rate | Historical approval percentage |
| Avg Response Time | Typical days to receive a response |
Submitting to a Directory
Step 1: Review Requirements
Click View Requirements on any directory card to see what the directory asks for — form fields, content requirements, eligibility criteria — before you start an application.
Step 2: Generate an Outreach Message
Click Generate Outreach Message. GTM Suite writes a personalized email subject and body using:
- Your business name, industry, and location
- Your website URL and unique selling points
- The directory’s specific focus area and geographic region
The generated message appears in a dialog where you can read it, edit it, or regenerate it before sending.
Messages are cached per directory — clicking Generate again shows the saved draft rather than re-generating, so your edits are preserved.
Step 3: Send or Save
From the outreach dialog:
- Send Message (If Not A Form Submission) — Records a Pending submission and marks the directory as approached - note: this will open a mail client with your email and the content in the email.
- Save for Later — Saves the message as a Draft submission so you can return to it
- Personal Responsiblity - Note: Our system doesn’t automatically send emails to these directories - we help you craft the message and prepare you for requirements but it is still your responsiblity to submit to those directories. Often directories have a form entry and/or payment associated for entry - be aware of these costs and which platforms you select.
Step 4: Mark as Submitted (Manual)
If you submitted directly via a web form (rather than email), click Mark as Submitted on the directory card to create a Pending submission record without sending an email.
Managing Submissions
Go to the Submissions tab to see all directories you’ve engaged with.
Submission Statuses
| Status | Meaning |
|---|
| Draft | Outreach message saved but not yet sent |
| Pending | Submitted — awaiting directory response |
| Approved | Accepted — backlink is live or being set up |
| Rejected | Not accepted by the directory |
Filter by Status
Use the status filter dropdown to view All, Draft, Pending, Approved, or Rejected submissions.
Approving a Submission
When a directory accepts your listing:
- Find the submission in the Pending list
- Click Approve
- Enter the Backlink URL — the live URL where your link appears
- Click Confirm — the submission moves to Approved and a backlink record is created
Rejecting or Deleting
- Reject — Mark a submission as rejected (preserves the record for reference)
- Delete — Permanently remove the submission
Tracking Backlinks
Go to the Backlinks tab to see all live approved backlinks and their current health.
| Column | Description |
|---|
| Directory | Source directory name |
| URL | The live backlink URL |
| Anchor Text | Link text used by the directory |
| Domain Authority | DA score of the linking domain |
| First Seen | Date the backlink was first recorded |
| Last Checked | Date of the most recent health check |
| Status | Live (green), Broken (red), or Pending (yellow) |
Adding a Custom Directory
If a directory isn’t in the GTM Suite database, you can add it manually. Click Add Custom Directory and fill in:
- Name, URL, and signup/application link
- Contact email and domain authority
- Category, region, and submission type (Email, Form, or API)
- Required form fields, submission price, and requirements
- Historical response rate and average response time
Custom directories behave exactly like standard ones — you can generate outreach, track submissions, and record approvals.
AI Submission Suggestions
For some directories, GTM Suite can auto-fill submission form fields based on your business profile. When available, a suggestion job runs asynchronously in the background and pre-populates the required fields — saving you the time of filling out each directory’s application manually.
Progress is tracked in real time. A notification appears when suggestions are ready to review.
Troubleshooting
No directories appearing in Recommended For You
- Ensure your workspace has a completed ICP profile and brand kit — these are used to calculate match scores
- Check that your website URL is set in your workspace settings
Outreach message doesn’t match my business
- Update your ICP or brand kit if the information is outdated, then regenerate the message
A backlink shows as Broken
- Visit the backlink URL directly to confirm whether it’s actually down
- Contact the directory to request reinstatement, then update the submission status accordingly
I submitted via web form — how do I track it?
- Click Mark as Submitted on the directory card to create a Pending record manually
