DEV Community: Sergiu Chiriac

I Built an AI Tool That Explains Why a TikTok Went Viral — Here's the Pipeline

Sergiu Chiriac — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:36:56 +0000

Every creator has had this moment: you post two videos that feel identical, one gets 400 views and the other gets 4 million, and you have no idea why.

I spent the last year obsessed with that question, and eventually built the answer into TransClipper, a tool that transcribes and analyzes viral TikToks, Reels, and Shorts. This is a breakdown of what actually separates a viral video from a flop, and the pipeline behind TransClipper's Viral Video Analyzer that detects it automatically.

The hypothesis: virality is legible, once it's text

Watching a video at 1x speed, your brain fills in gaps — you don't consciously register that the creator restated the hook three different ways in the first five seconds, or that the "payoff" beat lands at almost exactly the same timestamp across dozens of unrelated viral videos.

Transcribe the same video, and the structure becomes visible instantly. So the first building block wasn't AI at all — it was just accurate transcription (Whisper-class speech-to-text, plus platform captions where available). Everything downstream depends on that being right.

What the analysis pipeline actually checks

Once you have a clean transcript with timestamps, you can run structural analysis that would be nearly impossible to do by eye at scale:

Hook classification (first 3 seconds). Most viral hooks fall into a handful of repeating patterns: a contradicted assumption ("You're doing X wrong"), a cold open mid-action, a direct question, or a numbered promise ("3 things nobody tells you about..."). Classifying the hook type against a taxonomy, rather than just "reading" it, is what makes cross-video comparison possible.

Structure mapping. Viral shortform video has a surprisingly consistent skeleton: hook → tension/problem → escalation → payoff → CTA. Where each beat lands (in seconds, and as a % of total runtime) turns out to be a stronger virality signal than almost anything else I tested.

Retention-risk detection. Long unbroken exposition, no pattern interrupt in the first 8 seconds, or a hook that doesn't pay off until >50% runtime — these correlate strongly with drop-off, and are detectable directly from the transcript's pacing.

Pattern comparison across a niche. Individually, one video's structure tells you little. Five to ten videos' structures, side by side, is where the actual signal is — the repeated pattern is the format, not the anecdote.

None of this requires watching the video. It's all extractable from the transcript plus timestamp metadata, which is the part that surprised me most going in — I assumed visual analysis would matter more than it does for shortform.

The stack, roughly

Transcription: Groq's whisper-large-v3-turbo as primary (fast, cheap), OpenAI Whisper as fallback, Google STT as last resort. Groq alone cut transcription cost by ~96% vs. our original setup, which is what made unlimited transcription economically viable.
Platform ingestion: yt-dlp for TikTok/Reels, plus a captions-first path for YouTube Shorts that hits YouTube's official Data API and caption tracks directly — skips audio download and STT entirely when captions exist, which is both faster and avoids the bot-detection headaches of scraping video downloads at scale.
Structural + hook analysis: LLM-driven classification against a fixed taxonomy (not free-form "explain why this went viral," which produces inconsistent, un-comparable output) — the taxonomy constraint was the single biggest quality improvement over our first version.

What I'd do differently

Free-form LLM analysis ("just tell me why this went viral") sounds appealing but produces answers you can't compare across videos — one response talks about pacing, another about tone, and you can't build a pattern library out of prose that doesn't share structure. Forcing outputs into a fixed schema (hook type, beat timestamps, retention-risk flags) was what made this actually useful instead of just interesting.

Try it

If you want to run this against your own or a competitor's video, this is TransClipper's Viral Video Analyzer: transclipper.ai/viral-video-analyzer — paste a TikTok, Reel, or Short and it'll transcribe it and break down the hook/structure/retention risks. Free tier available, no signup for the transcript itself.

Curious if anyone here has built something similar for a different content format — long-form YouTube, podcasts, blog posts. The "structure is legible once it's text" idea feels like it should generalize.

Best Directories to Submit Your SaaS for Visibility (2026 Edition)

Sergiu Chiriac — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:40:17 +0000

You shipped your SaaS. Your landing page is clean. The product works.

And your analytics dashboard looks like a flatline.

This is the post-launch graveyard most founders don't talk about. You did everything right — and still nobody showed up.

Here's what most of them miss: directories.

