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How To Create (and Monetize) a Niche Directory Website

Name: How To Create (and Monetize) a Niche Directory Website
Rating: 3.5 (14 reviews)

Build a no-code directory website with Directify and AI, then monetize it with listings, ads and affiliates.

Created byAndrew Murray

Last updated 11/2026

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Pick a small, profitable niche you can own, and research it before you build
Choose an SEO-friendly domain name and plan your directory project
Build a directory without code using Directify, Softr or Unicorn Platform
Use free AI tools to fill your directory with listings fast
Make money from your directory with paid listings, ads and affiliate links
Promote your directory, track rankings and check if ChatGPT and Perplexity recommend it

Course content

5 sections • 26 lectures • 5h 21m total length

What To Expect When Building A Directory0:54
Learn to create a no-code directory site and monetize it through multiple methods. Boost residual income as AI shifts search engines, with practical examples for a beginner-friendly, low-tech path.

Why Are Directories The Best Opportunity To Make Money in 2026?3:03
Tips For Picking The Perfect Niche7:35
Discover how to choose a focused niche for a directory, slice markets into micro-niches like ai podcasting tools or sleep aids, and balance local targeting with SEO and marketing.
How Do I Research My Niche?1:19
Picking a SEO-Optimized Domain Name2:43
Choose a seo-friendly domain with keywords, prioritize .com but consider alternatives like .net or .io, and use Namecheap and domain generators, including beast mode, to explore options.
Secret To Picking The Right Niche For Your Directory7:35
Pinpoint a focused niche for your directory by narrowing to a micro vertical, like ai podcasting tools or sleep aids, to boost marketing, research, and local advertising.
Quiz: Planning Your Directory

Which Platform Should I Use For My Directory?5:00
How To Create A Directory with Unicorn Platform15:45
Build a niche directory quickly with Unicorn Platform, a no-code web builder using Google Sheets for dynamic pages, monetization via affiliate links.
How To Create Directory Site With Softr18:52
Build a niche directory with softer, a no-code platform that powers data from Airtable, Google Sheets, SQL databases, or Notion, and publish on a custom domain.
The No-Code Way To Build A Directory8:50
Directify no longer has a lifetime deal.
DirectoryEasy has an active lifetime deal.
How To Create A Directory Site with Directify11:09
Discover how to create a niche directory site quickly with Directify, from naming and SEO titles to listings, categories, ads, and paid submissions for monetization.
Complete Overview of Building a Directory with NO CODING11:53
Learn to build a no-code directory with hosting and a custom domain, monetize via paid submissions and affiliate links, and boost traffic with programmatic SEO.
Watch me create a complete directory with free AI Tools in 7 minutes17:34
Build a niche directory with ai-generated data using a leading no-code tool, creating and customizing listings for email marketing tools, complete with data sources, templates, and publication-ready pages.
How To Build A Hyper Niche Directory To $500 Passive Income Per Month14:14
In this video, I explain the thoughts behind building passive affiliate income with hyper-niche directories - and how to get yourself to the $500 per month mark in affiliate income.
Quiz: Building Your Directory

How to monetize your directory1:07
How to launch and promote your directory1:28
Monetizing Your Directory With Affiliate Marketing14:23
Set up an Impact.com affiliate account, publish trackable links to promote brands, and earn commissions from clicks, signups, or purchases, while using link analytics to optimize performance.
Where to run ads to promote your directory19:33
If you do have an ad budget, there is probably a niche on Reddit.
Reddit is great for finding passionate people in very specific niches.
But, they are Redditors. So consider if you want to allow comments or not ?
Which Low-Cost, No-Monthly Fee SEO Tool I Use For My Directories9:51
Discover low-cost, no-monthly-fee SEO tools for niche directories, including Mangools, Keywords Everywhere, and affordable alternatives to Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz, to research keywords, backlinks, and YouTube rankings.
How To Check Your Directory Site Ranking In AI (ChatGPT, Perplexity, etc.)3:32
Master geo generative engine optimization to optimize chat-based search rankings, using Mangools to compare AI search models and analyze market data, brand scores, and natural-language structured content.
NEW: The John Rush Method for Building $5K per month Directories in a Weekend25:11
This video explains the John Rush method of building a directory project in a weekend. There are several resources mentioned in the video.
Video inspired by the Greg Isenberg and John Rush interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPveUtta0Es
Other links mentioned in the video:
Simple Idea Validator Tool: https://buildthekeyword.com?aff=dwOD2
Unicorn Platform (coupon viafirst20): https://hoply.io/unicorn
Airtable: https://airtable.com/invite/r/ARmrKWzE
Answer The Public: https://answerthepublic.com
Reddit Marketing System: https://www.digitalabc.net/reddit
How Social Listening works: https://www.andrewmurrayhq.com/octolens-review-social-listening/
Analytics: https://www.andrewmurrayhq.com/grain-ai-analytics/
Alertbar for your sites: https://alertbarpro.com

