diff --git a/archivebox/legacy/index.py b/archivebox/legacy/index.py
index 95e635b8..20fb0dc9 100644
--- a/archivebox/legacy/index.py
+++ b/archivebox/legacy/index.py
@@ -122,7 +122,12 @@ def validate_links(links: Iterable[Link]) -> Iterable[Link]:
     links = uniquefied_links(links)  # merge/dedupe duplicate timestamps & urls
 
     if not links:
-        print('[X] No links found :(')
+        stderr('{red}[X] No links found in index.json{reset}'.format(**ANSI))
+        stderr('    To add a link to your archive, run:')
+        stderr("        archivebox add 'https://example.com'")
+        stderr()
+        stderr('    For more usage and examples, run:')
+        stderr('        archivebox help')
         raise SystemExit(1)
 
     return links
diff --git a/archivebox/legacy/logs.py b/archivebox/legacy/logs.py
index d9b92422..191f76b1 100644
--- a/archivebox/legacy/logs.py
+++ b/archivebox/legacy/logs.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ def log_parsing_finished(num_parsed: int, num_new_links: int, parser_name: str):
 def log_indexing_process_started():
     start_ts = datetime.now()
     _LAST_RUN_STATS.index_start_ts = start_ts
+    print()
     print('{green}[*] [{}] Saving main index files...{reset}'.format(
         start_ts.strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'),
         **ANSI,