Not as a growth hack. Not as a magic bullet. But as the boring, compounding foundation that the tools currently ranking on page 1 of Google quietly built over 6–12 months.

This post breaks down the best directories to submit your SaaS or AI tool to in 2026 — ranked by domain rating, backlink type, and whether they actually send real traffic.

Why Directories Still Work in 2026

Quick theory before the list.

Google ranks pages that other trusted pages link to. That's still the core of how it works in 2026.

When a directory with a Domain Rating (DR) of 80+ links to your tool, Google treats that as a vote of confidence. Collect 30–50 of those votes across quality directories, and your domain authority starts moving. Once DA moves, every piece of content you publish ranks faster.

The secondary benefit: discovery traffic. People actively browsing directories are looking for tools to solve a problem. That's high-intent traffic — the kind that converts.

The compounding effect kicks in around month 3–4. Before that, it feels like nothing is happening. Most founders quit at week 2.

What Makes a Directory Worth Submitting To

Not all directories are equal. Here's the filter:

Criterion	What to look for
Domain Rating	DR 40+ minimum. DR 70+ = meaningful SEO impact
Link type	Dofollow > Nofollow. Dofollow passes actual SEO authority
Real traffic	50K+ monthly visitors = people actually browse it
Editorial review	Curated beats auto-approve. Google knows the difference
Free tier	Start free. Upgrade if it drives results
Permanent listing	Avoid directories that remove you after 30–90 days

Tier 1: Submit These First (DR 70+)

These are non-negotiable. If your tool isn't on these, that's your first week's work.

1. Product Hunt (DR 91)

Free | Nofollow | 4M+ monthly visits

The most well-known launch platform. A strong launch can drive 500–2,000 signups in 24 hours. The backlink is nofollow but the brand authority and referral traffic are unmatched.

⚠️ Caveat: visibility resets after launch day. The best strategy is to treat it as a one-time event, not a traffic source. Plan your launch like a campaign.

Best for: B2C tools, developer tools, productivity SaaS

2. G2 (DR 90)

Free (basic) | Dofollow | 5M+ monthly visits

The gold standard for B2B software. Enterprise buyers trust G2 reviews more than vendor websites. A DR 90 dofollow backlink is one of the strongest you can earn for free.

The catch: visibility is almost entirely driven by reviews. Ask your first 10 customers to leave a review the week you list.

Best for: B2B SaaS with paying customers

3. Capterra + GetApp + Software Advice (DR 85–91)

Free (basic) | Dofollow | Millions of monthly visits each

All three are Gartner-owned. Submit to one and you've essentially done the groundwork for all three — the listing process is nearly identical. These sites dominate search for "[category] software" keywords.

Best for: Business software in any category

4. Crunchbase (DR 92)

Free (basic profile) | Dofollow

Not a software discovery directory but your Crunchbase profile gets cited in press, investor research, and due diligence. A DR 92 dofollow backlink for 45 minutes of setup is one of the best returns in distribution.

Best for: Every SaaS company without exception

5. AlternativeTo (DR 83)

Free | Mixed | 2M+ monthly visits

Users come here searching for "[popular tool] alternatives." Buyer intent is sky-high — these visitors are already unhappy with their current tool and actively shopping. List your tool as an alternative to 5–10 competitors in your space.

Best for: Any tool competing with an established product

6. SaaSHub (DR 74)

Free | Dofollow | 500K+ monthly visits

Pure SaaS discovery with a strong alternatives angle. Actively maintained with real users and do-follow backlinks. Often overlooked in favor of Product Hunt, which is a mistake.

Best for: Any SaaS product

7. Indie Hackers (DR 85)

Free | Nofollow | Developer/founder audience

Not a traditional directory but a community with a product page feature. The link is nofollow but the audience quality is exceptional — bootstrapped founders, developers, and early adopters who love trying new tools.

Create a product page AND post in the community. Passive listings convert poorly here.

Best for: Developer tools and B2B SaaS targeting the startup ecosystem

7. AI Directories (DR 70)

Free listing + paid submission service | Dofollow | aidirectori.es

Two things in one.

First: it's a directory. Submit your AI tool or SaaS and get a DR 70 dofollow backlink. That alone puts it on par with SaaSHub and ahead of most directories in this tier.

