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Join me as I chat with Omar Choudhry, a serial entrepreneur, as we dive deep into how to build and scale directories. Omar shares his strategies and frameworks for how to use AI and SEO to build and scale cash flowing directories.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 Intro
04:26 Overview of GuiltyChef.com
06:56 The Power of Schema in SEO
14:04 Traffic
18:07 Monetization Potential
24:34 Overview of bestdubai.com
32:09 Live Cooking Session: Building a Directory
35:47 Using Apify for Data Scraping
39:54 Using Claude for organizing information and data
44:01 Setting Up Zapier for Automation
55:26 Formatting data on Claude
1:06:42 Building a Comprehensive Directory
1) First directory: GuilteyChef.com
- AI-generated recipes from top restaurants
- Went from 0 to 100k monthly visitors in 7 months
- Built in ONE week as a side project
- Already monetizing with $2.99 recipe packs
Key insight: People want to recreate restaurant dishes at home
2) Second directory: BestDubai.com
- Bought domain for $1.2k (incredible deal)
- Competing with TripAdvisor in just 30 days
- AI-generated reviews & scores
- Automated everything
Smart move: Added referral tags to outbound links = restaurants see traffic source
3) The Tech Stack
- Webflow for website
- Zapier for automation
- Claude AI for content
- Apify for data scraping
- Google Sheets as input
- Python snippets for formatting
No coding experience needed!
4) The Secret Sauce: Schema markup
Omar uses AI to generate perfect schema for each page
Why it matters:
- Helps Google understand content
- Gets rich snippets in search
- Ranks above established sites
- Most competitors do this wrong
5) The Process:
1. Get place ID from Google Maps
2. Scrape data using Appify
3. Format data for Claude
4. Generate content with AI
5. Push to Webflow CMS
6. Auto-generate everything
One place ID = complete page with images, content & SEO
6) Monetization strategies:
- Premium recipe packs
- Restaurant partnerships
- Ingredient affiliate links
- Sponsored listings
- Brand partnerships
- Custom AI tools
Pro tip: Let restaurants find YOU through analytics
7) Key Learning:
You can now compete with giants like TripAdvisor using:
- Smart AI automation
- Proper schema markup
- Geographic targeting
- Language optimization
- Clean UX design
Budget needed: Under $2k
The future of directories is here. Time to build!
Want more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav)
Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startupideas
LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/
BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/
BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/
Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.startupempire.co
FIND ME ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/
FIND OMAR ON SOCIAL
5 Day Sprint - Build with AI: https://www.skool.com/5-day-sprint/about
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omarchoudhry/
X/Twitter: https://x.com/OmarChoudhry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omarchoudhry/?originalSubdomain=uk
Episode Timestamps
00:00 Intro
04:26 Overview of GuiltyChef.com
06:56 The Power of Schema in SEO
14:04 Traffic
18:07 Monetization Potential
24:34 Overview of bestdubai.com
32:09 Live Cooking Session: Building a Directory
35:47 Using Apify for Data Scraping
39:54 Using Claude for organizing information and data
44:01 Setting Up Zapier for Automation
55:26 Formatting data on Claude
1:06:42 Building a Comprehensive Directory
1) First directory: GuilteyChef.com
- AI-generated recipes from top restaurants
- Went from 0 to 100k monthly visitors in 7 months
- Built in ONE week as a side project
- Already monetizing with $2.99 recipe packs
Key insight: People want to recreate restaurant dishes at home
2) Second directory: BestDubai.com
- Bought domain for $1.2k (incredible deal)
- Competing with TripAdvisor in just 30 days
- AI-generated reviews & scores
- Automated everything
Smart move: Added referral tags to outbound links = restaurants see traffic source
3) The Tech Stack
- Webflow for website
- Zapier for automation
- Claude AI for content
- Apify for data scraping
- Google Sheets as input
- Python snippets for formatting
No coding experience needed!
4) The Secret Sauce: Schema markup
Omar uses AI to generate perfect schema for each page
Why it matters:
- Helps Google understand content
- Gets rich snippets in search
- Ranks above established sites
- Most competitors do this wrong
5) The Process:
1. Get place ID from Google Maps
2. Scrape data using Appify
3. Format data for Claude
4. Generate content with AI
5. Push to Webflow CMS
6. Auto-generate everything
One place ID = complete page with images, content & SEO
6) Monetization strategies:
- Premium recipe packs
- Restaurant partnerships
- Ingredient affiliate links
- Sponsored listings
- Brand partnerships
- Custom AI tools
Pro tip: Let restaurants find YOU through analytics
7) Key Learning:
You can now compete with giants like TripAdvisor using:
- Smart AI automation
- Proper schema markup
- Geographic targeting
- Language optimization
- Clean UX design
Budget needed: Under $2k
The future of directories is here. Time to build!
Want more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav)
Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startupideas
LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/
BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/
BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/
Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.startupempire.co
FIND ME ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/
FIND OMAR ON SOCIAL
5 Day Sprint - Build with AI: https://www.skool.com/5-day-sprint/about
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omarchoudhry/
X/Twitter: https://x.com/OmarChoudhry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omarchoudhry/?originalSubdomain=uk
Creators & Guests
What is The Startup Ideas Podcast?
Get your creative juices flowing with The Startup Ideas Podcast. Published twice a week, we bring you free startup ideas to inspire your next venture. Hosted by Greg Isenberg, CEO of Late Checkout and former advisor to Reddit and TikTok. Subscribe so you don't miss out.
For more startup ideas, we created a database of 30+ startup ideas you can take at https://gregisenberg.com/30startupideas