It's the end of the year and I always like to ask myself: Am I spending my time in the best way possible?
I've been building directories for three years now.
In internet years, that's a decent chunk of time to commit to a singular type of business thing.
But in the grand scheme of business, it's so short...
Are directories still going to be my focus next year? Is building them the best use of my time?
The short answer is: Yes, I'll still build directories in 2026. That's without a doubt.
But AI coding tools removed most of my technical constraints in 2025.
And once those limits disappeared, everything became tempting. SaaS. Marketplaces. Mobile apps. Directories.
The challenge stopped being “can I build this?” and became “should I?”
It was almost easier to focus as a builder in 2022 when all I knew was how to build with Wordpress using one theme (Elementor Pro).
But what curbs the temptation is having a clear, structured approach.
I know exactly how to build these things better than ever before.
The process is already seared into my brain.
Directories are also directionally safe (I don't think directories are going anywhere) while giving me chance at passive/active cashflow.
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My end-of-year framework: Directories matter less than skill development
When I think back to the main reason for building directories in the first place, it was all about learning SEO.
Directories just happened to be the vessel that I used to learn.
And instead of trying to think of the business model/idea as the moat, I started to look at myself as the moat.
That's why at the end of the year, I always choose one or two skills that become my main focus for the year ahead.
In 2022, it was Wordpress and SEO.
In 2023, it was directory monetization and time management (I got a sales job + built in the mornings and nights).
In 2024, it was pSEO.
In 2025, it was content and AI coding.
If I had to choose a focus for 2026, it would probably be between sales or advanced SEO (backlink automation and LLM citations). Or both.
This way, it almost doesn't matter what I choose as my vehicle for skill development.
An idea becomes more valuable than its perceived monetization potential.
The advantage of continuing to build directories into 2026 is that they're super flexible businesses and I know what a clear, structured approach looks like for building them.
It's one thing to know how to use AI coding tools.
It's another thing to combine AI coding tool knowledge + a repeatable approach/SOP.
I guess that's why, to me, directories seem like an easy-choice.
From the outside looking in, I'll still be the guy building directories.
But underneath that, I’m really leveraging a repeatable system for distribution to build a skillset that compounds far beyond any single project.
Best,
Frey