Second — and this is the part most people miss — it's also a done-for-you submission service. Every directory on this list (and 90+ more) can be handled for you through AI Directories. You write your listing once, they submit it everywhere. Founders report saving 70+ hours of manual form-filling.

If you're reading this list thinking "I don't have time to submit to 100 directories" — this is the answer.

Best for: AI tool founders and SaaS founders who want both a quality backlink and bulk distribution handled.

Tier 2: High Value for AI Tools Specifically

If you're building an AI-powered tool (which, let's be honest, most of us are in 2026), these directories are your priority alongside Tier 1.

8. There's An AI For That (DR 76)

Free | Dofollow | 2M+ monthly visits

The leading AI tool discovery directory. Massive organic traffic from people searching for AI solutions across every category. DR 76 dofollow backlink is excellent.

Submit here the same week you launch. Non-negotiable for AI tools.

9. Futurepedia (DR 70+)

Free (basic) | Dofollow | 1M+ monthly visits

Well-known in the AI space, frequently cited in "best AI tools" roundups on Google. Appearing here increases your chances of showing up in AI-generated responses when users ask for tool recommendations.

10. Toolify.ai (DR 60+)

Free | Dofollow

Strong categorization. If your tool fits a specific niche (writing, coding, image, etc.) Toolify surfaces it in relevant category searches.

11. AI Tool Hunt

Free | Growing community

Product Hunt-style daily launches but specifically for AI tools. Smaller audience but highly targeted — every visitor is looking for AI tools.

12. TopAI.tools

Free | Dofollow

Clean UI, real editorial curation, growing traffic. One of the better-quality AI-specific directories.

Tier 3: Worth Doing in Bulk (DR 20–50)

Individual directories in this tier won't move the needle on their own. The strategy here is volume — submitting to 50+ of these in a concentrated push creates a layer of topical relevance and brand mentions that Google notices.

A few notable ones:

BetaList (DR 72) — great for pre-launch waitlist building. Nofollow but excellent audience targeting.
Stackshare (DR 77) — if your tool integrates with popular developer tools, Stackshare is essential.
F6S (DR 74) — startup-focused, used by accelerator communities.
Uneed (DR growing) — Product Hunt-style daily launches with dofollow backlinks. Underrated.
Startupbase.io — simple, free, adds topical diversity.
BetaPage — early-stage community with decent engagement.

Time math: Each Tier 3 submission takes ~30–45 minutes if done manually. Doing 50 = 25–37 hours of your time. That's a month of evenings gone.

This is exactly what AI Directories is built for. It's a done-for-you submission service that handles every directory in this article — plus 90+ more. You provide the listing copy once, they submit across all tiers. Founders report saving 70+ hours per launch. It also lists both AI tools and SaaS products, so it's not limited to AI-only. And since AI Directories itself has a DR 70 dofollow backlink, you get listed there too as part of the process.

The Listing Copy Most Founders Get Wrong

Bad listing (real example type):

"An AI-powered platform that helps teams collaborate and drive synergies through intelligent workflow automation."

This says nothing. Here's the formula that actually converts:

[Tool name] + [specific problem solved] + [who it's for] + [key differentiator]

Example:

"Writepath is a long-form AI writing assistant for SaaS marketers who need 2,000-word SEO articles that don't read like a robot wrote them. Unlike generic AI writers, it learns your brand voice from your existing content."

Specific. Outcome-driven. For a specific person. That's what makes someone click through.

What the Submission Process Actually Looks Like

If you're doing this yourself, budget a full week of evenings and a lot of copy-pasting. If you're using a service like AI Directories, here's what the real timeline looks like:

Day 1 — You provide your info
Name, URL, description, category, screenshots. One form. That's it.

Days 1–3 — Submissions go out
AI Directories submits your tool to 100+ directories within 3 days. Every directory on the list in this article, plus dozens more. You don't touch a single form.

Day 3 — You get a report
A full breakdown of every directory submitted to, with status and links. You know exactly where your tool has been submitted.

Then: the approval timeline varies — and that's normal

This is the part most founders don't expect. Directories don't all approve on the same schedule:

✅ Some approve immediately — your listing is live within hours
⏳ Some take 1–4 weeks — editorial review queues, manual curation
🐢 Some take months — high-authority directories like G2 or Capterra can take time, especially if they require reviews before your page ranks

This isn't a bug. It's how the SEO compounding works. Backlinks hit your profile at different times over 2–4 months, which looks natural to Google and keeps the authority signal growing steadily.

