Reddit is, after all, the hub of all internet virality. The platform represents one of the most active online communities, with billions of hits each month and having 430+ million active users.
Not to add that Reddit-produced content frequently receives tremendous social media engagement.
But here’s the thing: marketing on Reddit can be challenging for companies who don’t fully “understand” the community.
You’re going to be let down if you treat Reddit like the rest of your social media presence.
We created this guide to help you use Reddit for business and determine whether or not using the platform for marketing makes sense for you.
What exactly is Reddit?
A good question! People who have never actually used Reddit may find the site to be a complete chaos.
Reddit, which bills itself as the “first page of the Internet,” is essentially a mix of a news website and a webform.
Where does the “content” on Reddit originate, though?
In short, people post links, photographs, or videos as content to Reddit. Following that, users “upvote” or “downvote” posts and comments that pertain to the topic.
The basic idea behind the upvote method is that the best, most popular material goes to the top, while the worst, most irrelevant, inflammatory, or spammy content falls to the bottom.
Beyond the top page of Reddit, discussions are divided into several groups known as “subreddits.”
It’s hardly hyperbole to suggest that there is a subreddit for almost everything. There are other big niche communities on Reddit outside of subreddits like /r/IAmA (ask me anything) and /r/personalfinance, such as /r/jellybeantoes, which is devoted to cat paws (and has over 139,000 members, by the way).
Despite what some detractors may claim, Reddit is not a social media platform. The ability to “like” (https://upvote.shop/) posts, leave comments, and submit content is comparable to the major social platforms available, despite the limited nature of your actual user profile.
Reddit’s viewership is predominantly male and tends to be younger than the general population. There are active groups for anything from fitness to beauty and beyond, despite the fact that the platform is still mostly linked with gaming and fandom culture.
Reddit’s difficult marketing environment
Reddit may initially appear to be the ideal platform for companies and marketers to interact with consumers.
And yes, it is possible.
However, you can’t just throw a bunch of links at people and expect momentum, just like any other social network.
On Reddit, a website that thrives on a sense of community, this is particularly true. Users don’t like it when people try to sell to them without making an effort to help the community.
Additionally, Reddit users are frequently antagonistic toward thinly veiled attempts at promotion since they can see through them. Because of this, several subreddits have clear guidelines that prohibit advertising.
Reddit marketing requires adhering to rigorous no-spam rules.
Does this imply that Reddit is hostile to companies? Without a doubt. They simply adopt a staunch stance against self-promotion. They may have said it best themselves:
“Having a website and using Reddit is acceptable, but having a website and using Reddit is not acceptable.”
Reddit has no issues with companies using its platform. The important thing is that these companies must put community relations and value ahead of selling. To summarize their message for anyone considering marketing on Reddit:
Don’t just spam people with links, and neither should you or anyone else vote for your own stuff without thinking! Why? Reddit is not a platform for self-promotion, but rather a community.
Remember that Reddit has its own advertising platform and offers sponsored postings for businesses. Saying Reddit is antibusiness is absurd given that it partners with advertisers like Audi, Poshmark, and Adobe.
Promotional posts are one way to sell on Reddit.
Oh, and Reddit is a hotbed for discussions on items and companies. The platform is popular with users since every content is genuine and uncensored (hint: no brands butting in).
The lesson to be learned from this is that there is a place for businesses on Reddit—you simply need to get to know the site before posting.
What is the most effective strategy for Reddit marketing, then?
Even if you never intend to use Reddit for business purposes, you should at the very least be aware of how brands utilize the site.
Reddit is also a fantastic resource for market research and keeping an eye on trends in your business and outside.
Here are some suggestions for using Reddit for business and brand-based promotion.
Discover customer opinions and recommendations
As was already said, Reddit may include a veritable gold mine of business-related discussions.
You don’t have to look far to find customers requesting recommendations and assistance, from the products that your audience loves to what people are saying about your competition.
The important thing here isn’t for you to step in or do anything, though.
You can gain a better understanding of where you’re succeeding, where you could be falling short, and how you can grow by keeping an eye on comments regarding your products or competitors.
For instance, have a look at this IRA account conversation on /r/personalfinance. This discussion emphasizes specific pain points and the reasons why one bank might be preferred over another while highlighting real-world issues and worries from banking consumers.
These are the precise kinds of discussions that your company should have access to, and Reddit is rich with them. To learn more about trends and what your customers are thinking, spend some time exploring industry-specific Reddit subreddits.
Using social listening tools like Sprout Social can help you focus on these discussions on Reddit (and elsewhere). You translate messages and postings into useful data for your business by collecting them from throughout the web.
Discover original stuff created by users
Reddit has a ton of user-generated information, including reviews and product images, in addition to consumer inquiries.
Customer images are ideal for social media sites like Instagram. A wonderful type of social proof to offer your company some major legitimacy is the fact that Redditors are praising it.
Take a look at these recent postings on /r/FancyFollicles, for instance, that praise Arctic Fox’s hair colour.
You may find brand evangelists and consumer success stories with just a fast search.
Offer advice and assistance to your audience
Supporting others before trying to sell them is possibly one of the finest ways to go about marketing on Reddit.
There are numerous brands with specific subreddit groups where users can ask inquiries and troubleshoot issues. This establishes a direct line of communication between your company and consumers, while also serving as a public forum where users may later go for solutions and product recommendations.
Reddit marketing entails offering assistance to the community, much like Elgato does
Heck, some businesses, like Corsair, use Reddit to supplement their current customer care initiatives. By doing this, you increase the visibility of your business and demonstrate your dedication to serving clients.
Use AMA events to gain exposure within your neighborhood
You can use your influence to speak with people in your neighborhood personally if you’re a part of a larger brand.
Reddit’s AMA (ask me anything) sessions are a mainstay and a well-liked approach to interact with fans naturally while letting your brand’s personality shine through. AMAs are typically held by businesses in conjunction with a campaign or product launch.
The secret to a good AMA is genuinely engaging in back-and-forth conversation with individuals as opposed to solely marketing your product. In reality, some of the worst (and most memorable) AMAs in Reddit lore have been the consequence of shameless self-promotion.
interact with clients through a personal account
This is a modest advice, but it is one that deserves to be mentioned.
Ideally, you shouldn’t try to contact Redditors using an account that is completely inactive. Even if it could take some time, building up posts and comments on the site will show your community that you are not a spammer.
Some businesses get around this by contacting clients using non-corporate, personal accounts.
For instance, Beardbrand’s Eric Banholtz is an experienced Reddit user and frequently posts comments from his own account on brand- and beard-related topics.
This is a terrific technique to approach people on Reddit without leaving a corporate “mark,” much to how brands execute employee advocacy campaigns.
When interacting with Redditors, be human.
Although it may seem obvious, brands should communicate with their consumers directly and without jargon.
Having a distinct and approachable brand voice is a good idea pretty much anytime, but it’s crucial on a network like Reddit where authenticity matters.
Their brand’s response is distinctive, specific, and emotional. This is the ideal way for businesses to engage with Reddit users and win them over (and the upvotes on this post prove they were successful)
