If you’re unsure about what to post on Reddit, you’re not alone. Unlike other social media platforms, Reddit is designed for contribution rather than broadcasting.
This means that if you want to gain traction, receive upvotes, or drive traffic to your content, it needs to genuinely fit within the specific subreddit you are targeting.
Article Summary
TL;DR: Best Tips for Getting Engaged Posts
You don’t need a large following or a viral gimmick to succeed on Reddit. You just need content that fits in and value that speaks for itself.
- Use Throwaway Titles That Blend In
Example: Instead of “Try Our Tool Today,” write: “Tried building an AI tool to summarize Reddit threads, surprisingly useful?” - Drop Value First, Link Second
Share insights, show effort, then add your link in the comments if needed. - Use Reddit’s Search Like a Goldmine
Search your niche + keywords to find old threads with evergreen engagement. Post helpful comments or revive the discussion with an update. - Comment Like a Contributor, Not a Promoter
If all your comments are links, you’ll get flagged. Mix in pure value replies. - Build Karma Before Posting Promotional Content
50+ karma and a few weeks of activity are usually enough to avoid auto-removal bots. - Don’t Fear Criticism
Some of the best-performing posts are brutally honest. Reddit loves underdogs, self-deprecation, and people asking for help.
Subreddit Rules = Content Type
Each subreddit allows different content formats, including text, image, link, poll, or video.
Some only accept one format.
Examples:
- r/mildlyinteresting only allows images. Don’t drop a link there, it will get removed.
- r/AskReddit is strictly text-based. Even if you want to promote something, you must start with a question.
- r/Cryptocurrency allows text posts and links but prefers discussion-first formats.
If you’re marketing an app, for example:
- Don’t spam r/macapps with a promo video.
- Instead, post a thoughtful “I built this” with screenshots and a backstory. That works.
Make It Relevant
Reddit is brutal about relevance. If your content feels off-topic, it won’t just flop, it’ll get removed, and your account could be flagged for spam.
Bad example: Posting about a new productivity tool in r/personalfinance just because you think users there are professional. It’s irrelevant. Mods will remove it instantly.
Good example: Sharing your journey building a budgeting app in r/SideProject, complete with a few early screens and a genuine request for feedback. Now you’re speaking their language.
Redditors reward intentionality. If your post makes sense in that exact subreddit, users won’t just tolerate it, they’ll upvote it.
Another example: In r/startups, a founder posted I built a Chrome extension that converts prices into time — 700 people already use it.
That thread got 1.8k+ upvotes, 144 comments, and legitimate user signups after just a few days. Because it was relevant and humble.
Solve a Real Problem
If you want your post to get attention, solve something people care about.
Reddit users love actionable content that fixes issues they’re facing.
Here’s what works:
- Answering common questions from the subreddit
- Sharing tools, templates, or tips that reduce pain or friction
- Posting explainers that clarify confusing concepts
Example from r/Fitness, someone posted: “How to kick lower back pain’s butt? I broke down what worked after 6 months of PT (with infographic & web affiliate link).” Result: Hundreds of upvotes and comments. Why? It addressed a problem many people in that subreddit deal with.
Another example from r/Marketing, a user shared “Things that I wish I knew before I started Reddit Ads“. That kind of transparency turns readers into fans, and often into customers.
Pro tip: Use Google to find genuine questions posted on Reddit with this query: [question] site:reddit.com
This shows the threads where people have asked about your topic. Answer them. Build from them. Or drop your link inside a thoughtful answer if it’s helpful.
Post Like a Real Redditor
Reddit users quickly identify marketing nonsense. If your post sounds like an advertisement, it won’t just fail, it might lead to a ban.
What works? Write like a regular Redditor. Be curious. Be real. Share a backstory, a struggle, or a process, not just a pitch.
Example from r/SideProject “Quit my job, built a Chrome extension, now have paid customers from 45+ countries”. That post got hundreds of upvotes because it felt honest, not polished.
Instead of: “Try our new product! Fast, powerful, and AI-driven!”
Try this: “I built a focus timer that blocks Reddit when I’m supposed to be working. It works too well. Here’s the demo.”
