20 Reddit Tips That Actually Work for Marketing

Reddit isn’t like other platforms. To do well here, you need to understand the culture, the rules, and the rhythms of each community.

This guide breaks down 20 practical tips that marketers can use to grow traffic, increase visibility, and avoid getting banned or ignored.

Understand Key Reddit Terms First

Before you dive into strategy, make sure you know these essential terms:

• Subreddit (r/…): A community focused on one topic. Each has its own rules.
• Sidebar: The right-hand section with subreddit rules, FAQs, and related links.
• Frontpage: For logged-out users, this shows top posts from default subreddits. For logged-in users, it’s based on your subscriptions.
• Upvote/Downvote: The community’s way of ranking posts and comments.
• Karma: Your Reddit score. You gain post karma from submissions, and comment karma from replies.
• AMA (Ask Me Anything): A public Q&A thread hosted by a user—usually an expert or someone with a story.

Read more: All Reddit Terms for Marketing

Set Up Multiple Accounts the Smart Way

Reddit allows multiple accounts and smart marketers take advantage of that.

Here’s how to do it right:

• Create 3–5 accounts: Use one for personal browsing, two for marketing, and one or two as backups in case your main accounts are rate-limited or banned.
• Separate devices or profiles: Don’t log into all your accounts from the same browser or IP. Use browser profiles, proxies, or tools like AdsPower or Multilogin to isolate fingerprints.
• Avoid cross-voting: Upvoting your own posts with other accounts will get flagged fast. Reddit is aggressive about detecting patterns. If you’re going to upvote, space them out and use older, active accounts.
• Let each account “live” normally: Post memes, comment on random threads, and join unrelated discussions. This helps your marketing accounts feel like real people.

Read more: The correct way to manage multiple Reddit accounts

Earn Karma Before You Post Links

Reddit hates new accounts pushing links.

To avoid being flagged or ignored, you need to build karma first, especially comment karma.

Here’s how to do it:

• Focus on comments: Join trending threads in r/AskReddit, r/funny, or niche subreddits you care about. Insightful or funny comments can earn thousands of upvotes overnight.
• Don’t chase link karma early: Submitting blog links too soon will trigger spam filters or get removed by mods. Build trust before promotion.
• Aim for 50+ combined karma: While there’s no official threshold, reaching this range makes it easier to post without issues in most subreddits.
• Avoid lazy replies: Comments like This or I agree don’t build reputation. Make every comment count.

If a post gets downvoted hard, delete it. Don’t try to defend it, just move on. Reddit has a short memory if you act fast.

Follow Subreddit Rules

Every subreddit has its own culture and breaking the rules can get you banned without warning.

To avoid mistakes:

• Read the sidebar before posting: Each subreddit lists rules, post formats, and what’s allowed. Ignoring this is the fastest way to get your content removed.
• Respect flair requirements: Some subreddits require you to tag posts a certain way (e.g. Discussion, Resource, Meme). Don’t skip this.
• Avoid reposts and low-effort content: Many subs will remove duplicate content or anything that looks like karma farming.
• Look at top posts: Study what gets upvoted. That’s the kind of content Redditors want in that community.

Some subs are stricter than others. If you break a rule in r/gaming, you might get a warning. In r/cryptocurrency, you might get shadowbanned without notice.

Find Niche Subreddits, Not Just Big Ones

It’s tempting to go straight for huge subreddits like r/Entrepreneur or r/technology, but those are crowded and heavily moderated.

Instead:

• Start small: Subreddits with 10k–100k members often have more engaged users and less competition.
• Use sidebar networks: Large subs often link to niche ones in their sidebars (e.g. r/Marketing → r/AskMarketing).
• Reddit search isn’t great: Use Google with site:reddit.com to find specific niche subs. Example: site:reddit.com "gacha" subreddit.
• Test engagement: Post a helpful comment or question. If you get good responses, you’ve found a potential channel for future posts.

These smaller subs can drive focused traffic and build real brand trust. Big subs bring volume, but niche ones often bring conversions.

For example, here are some niche subreddits for gaming niches: r/GamingHeadsets, r/MechanicalKeyboards, r/MouseReview, r/OLED_Gaming, r/ultrawidemasterrace, r/GamingLaptops, r/SwitchAccessories, etc.

Don’t Mix Personal and Promotional Accounts

Treat your personal and marketing accounts like separate identities. Mixing them can lead to lost credibility, or worse, a ban.

Follow these rules:

• Keep them isolated: Don’t upvote your own posts with your personal account more than once or twice. Reddit can link accounts by behavior and shared IPs.
• Avoid posting brand links on personal accounts: Even once can be enough to get flagged if you’re not careful.
• Use your personal account like a normal Redditor: Join casual discussions, post memes, comment on unrelated topics. This builds karma and a “real user” footprint.
• Marketing accounts should stay focused: Don’t use them to argue, joke, or vent. Keep the tone professional or neutral to avoid unnecessary attention.

Think of your personal account as your living room and your promo accounts as offices—you wouldn’t invite a client over for a nap.

Use Comments to Warm Up and Boost Posts

Before you start pushing your content, spend time commenting. It’s the fastest way to build karma, and it can also help your posts get noticed.

Here’s how to make your comments work for you:

• Reply to trending threads: Especially in huge subreddits such as r/AskReddit, r/gaming, or r/cryptocurrency. A witty or insightful reply can earn hundreds of upvotes.
• Add context under your own posts: Reddit lets you leave a first comment immediately after posting. Use this to explain your post or add a personal touch.
• Drop links sparingly in comments: If a subreddit bans links in posts, try adding them in a follow-up comment instead. Example: “Here’s a tool I built to solve problem X.”
• Edit comments later: Add a link naturally after the comment has gained some traction. This reduces the chance of getting flagged as spam.

High-quality comments not only build karma but also help posts rise by signaling engagement to Reddit’s algorithm.

Don’t Force Links – Add Them Subtly

On Reddit, how you share a link matters more than what you share.

Users hate aggressive promotion, so your links need to feel helpful, not salesy.

Follow these best practices:

• Avoid hyperlinking text: Plaintext links like rupvote.com tend to get better reception than embedded hyperlinks.
• Use the “Edit:” trick: Make a comment without a link, then come back later to add the link after it gains some upvotes. It feels more organic.
• Place links at the end: Don’t open your comment with a URL. Add it only if it naturally supports what you’re saying.
• Skip the link entirely if you’re unsure: Sometimes it’s better to mention your brand without a link. Let interested users Google you.

If your link looks like part of a real discussion, not an ad, it has a much higher chance of staying up and even gaining traction.

Know When to Delete a Post

Reddit doesn’t reward persistence when a post flops. If your submission is tanking in votes or getting harsh feedback, it’s better to pull it and try again later.

Here’s when to delete:

• If it hits negative karma fast: Don’t wait for it to recover. Reddit’s algorithm suppresses downvoted posts quickly.
• If mods remove it: Some subreddits notify you, others don’t. Check your messages. If it’s gone and you don’t know why, ask (politely) in modmail.
• If it’s being brigaded or trolled: Don’t engage in arguments, just remove the post, block problematic users, and move on.
• If it’s early and not gaining traction: Try a better title or post it at a different time. Timing matters more than people realize.

Deleting isn’t defeat, it’s strategy.

Unlike SEO or blog content, Reddit is fast-paced. Bad posts die quickly. Good ones can be reposted

Test Reddit Ads, But Don’t Rely on Them

Reddit ads can work but they perform differently from Facebook or Google.

The key is matching the tone of the community.

What to know before you spend:

• Target interests, not just subreddits: Reddit’s ad system lets you choose both. Use interests for broader reach and subreddits for niche focus.
• Use native-style copy: Make your ad look like a helpful post, not a banner. Posts like “I built a tool that helps X” get better results than “Buy Now.”
• Start small: Test with $50–$100 budgets to see what sticks. Some subs convert, others ignore ads completely.
• Track karma and comment engagement: Reddit ads with organic-style engagement in the comment section often convert better.

Promoted posts from real users can outperform ad accounts. If you’re serious about Reddit marketing, blend organic and paid strategies.

Use an AMA to Build Authority

Hosting an AMA (Ask Me Anything) is one of the most effective ways to earn trust and visibility on Reddit if done right.

Here’s how to run a successful AMA:

• Only do it if you have a story: AMA works best when you’ve done something interesting or useful. Think: “I built a tool used by 10,000 FIFA gamers,” not “I run a blog.”
• Pick the right subreddit: AMAs in r/IAmA are harder to get approved. Try r/indiegames, r/cryptocurrency, r/Tech, or niche subs aligned with your product.
• Be transparent: Clearly state who you are, what you’ve done, and why you’re here. Reddit values honesty.
• Stick around to answer: Don’t post and vanish. The best AMAs have the OP active for several hours, replying thoughtfully to every question.

A good AMA doesn’t just drive traffic, it builds long-term credibility and brand awareness with Reddit’s most engaged users.

Create a Subreddit for Your Product or Brand

If you have a product, service, or growing audience, setting up your own subreddit gives you control over the conversation.

Here’s how to make it work:

• Use it as a support hub: Let users ask questions, report bugs, or share feedback. It builds trust and reduces support tickets.
• Avoid making it a sales page: Your sub should feel like a community, not a promotion loop. Share updates, roadmaps, tips, not just offers.
• Link to it from your website: Treat it like a public-facing forum. New users will explore and possibly join.
• Moderate lightly, but clearly: Define simple rules, and enforce them gently. Don’t delete criticism unless it’s spam.

Over time, an active subreddit becomes a valuable SEO asset and social proof tool, especially when users answer each other’s questions.

Use Upvotes to Unlock Do-Follow Links

Reddit links start as nofollow, meaning they don’t pass SEO value. But once a post gets enough traction, Reddit automatically converts them to do-follow.

Here’s how to take advantage:

• Aim for at least 5–10 upvotes: This is often enough to trigger the switch, though the exact threshold depends on subreddit size, post age, and ratio of upvotes to downvotes.
• Post in low-spam subs: Some subreddits never pass link juice, even if upvoted. Others do. Test and track where links flip.
• Avoid link-shorteners or redirects: They break do-follow eligibility. Use raw URLs instead.
• Check your links manually: Use browser inspector tools to see when your link has rel="nofollow" removed.

If your goal is long-term SEO, these Reddit backlinks can quietly boost authority, especially when they come from high-traffic threads.

Final Tips to Keep You from Getting Banned

Reddit is quick to ban users it sees as spammy, fake, or rule-breaking. To stay safe and scale your presence, follow these precautions:

• Don’t post links too early: New accounts should avoid links until they’ve built karma and history.
• Limit self-promotion: The 9:1 rule still applies. For every one link to your site, make sure you’ve posted or commented nine times without self-interest.
• Avoid voting rings: Coordinating upvotes between accounts, even across IPs or proxies, can get you shadowbanned.
• Never argue with mods: Even if a removal seems unfair, don’t fight it publicly. Message mods politely through modmail if you need clarification.
• Rotate accounts for safety: Don’t rely on one. Have multiple aged, active accounts in your toolbox.

Reddit punishes patterns more than intent. The key is to blend in, provide value, and never look like you’re gaming the system, even if you are.