This case study breaks down the tactics used by Shawerma, who quietly built profitable subreddits by cloning popular ones, hijacking Google traffic, and monetizing through affiliate links and services. It’s a blueprint for turning subreddit traffic into real income.
Clone Subreddits with Better Naming
Shawerma’s first move was simple but powerful: create new subreddits that mimic the names of popular ones, but with a twist.
- Add keywords like “101”, “NSFW”, “Guide”, or “Help” to existing subreddit names
- Examples:
- r/Minecraft → r/Minecraft101
- r/OnlyFans → r/OnlyFans101
- r/GTAV → r/GTAVGuide
- r/Dota2 → r/Dota2Help
This strategy siphons traffic from people who search on Reddit or Google using variations of those terms.
Since Reddit ranks subreddits in search by user count, he boosted new subs using subscriber-boosting services.
Hijack Google Search Results with Reddit Posts
Shawerma didn’t just rely on Reddit’s internal search traffic.
He targeted Google too.
Many people search Reddit via Google using queries like:
- “best GTA V mods reddit”
- “Best Dota 2 mid heroes reddit”
- “How to buy Crypto reddit”
Instead of trying to outrank competitor subs directly, Shawerma:
- Recreated popular threads from larger subreddits
- Improved the content (better formatting, more details, updated links)
- Bought upvotes to push the post higher in Google rankings
- Used high-karma accounts to comment and boost engagement
Because Reddit pages often rank well in search, these upgraded posts took over top spots in Google, stealing traffic from original threads.
Monetize the Subreddit Audience
Once traffic started flowing, Shawerma turned his cloned subs into revenue engines using several simple methods:
1. Affiliate Links in Posts
He posted helpful guides or lists that naturally included affiliate links like hosting deals, VPNs, or crypto wallets.
2. Sidebar Promotions
Using the subreddit sidebar, he added static banners or text links that pointed to affiliate products. This worked especially well in tech and finance-related subs.
3. Selling Sticky Posts and User Flairs
With active traffic, Shawerma sold:
- Sticky posts for advertisers (e.g. “top products of the month” or “FAQs”)
- Custom user flairs for brands or users wanting visibility
Each of these monetization methods required no technical setup, just traffic, trust, and timing.
Traffic Results & Takeaways
The results were clear: Shawerma’s cloned subreddits gained traction fast and became real sources of income.
Here’s what made the difference:
- Fast member growth by buying early subscribers
- Search visibility by copying proven content and improving it
- Monetization by placing simple, direct affiliate links in high-traffic areas
- Low effort, high reward once traffic started compounding
The screenshot above shared by Shawerma showed steady traffic spikes and consistent earnings from affiliate programs tied to his subreddits.
This isn’t a strategy for long-term brand building, but it’s highly effective if your goal is traffic and revenue.
The key is understanding how Reddit ranks subs, how Google indexes Reddit content, and how to deliver just enough value to keep users clicking.
Monetization Tools
To execute Shawerma’s strategy efficiently and at scale, you’ll need a few reliable tools.
Here’s a curated stack that covers monetization, link management, post automation, and analytics.
Affiliate Networks
These are platforms where you can find products to promote and earn commissions:
- Impact – Great for SaaS, finance, and influencer-friendly brands
- ShareASale – Wide range of merchants including tools, tech, and lifestyle
- CJ (Commission Junction) – High-quality merchants with trusted payout systems
- PartnerStack – Popular among software and B2B tools
Tip: Filter programs by those that allow Reddit or forum traffic, some don’t.
Link Cloakers & Managers
Use these to track clicks, hide ugly URLs, and prevent link bans:
- ThirstyAffiliates (WordPress plugin)
- Pretty Links (great for redirecting affiliate links from short, clean URLs)
- Bitly (free and easy, but less private)
Tip: Use custom slugs like yoursite.com/vpn-deal to make affiliate links look cleaner and clickable on Reddit.
Reddit Post Schedulers
These tools help you plan and space out your posts to avoid spammy behavior:
- Social Rise – Schedule posts and track performance
- Delay for Reddit – Lightweight tool to set posting time without logging in later
- Typefully or TweetHunter – Can be used for drafting Reddit post copy before pasting
Tip: Schedule during peak hours of your target sub’s timezone (e.g. 8–10 AM local time).
Reddit Analytics Tools
Track traffic, keyword trends, and post success rates:
- Subranking.com – View growth trends, most active hours, and top users
- RedditList.com – Analyze post history and engagement for any user or sub
Use these tools to find subreddits that are quietly growing but don’t have strong competition yet.
These tools don’t just make your workflow easier, they give you leverage. When used together, they let you launch multiple profitable subreddits, automate posts, track results, and monetize with minimal time investment.
