Getting Featured on the Squads Directory

Elevate your Public Squad to featured status in the daily.dev Squads Directory and dramatically increase your community's visibility and growth.

Key Features

• Directory inclusion - All Public Squads appear in the searchable directory
• Featured placement - Editorial selection for prominent positioning
• Category organization - Squads grouped by technology and topic areas
• Discovery boost - Increased visibility leads to faster growth
• Quality recognition - Featured badge signals community value
• Engagement amplification - More members mean richer discussions

Understanding the Directory

The Squads Directory serves as the central discovery hub where developers find communities aligned with their interests and expertise. While all Public Squads gain automatic directory inclusion, featured status represents editorial recognition reserved for exceptional communities.

Automatic vs. Featured

Automatic Directory Inclusion

• All well-maintained Public Squads appear in the directory
• Basic visibility in relevant category sections
• Standard search and discovery functionality

Featured Status Benefits

• Prominent placement in the "Featured" section
• Editorial badge indicating quality and value
• Enhanced discoverability across the platform
• Credibility boost attracting high-quality members

Achieving Featured Status

Essential Optimization Strategies

1. Strategic Category Selection Choose the most relevant category during Squad creation to ensure optimal audience targeting:

• Languages - JavaScript, Python, Rust communities
• Web Development - React, Angular, Vue.js focused groups
• AI & Machine Learning - TensorFlow, OpenAI, data science topics
• DevOps & Cloud - Kubernetes, AWS, infrastructure discussions

tip

Right category = right audience: Accurate categorization is crucial for discoverability and member engagement.

2. Professional Squad Branding

Visual Identity

• Eye-catching Squad image that represents your community's focus
• Consistent visual theme across all Squad materials
• Professional appearance that builds instant credibility

Compelling Messaging

• Clear, engaging description highlighting unique value proposition
• Descriptive title that's both searchable and memorable
• Value-focused copy explaining what members gain from joining

3. Content Excellence Standards

Quality Content Strategy

• Meaningful posts that provide real value to your community
• Curated resources including tutorials, articles, and educational videos
• Professional formatting using Markdown for clean presentation
• Consistent publishing to maintain engagement momentum

Content Types That Work

• Technical deep-dives and tutorials
• Industry news and trend analysis
• Tool reviews and comparisons
• Community challenges and discussions

4. Community Engagement Excellence

Active Facilitation

• Respond promptly to member comments and questions
• Initiate discussions on trending topics and technologies
• Encourage participation through questions and polls
• Share valuable feedback that helps members grow

Member Growth Strategies

• Strategic invitations to developers who align with your community
• Cross-platform promotion via social media and professional networks
• Slack workspace integration for existing teams
• Quality over quantity - focus on engaged, relevant members

5. Platform Compliance

Community Standards

• Follow content guidelines strictly and consistently
• Moderate posts to ensure quality and relevance
• Report issues promptly to maintain community safety
• Zero tolerance for spam, harassment, or inappropriate content

Featured Squad Benefits

Achieving featured status unlocks significant advantages for community growth and engagement:

Visibility Advantages

• Prime directory placement in the Featured section
• Enhanced search ranking within category listings
• Cross-category promotion reaching broader audiences
• Platform-wide recognition through various discovery channels

Community Growth Benefits

• Quality member attraction - Featured badge signals value
• Faster membership growth through increased discoverability
• Higher engagement rates from genuinely interested developers
• Network effects as engaged members invite their connections

Recognition & Authority

• Editorial validation of your community's quality and value
• Professional credibility for Squad leaders and moderators
• Industry visibility within your specific technology domain
• Competitive advantage over non-featured communities

info

Success metrics: Featured Squads typically see 3-5x higher member join rates and significantly more post engagement compared to non-featured communities.

Directory Category Guide

The directory organizes Squads into focused categories to optimize discovery and member-community matching:

Category	Focus Areas	Examples
Featured	Editorial choice highlighting exceptional quality	Best-in-class communities across all categories
Languages	Programming language-specific communities	JavaScript, Python, Rust, Go, Swift
Web Development	Frontend, backend, and full-stack topics	React, Vue, Angular, Node.js, Tailwind
Mobile	Mobile app development and frameworks	Flutter, React Native, Swift, Kotlin
DevOps & Cloud	Infrastructure, deployment, and operations	Kubernetes, AWS, Docker, Terraform, CI/CD
AI & Machine Learning	Artificial intelligence and data science	OpenAI, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Data Science
Game Development	Game engines, design, and development	Unity, Unreal Engine, Indie Games
Developer Tools	Tools, platforms, and productivity software	GitHub, VS Code, Postman, Sentry
Career Growth	Professional development and leadership	Job searching, management, mentorship
Open Source	OSS projects, contributions, and maintenance	Git workflows, project management, licensing
Developer Relations	Community building and developer advocacy	DevRel strategies, community management
Community & Fun	Casual discussions and developer culture	Memes, off-topic chats, networking

Community Standards

Quality Assurance

Reporting System The daily.dev community helps maintain directory quality through a robust reporting system:

• User reporting of inappropriate or non-compliant Squads
• Moderation team review of all reported content
• Swift action on violations to protect community standards
• Appeals process for wrongfully flagged communities

Ongoing Monitoring

• Regular quality audits of featured and directory-listed Squads
• Performance tracking to ensure featured communities maintain standards
• Community feedback integration for continuous improvement

caution

Featured status is revocable: Squads that fail to maintain quality standards or violate community guidelines may lose their featured status.

Getting Support

For guidance on improving your Squad's chances of being featured or questions about the directory:

• Email support: advocacy@daily.dev
• Community guidelines: Review platform content policies
• Best practices: Study currently featured Squads for inspiration
• Regular optimization: Continuously improve based on member feedback

Transform your Public Squad into a featured community by focusing on exceptional content, meaningful engagement, and consistent value delivery. The path to featured status starts with commitment to your community's success.