What to do while you wait:
Keep building. Write one piece of content per week. The directory backlinks will compound quietly in the background — by month 3, you'll start seeing it in Search Console.

The results aren't instant. But they don't stop either.

Quick Reference Table

Directory	DR	Backlink	Free?	Best For
Product Hunt	91	Nofollow	✅	Launch day spike
G2	90	Dofollow	✅	B2B credibility
Capterra	90	Dofollow	✅	B2B buyers
Crunchbase	92	Dofollow	✅	Everyone
AlternativeTo	83	Mixed	✅	Competitor alternatives
Indie Hackers	85	Nofollow	✅	Dev/founder audience
SaaSHub	74	Dofollow	✅	Any SaaS
There's An AI For That	76	Dofollow	✅	AI tools
Futurepedia	70+	Dofollow	✅	AI tools
AI Directories	70	Dofollow	✅	AI tools + SaaS + submission service
BetaList	72	Nofollow	✅	Pre-launch
Stackshare	77	Dofollow	✅	Dev tools

Final Thought

The tools currently ranking on page 1 for "best AI [X] tool" didn't get there by accident. They showed up everywhere their category is mentioned — and they did it consistently for 6+ months.

Directory submissions are the least glamorous part of SaaS distribution. No dopamine hits, no launch day spike, no virality. Just compounding SEO equity that builds quietly in the background.

Start this week. Your future organic traffic will thank you.

Don't want to spend 70+ hours submitting manually?

AI Directories is a submission service that handles everything in this article — and more. You submit your AI tool or SaaS once, they distribute it across 100+ vetted directories including the ones listed here. DR 70 dofollow backlink included (from the AI Directories listing itself). Works for AI tools and regular SaaS products alike.

→ aidirectori.es

Did I miss a directory that's been working for you? Drop it in the comments — I read everything.

Top 10 High-Traffic AI Directories for Product Visibility

Sergiu Chiriac — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 12:29:48 +0000

Explore the top 10 AI directories to increase your product's visibility. Unlock the power of high-traffic platforms with exclusive discounts and improve your SEO. Perfect for AI startups.

Navigating the vast world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be daunting for startups and established companies alike. However, AI directories offer a beacon of visibility in this crowded market. From securing valuable backlinks to increasing domain authority, these platforms are key to amplifying your product’s reach. Let's dive into the top 10 AI directories, each with its unique advantages, including special discounts to elevate your AI tool’s online presence.

Product Hunt

A leader in tech product launches, Product Hunt is where new and innovative products get discovered. It’s a community-driven platform that allows users to share and geek out about the latest mobile apps, websites, hardware projects, and tech creations.

Product Hunt is a top choice for launching tech products, but there are other platforms too. My other post covers these alternatives, giving tips for entrepreneurs to get more exposure. Check out the guide on Product Hunt alternatives.

Futurepedia

Futurepedia with over 5 million monthly visits offers a curated exploration of futuristic and AI-powered tools. It’s designed for tech aficionados searching for the next big thing in AI, making it a prime spot for showcasing AI innovations to an engaged audience.

There's An AI For That

With 3 million monthly visits and a robust Domain Authority of 74, this directory is a comprehensive resource for finding AI solutions across various categories. Whether it’s for business, personal use, or entertainment, "TAAFT" connects users with AI tools tailored to their needs, highlighting the versatility and adaptability of AI technology.

AI Directories

AI Directories is your gateway to over 100+ directories, designed to boost your AI product’s visibility. It focus on increasing your domain authority and securing backlinks to improve SEO. Take advantage of $100 discount for a streamlined launch process that maximizes exposure.

AppSumo

AppSumo celebrated for its exceptional deals on software products and tools, commands the attention of over 3 million tech enthusiasts and early adopters monthly. With an impressive Domain Rating of 82, it stands as a prime platform for unveiling AI tools. Its widespread reach and promotional offerings make it an ideal choice for engaging a tech-savvy audience and maximizing the visibility of your AI innovations.

Top AI Tools

Top AI Tools, a select showcase of leading AI products, bridges your innovation with a focused audience of over 2 million visitors each month. With a notable Domain Rating of 53, it's a powerful hub for spotlighting your tool. Leverage our 10% discount code Q3ODY5NA to position your product prominently, increase visibility and interaction within the vibrant AI community.

Open Tools

Open Tools is a niche directory for AI and open-source tools, offering visibility to projects that embrace transparency and community development. Elevate your tool with a 20% discount using the code DIRECTORIES20, appealing to supporters of open innovation.

Uneed Best

Positioned as an alternative to Product Hunt, Uneed Best is a launching platform that emphasizes the best in tech and AI tools. With a focus on quality and innovation, use the 20% discount code AIDIRECTORIES to spotlight your product in a community eager for tech discoveries.

aitools.fyi

Aitools.fyi specializes in highlighting the latest AI innovations, drawing in 500k monthly visitors and boasting a Domain Rating of 27. This platform offers a unique opportunity to make your AI product shine with a 30% discount on listings through the code AID30. Improve your tool’s visibility in the ever-expanding AI landscape and captivate tech enthusiasts and prospective users alike.

SaasHub

SaasHub serves as a discovery platform for new SaaS products, including AI tools. It targets customers actively seeking software solutions, making it an excellent venue for reaching an audience ready to embrace new technologies.

Conclusion

These top 10 AI directories offer diverse and strategic avenues to enhance your AI tool’s online presence. By leveraging their unique benefits and our exclusive discounts, you can significantly boost your product’s visibility, SEO, and user engagement. Whether you're launching a new AI tool or looking to expand your product's reach, these directories offer valuable opportunities for growth.

Product Hunt alternatives: Emerging Platforms Redefining Product Launches

Sergiu Chiriac — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:23:40 +0000

If you've been following tech news or trying to launch your own product, you might have noticed: Product Hunt isn't the only option anymore. It's getting crowded, and it's hard to stand out. Plus, they don't talk much about how they decide who gets seen and who doesn't. Because of this, people are looking for new places to launch their tech products. Let's talk about some fresh platforms that are making waves.

Why Look Beyond Product Hunt?

Product Hunt used to be the go-to place for new tech products. But now, it's easier than ever to get lost in the crowd. People are searching for new places that offer clear rules and better chances to get noticed.

Uneed: A Fresh Start for Every Product

Thomas Sanlis created Uneed with a simple idea: only launch 10 products a day. This way, every product gets its time in the spotlight. You know exactly when your product will launch, and you won't be fighting for attention. Uneed is run by just one person, Thomas, who doesn't rely on bots or big money. If you're in a hurry, you can pay a little to skip the line and launch your product faster.

AI Top Rank: The AI Product Stage

Stephen Anthony and Katie Johnson started AI Top Rank for AI products. Their goal is to help you find your first 100 users. They work with partners to make a special place for AI products. If your product wins their weekly contest, you get featured in their newsletter and on social media. You can also pay for a premium launch to get extra attention.

Microlaunch: Grow Your Brand with AI

Microlaunch is all about using AI to help your brand grow. It's the only platform focused on making your SEO better and building loyal customers with the help of AI. It's perfect for startups wanting to improve their online presence smartly.

Fazier: The Newcomer

Falak Sher started Fazier, a new platform that's still a bit of a mystery. But with Falak's vision, it's expected to offer something new and exciting for tech startups looking to launch their products.

Wrapping Up

With Product Hunt getting more crowded, Uneed, AI Top Rank, Microlaunch, and Fazier offer new ways to launch your product. Each one has something special, whether it's guaranteed visibility, a focus on AI, or using AI to boost your brand. It's worth checking them out to see which one fits your product the best. For an easy way to explore these and other innovative platforms, you can find them on AI Directories comprehensive list.

AI tool directive website🤖💻

Sergiu Chiriac — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 12:49:28 +0000

Greetings everyone! I am excited to announce the launch of my recent project - PoweredbyAI.

This website is a platform that leverages the power of artificial intelligence to provide you with the best tools for your daily tasks.

Although I am not currently aiming to attract paying customers, my primary objective is to boost traffic and raise brand awareness. I would highly appreciate your feedback on PoweredbyAI and any suggestions you may have on how I can enhance the platform.

As a member of the dev.to community for a while now, I have been following closely the amazing posts that have been unveiled here.

Lastly, I am thrilled to share my first post here with you all! 🥳

https://poweredbyai.app

ps: I'm documenting my journey on twitter 🐦 so have a look.