Format tips:
- Start with a hook (question, struggle, or small win)
- Tell a short story (what, why, results)
- Include visuals/screenshots if it fits the sub
- Drop links in comments, not in the post title
Bonus: Add a simple question at the end: “Would love your take on this—am I missing anything obvious?”
Study What Already Works in the Subreddit
Before you post anything, spend 15-20 minutes studying what gets upvoted in your target subreddit.
- What tone gets rewarded? Are the top posts casual, emotional, sarcastic, or serious?
- How long are top-performing posts? Are they a few lines or 500+ words? Do people read walls of text, or do short posts win?
- Are certain formats favored? Do posts with titles like “TIL…” or “PSA:” tend to perform better?
- Are AMAs or “I built this” posts common? Some subreddits love builder stories or expert threads. Others don’t care.
- Do successful posts include edits or updates? Many top posts end with “Edit: Wow, thanks for the feedback!” or “Update: Here’s what I changed…”
- Do top posts use humor or memes effectively? Even serious subs like r/help occasionally reward light sarcasm if it fits the context.
- Are visuals important? Do charts, screenshots, or photo evidence appear in most upvoted posts?
- How does the community handle links? Are external links welcomed, tolerated in comments, or consistently downvoted?
- What gets traction in comments? Look at the top comments. Are they helpful, funny, brutally honest, or deeply personal?
- What time of day do the top posts go live? Subreddits often have ideal posting windows based on timezone and activity.
Example from r/Frugal: Most top posts are “how I saved $X doing Y” with real receipts or breakdowns. So, a user posting “What I’m feeding my family of 5 this week for $125” fits right in and gets traction.
Another example from r/Marketing: Top posts often open with pain points and ask for advice. This post worked well: “What are the most underrated Marketing skills that everyone should master?” It generated valuable critiques and increased traffic..
Quick workflow to analyze a subreddit:
- Sort by Top → This Month or All Time
- Read the top 10 posts
- Make notes: content type, tone, length, structure
- Use that as your template
This is free, data-backed market research. Use it.
Content Ideas
Various post types serve distinct purposes, and subreddits usually prefer one or two formats.
Here’s what works best for each type, along with real examples.
Text Posts (Self-posts)
Best for: Guides, questions, personal experiences, soft promotion, or subreddits that require text posts only.
Ideas:
- “Here’s how I built my passive income stream from scratch”
- “What I learned spending $5k on Reddit ads (breakdown inside)”
- “I made a free tool to simplify X, feedback welcome”
- “Built a Chrome extension to summarize YouTube videos with AI, here’s the repo.”
- “Tested 7 to-do list apps for 30 days. This one wins by a mile”
- “I automated my boring dev job. Ask me anything!”
Example from r/Design: “I made a functional, science-based habit tracking app that plays like a game. No streaks, No guilt, just good, fun vibes. What do you think?” Casual tone, community-first approach, and soft CTA. It performed well.
Image Posts
Best for: Visual transformations, dashboards, product previews, memes, and subreddits that require images.
Some Ideas:
- Before/after UX design
- Funny charts relevant to the subreddit
- Actual user reviews or handwritten testimonials
- Dashboard screenshots with real metrics
- Sketches to final design comparisons
- Memes.
- Beautiful girls?
Link Posts
Best for: Sharing news, blog posts, landing pages, external tools (used sparingly)
Warning: These often get auto-removed or downvoted unless your Reddit karma is solid or the subreddit is link-friendly (like r/DataIsBeautiful, r/Cryptocurrency or r/News).
Better approach: Post as text and include the link in a follow-up comment, like this:
Polls
Best for: Engaging the community with binary or curiosity-driven choices
Ideas:
- How many of you actually use Reddit ads? (Options: Never, Tried it, Use it monthly, Daily user)
- Which hurts worse: low engagement or bad reviews?
Used wisely, polls can surface real feedback and open up comment discussions.
Video Posts
Best for: App demos, behind-the-scenes, motion design, user reactions, anything you can think of.
Example:
Conclusion
Post what you would stop scrolling to read. Make it useful. Make it specific. Make it subreddit-native.
And when you’re ready to boost your reach, use upvotes strategically, not to fake popularity, but to prime visibility.
