Why directories are the smartest starting point for an online business in an AI world

A directory is simply curated data on a website — you pick a topic and present the best options in that space. In an AI world, directories matter more than ever because there is simply too much information, and curation is what makes things useful. The SEO landscape is also shifting: people are going to ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews to consume content, and those platforms need curated, structured sources to pull from — which is exactly what a strong directory provides. The deeper strategic value is that a directory is a foundation. Once you're getting thousands of visits a month, you can layer on a Shopify store, a newsletter, a SaaS product, or a mobile app. Greg Isenberg sees it as one of the best places for a new builder to start because it gives you an audience and traffic base before you've committed to a single monetization model.