sales-topai

What this skill does

# TopAI.tools Platform Help

Helps with everything related to using TopAI.tools — a curated AI tools directory with 2,700+ tools across 120+ categories, ~1-1.9M monthly visits, and daily updates. Uses a curated approval model with free and paid submission tiers.

## Step 1 — Gather context

If `references/learnings.md` exists, read it first for accumulated knowledge.

Ask the user:

1. **What are you trying to do on TopAI.tools?**
   - A) Submit my AI tool / get listed
   - B) Get a Boosted featured listing for maximum visibility
   - C) Understand the SEO and backlink value
   - D) Compare TopAI.tools with other AI directories
   - E) Something else — describe it

2. **What's your product?**
   - A) AI SaaS / web app
   - B) AI API / developer tool
   - C) AI agent / automation
   - D) AI content tool (writing, image, video)
   - E) AI coding tool / IDE assistant
   - F) Other AI tool — describe it

3. **What's your budget for this listing?**
   - A) $0 — free submission only
   - B) $39 for Fast Track (skip the queue)
   - C) $229 for Boosted (featured site-wide for 7 days)
   - D) Budget is flexible — optimize for results

**If the user's request already provides most of this context, skip directly to the relevant step.** Lead with your best-effort answer using reasonable assumptions (stated explicitly), then ask only the most critical 1-2 clarifying questions at the end.

## Step 2 — Route or answer directly

If the request maps to another skill, route:
- Multi-directory launch planning → `/sales-launch-directory`
- TAAFT-specific questions → `/sales-theresanaiforthat`
- Futurepedia-specific questions → `/sales-futurepedia`
- Altern-specific questions → `/sales-altern`
- PitchWall-specific questions → `/sales-pitchwall`
- Product Hunt launch → `/sales-producthunt`
- SEO strategy beyond directories → `/sales-semrush`

When routing, provide the exact command: "This is a multi-directory question — run: `/sales-launch-directory {user's original question}`"

Otherwise, answer directly from the platform reference below.

## Step 3 — TopAI.tools platform reference

**Read `references/platform-guide.md`** for the full platform reference — submission tiers, pricing, featured listings, optimization tips, and comparisons.

Answer the user's question using only the relevant section. Don't dump the full reference.

## Step 4 — Actionable guidance

You no longer need the platform guide — focus on the user's specific situation.

**For submitting a tool:**
1. Ensure your tool genuinely incorporates AI/ML features — non-AI tools are rejected (refund issued)
2. Write a clear, benefit-focused description — TopAI.tools uses AI-powered search, so optimize for discovery
3. Choose your tier: free (48-hour review), Fast Track $39 (24-48 hours, no queue), or Boosted $229 (7 days featured)
4. One payment secures a permanent listing — no recurring fees

**For maximizing the $229 Boosted listing:**
1. Coordinate with other directory submissions via `/sales-launch-directory`
2. Time your Boosted week to coincide with a Product Hunt launch or major update
3. Boosted gives top spots in category pages — pick accurate categories for maximum exposure
4. Use UTM parameters on your TopAI.tools listing URL to track referral conversions

If you discover a gotcha, workaround, or tip not covered in `references/learnings.md`, append it there.

## Gotchas

*Best-effort from research — review these, especially items about plan-gated features and pricing that may be outdated.*

- **AI tools only.** Non-AI products are rejected with a full refund. Your tool must incorporate actual AI/ML features.
- **Listings are permanent.** One payment (or free approval) secures your spot indefinitely — no recurring fees or expiration.
- **Boosted is time-limited.** The $229 Boosted tier features you for 7 days only. After that, your listing reverts to standard visibility.
- **No public API.** Unlike TAAFT, TopAI.tools doesn't offer a public API or ChatGPT plugin for querying the directory.
- **Curated directory.** TopAI.tools reviews every submission (48-hour target). No instant self-publishing.
- **Search is AI-powered.** Listing descriptions should use natural language about what problems your tool solves, not keyword-stuffed feature lists.
- **No newsletter.** Unlike TAAFT (1M+ subscribers) or Futurepedia (YouTube 2M+), TopAI.tools doesn't have a known newsletter or content distribution channel beyond the directory itself.

- **Self-improving**: If you discover something not covered here, append it to `references/learnings.md` with today's date.

## Related skills

- `/sales-launch-directory` — Coordinate launches across 30+ directories including TopAI.tools. Install:
  `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-launch-directory`
- `/sales-theresanaiforthat` — TAAFT (#1 AI directory, 42,000+ tools, 3-4M visits/mo, DR76 dofollow, $347)
- `/sales-futurepedia` — Futurepedia (5,700+ tools, ~2M visits/mo, $497 Verified, YouTube 2M+ subs)
- `/sales-altern` — Altern AI directory (10,000+ tools, free + featured tiers, dofollow backlinks)
- `/sales-pitchwall` — PitchWall (65K+ products, $99 Premium, 45K+ newsletter)
- `/sales-producthunt` — Product Hunt (DR91 dofollow, 5M+ visits/mo)
- `/sales-semrush` — SEO and online visibility platform (keyword research, backlink analysis)
- `/sales-do` — Not sure which skill to use? The router matches any sales objective to the right skill. Install:
  `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-do`

## Examples

### Example 1: Submit an AI tool to TopAI.tools
**User says**: "I built an AI meeting summarizer and want to get it listed on TopAI.tools"
**Skill does**:
1. Confirms the tool qualifies (AI-powered = yes)
2. Recommends Fast Track ($39) if they want it live within 24-48 hours without waiting
3. Advises writing a task-focused description: "Summarizes your Zoom and Google Meet calls into action items" not "GPT-4 powered meeting transcription platform"
4. Notes listings are permanent — one-time payment, no recurring fees
5. Suggests coordinating with other directory submissions via `/sales-launch-directory`
**Result**: Clear submission plan with pricing recommendation

### Example 2: Compare TopAI.tools with other AI directories
**User says**: "Should I pay $39 for TopAI.tools or $347 for TAAFT?"
**Skill does**:
1. Compares traffic: TAAFT ~3-4M/mo vs TopAI.tools ~1-1.9M/mo
2. Compares pricing: TopAI.tools Fast Track $39 vs TAAFT $347 (but TAAFT has $300 PPC bonus for first-launch, netting $47)
3. Notes TAAFT has DR76 dofollow backlink and 1M+ newsletter subscribers — bigger SEO and distribution value
4. Points out TopAI.tools is much cheaper entry point and listings are also permanent
5. Recommends both if budget allows — TopAI.tools as easy win, TAAFT for maximum reach
**Result**: Cost-benefit comparison with budget-aware recommendation

### Example 3: Get maximum visibility with Boosted listing
**User says**: "I want to go all-in on TopAI.tools with the Boosted listing"
**Skill does**:
1. Explains Boosted ($229) gives 7 days of site-wide featuring + top spots in category pages
2. Recommends timing the Boosted week to coincide with a Product Hunt launch or marketing push
3. Advises selecting the most relevant categories — Boosted amplifies category placement
4. Suggests tracking with UTM parameters to measure the 7-day ROI
5. Notes that after 7 days, listing reverts to standard — the permanent value is the directory listing itself
**Result**: Boosted strategy with timing and measurement plan

## Troubleshooting

### Submission not approved after 48+ hours
**Symptom**: Submitted (free or paid) but tool isn't listed yet
**Cause**: Manual review queue. Could be delayed due to volume, or tool may not meet AI-tool criteria.
**Solution**: Wait up to 5 business days. If still no update, email [email protected]. TopAI.tools issues full refunds if the tool isn't accepted. Ensure your tool clearly demonstrates AI/ML functionality.

### Listing gets few clicks desp