Now go out and make your idea a reality!
Updated: How to Plan a Profitable Directory Project34:41
How to build a directory.
This video goes into detail about the directory concept and how to pick the right niche for your directory project.
Quiz: Growing Your Directory

A Deep Conversation About Building Niche Directories24:38
An AI podcast that dives deep into the tips and tricks outlined in my written material on creating a high-profit affiliate and niche directory.
Bonus Lesson: Let Me Setup A Directory Site As Passive Affiliate Income For You34:24
Directory sites are great models to earn affiliate income. This is how I can help you set up your own passive, low-key affiliate business with a directory.
Everything I Know About Creating Profitable Directories25:46
Build hyper-niche directories that monetize with affiliate links and multiple revenue streams using AI prompts and simple setup. Apply listing pages and interlinked articles to boost SEO and scalability.
Bonus: Your Next Step (Free Hyper-Niche Directory Guide)0:49

Requirements

No web design skills or HTML is required.

Description

I'll be straight with you. Directories are the most boring-looking online business I know. That's exactly why they work.

A directory is just a well-organized list. The best vagus nerve devices. Cold plunge pools. Accounting software for freelancers. People search for lists like these every day, and businesses pay to be on them.

I've been building websites since 2005, and today I run a portfolio of hyper-niche directories. This course shows you how I pick the niche, build the site without code, and turn it into income.

Why small beats big

You can't out-Yelp Yelp. But you can own a tiny category that Yelp ignores.

The smaller and newer the niche, the faster you become the authority. Google notices. AI tools like ChatGPT notice. And the businesses in that niche notice, because you're the one sending them customers.

What's inside

Picking the niche: How to find a small, profitable category and research it before you build anything.
Domain and planning: Choosing an SEO-friendly domain and planning the project so you don't waste weeks.
Building it: Step-by-step builds in Directify, Softr and Unicorn Platform. No WordPress, no hosting, no code.
AI shortcuts: Watch me build a complete directory with free AI tools in 7 minutes.
Making money: Paid listings, ads and affiliate links, and which one to start with.
Getting found: The low-cost SEO tool I use, where to run ads, and how to check whether ChatGPT and Perplexity recommend your site.
Bonus: Long-form breakdowns of everything I know about profitable directories.

What this course is not

It's not a get-rich-quick scheme. A directory is a small asset that grows as you add listings and content. The course shows you how to shorten that, not skip it.

What students are saying

"I had zero technical experience but always wanted to start an online business. This course made it so easy! Within three months, my local pet services directory was generating $1,200/month in recurring revenue."

— Sarah T., Course Graduate

"The no-code tools were a game-changer for me. I built my niche directory for eco-friendly home services in just two weeks!"

— James M., Entrepreneur

"This course helped me turn my passion for artisanal crafts into a thriving online community. Highly recommend starting your own directory website business!"

— Maria L., Small Business Owner

Who this is for

Beginners who want an online business without being on camera
Website and blog owners looking for a new income stream
Anyone who tried a WordPress directory plugin and got stuck

If you can make a spreadsheet, you can build a directory. Let's get started.

Who this course is for:

Beginners who want an online business without being on camera
Website and blog owners looking for a new income stream

How To Create (and Monetize) a Niche Directory Website

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 1min

Planning Your Directory Website5 lectures • 22min

Building a Profitable Directory8 lectures • 1hr 43min

Tips To Grow Your Directory8 lectures • 1hr 50min

Bonus4 lectures • 1hr 26min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: