Directory Listing AdsSAFE

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The instruction file, verbatim from the audited commit — this is the text the model reads, and the surface the audit's instruction layer examines. Quoted here so you can judge it without cloning anything.

---
name: directory-listing-ads
description: When the user wants to run paid ads within directories or marketplaces. Also use when the user mentions "Taaft ads," "Shopify App Store ads," "G2 sponsored," "Capterra ads," "directory ads," "marketplace ads," "paid listing," "sponsored listing," or "directory promotion." For organic listings, use directory-submission.
metadata:
  version: 1.0.1
---

# Paid Ads: Directory / Marketplace Listing Ads

Guides paid promotions within directories and marketplaces: Taaft, Shopify App Store, G2, Capterra. Use when you have a listing and want to boost visibility with paid placements. **Listing first**: Ensure product is submitted—see **directory-submission** for listing prep and submission workflow.

**When invoking**: On **first use**, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On **subsequent use** or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.

## Platform Overview

| Platform | Ad type | Model | Best for |
|----------|---------|-------|----------|
| **Taaft** | Banners, sponsored listings, campaigns | Paid placements; listing + newsletter + ads + social bundles | AI tools; 80M+ users; 46K+ tools |
| **Shopify App Store** | Search ads, homepage ads, category ads | CPC; daily budget | Shopify app developers; merchant discovery |
| **G2** | Paid Promotions, G2 Clicks | Quarterly or PPC | B2B SaaS; category/competitor pages |
| **Capterra** | Sponsored listings | PPC | B2B software; 50M+ annual visitors |

## Taaft (There's An AI For That)

- **Traffic**: 80M+ users; 46K+ AI tools; 11K+ categories
- **Ad options**: Banner ads; sponsored listings at top of pages; marketing campaigns (listing + newsletter + ads + social)
- **Listing first**: Submit via taaft.com/submit or theresanaiforthat.com; 700–10K+ visitors per listing
- **Early launch bonus**: Up to $300 PPC credits for launching on Taaft first
- **UTM**: Use `utm_source=taaft_feat&utm_medium=referral` for PPC ads

## Shopify App Store

- **Ad types**: Search ads (in results when merchants search); homepage ads; category page ads
- **Model**: Cost-per-click; set daily budget; Shopify auto-generates ad appearance
- **Placement**: ~60% of installs from search—search ads critical for discovery
- **Credit**: New eligible app developers receive $100 USD ad credit
- **Management**: Partner Dashboard—edit budget, device/geo targeting, keywords; monitor CTR, install rate, cost per install
- **Limitation**: App, placement, plan-based targeting cannot change after creation; stop and create new campaign to change

## G2

- **Paid Promotions**: Quarterly campaigns; ads appear between 2nd and 3rd organic listing on category/competitor pages
- **Inventory**: 3 products per page; ~1/3 of visitors see ads
- **G2 Clicks**: PPC option; organic + sponsored placements; no subscription
- **Design**: Standardized ad design converts ~50% better than custom

## Capterra

- **Model**: PPC; reach software buyers actively comparing solutions
- **Audience**: 50M+ annual visitors
- **Options**: Free basic listing; paid advertising for increased visibility

## Strategy

1. **Listing first**: Submit to directory before buying ads—see **directory-submission**
2. **Test organic**: Measure baseline traffic before paid
3. **Layer paid**: Add ads when organic underperforms or for launch push
4. **UTM**: Tag all ad links (`utm_medium=paid`, `utm_source=taaft` or `shopify` or `g2` or `capterra`)

## Pre-Launch Checklist

- [ ] Product listed in directory (directory-submission)
- [ ] Listing optimized (copy, screenshots, category)
- [ ] Budget aligned with CPC/CPM expectations
- [ ] UTM parameters set for attribution
- [ ] Conversion tracking (GA4, platform analytics)

## Related Skills

- **directory-submission**: Listing prep; submission workflow; platform-specific copy
- **paid-ads-strategy**: Ad formats by medium; when to use directory ads
- **traffic-analysis**: UTM for directory ads; attribution
- **analytics-tracking**: Conversion tracking

SAFEgrade B · trust 89/100 Nothing in the source contradicts what it says it does. Grade A is reserved for packages that have also passed the behavioural sandbox.

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Gates applied: no_behavioural_pass.