Getting Started On Reddit (Feedback from 100+ Users)
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Reddit can drive thousands of qualified visitors to your website, but only if you build your account the right way from day one.
We spent weeks digging through Indie Hackers discussions, Reddit threads, Product Hunt conversations, and developer forums to find what actually works when you're starting from zero.
We compiled real experiences from hundreds of entrepreneurs who tried Reddit marketing, separated the winners from the banned accounts, and distilled everything into straightforward advice you can follow step by step.
This guide gives you the exact playbook for your first 30 days on Reddit, so you can build the foundation that unlocks sustainable traffic instead of getting permanently banned before you even start (and if you want the same level of research for your specific market, check out our market clarity reports).
Quick Summary
Your first month on Reddit should focus entirely on building 500+ karma through genuine participation before attempting any promotional activity.
Spend weeks lurking to understand subreddit cultures, then comment daily on "Rising" posts in 5-10 niche communities to build credibility. When you finally post, frame everything as personal stories and follow the strict 9:1 rule (nine valuable contributions for every one promotional mention).
The entrepreneurs who rush straight to promotion get banned within days, but those who invest 30-90 days building trust unlock conversion rates of 30-50% compared to 1-5% on typical social media.
In our market clarity reports, for each product and market, we detect signals from across the web and forums, identify pain points, and measure their frequency and intensity so you can be sure you're building something your market truly needs.
What You Must Do During Your First Month on Reddit to Build Traffic
1. You must build 500+ karma points before attempting any promotional activity
What it is:
Karma is Reddit's point system that tracks your contributions across the platform. You earn karma when people upvote your comments and posts. Building 500+ karma through genuine participation takes 2-4 weeks of consistent daily engagement, and it's the mandatory foundation before you can promote anything without getting instantly flagged as spam.
Why it works:
Reddit's algorithms and moderators automatically flag new accounts with low karma as spam. Many valuable subreddits won't even let you post until you hit thresholds ranging from 10 to 1,000 karma. Users check post histories religiously, and if all you've done is promote, you'll face instant downvotes or permanent bans. One Reddit marketing veteran noted that accounts above 500 karma almost never get removed for rule violations because that threshold proves you're a real community member.
How to execute it well:
Create your account today since account age matters alongside karma. Subscribe to 10-15 relevant subreddits where your target customers hang out. Spend 15-20 minutes daily leaving thoughtful comments without mentioning your business. Start in smaller communities like r/NoStupidQuestions where requirements are minimal. Target 100-200 karma as your absolute minimum, but 500+ is the safe threshold that opens most doors.
2. You should understand Reddit's brutal anti-advertising culture from day one
What it is:
Reddit has a deep-rooted anti-advertising culture stemming from the Digg migration years ago. The community will aggressively downvote, publicly call out, and permanently destroy campaigns that feel promotional, salesy, or inauthentic. Entire subreddits like r/HailCorporate exist specifically to expose and mock sneaky advertising. One bad experience where users feel manipulated can permanently damage your brand's reputation across the entire platform.
Why it works:
Understanding this culture from day one prevents costly mistakes that get you permanently banned. Reddit's culture rewards transparency and authenticity faster than any other platform. Users will actually become passionate brand advocates if they feel you're genuinely helpful rather than just selling. Being honest about representing a brand is received far better than trying to hide it. However, fake grassroots marketing gets called out immediately and publicly, with screenshots shared across communities to warn others about your deceptive tactics.
How to execute it well:
Use a clearly branded company account rather than pretending to be anonymous. Be transparent in your profile bio about who you work for. When mentioning your product, disclose your affiliation upfront in the first sentence. Lead with massive value by answering questions thoroughly before mentioning solutions. Share failures openly, not just success stories. Respond to all comments including critical ones, and never delete negative feedback.
3. You need to eliminate all marketing language from your Reddit vocabulary
What it is:
Completely remove corporate speak, marketing jargon, sales language, and promotional phrases from everything you write on Reddit. Replace terms like "we offer," "our solution," "cutting-edge," "innovative," and "game-changing" with personal language like "I built," "I created," "I noticed," and "here's what worked." Write the way you'd actually talk to a friend explaining your project at a coffee shop, not the way you'd present to investors.
Why it works:
Reddit users can smell marketing language from a mile away and will immediately downvote or ignore anything that sounds like a sales pitch. The platform rewards authenticity and punishes corporate speak brutally. When you use personal, conversational language, you sound like a real human sharing a genuine experience rather than a marketer trying to extract value from the community. This simple shift in language dramatically increases upvotes, engagement, and trust.
How to execute it well:
Read everything out loud and ask: "Would I actually say this to someone in person?" Replace "we" with "I" when possible. Avoid all buzzwords (synergy, disruptive, revolutionary). Use concrete specifics instead of vague claims ("reduced cart abandonment by 23%" not "dramatically improved conversions"). Share vulnerabilities openly ("I spent $3K testing this before I realized..." not "Our optimized approach...").
4. You should target smaller subreddits under 100K members for initial karma building
What it is:
Instead of jumping into massive subreddits with millions of members, start building your karma in smaller, niche communities with 5,000-100,000 subscribers. These communities are more forgiving to newcomers, have less competition for visibility, and will help you build karma faster without the intense scrutiny that comes with participating in huge subreddits right away.
Why it works:
Big subreddits over 1 million members move incredibly fast and are brutally unforgiving to newcomers. Posts get buried within minutes, and moderators in large subs are hyper-vigilant about enforcement. Your content gets lost in the noise, and you're competing with thousands of other posts for attention. Smaller communities under 100K have stronger culture, more forgiving moderators who actually remember contributors, easier visibility since there are fewer posts, and community members who are more likely to upvote helpful newcomers instead of immediately downvoting anyone unfamiliar.
How to execute it well:
Use RedditList.com or Subreddit Stats to find communities in your niche with 5,000-100,000 members. Check the "active users" to "total members" ratio for engagement quality. Look for hyper-specific subreddits like r/learnprogramming instead of r/programming. Build your first 100-200 karma in these smaller communities. Once you hit 500+ karma, expand into larger, stricter communities.
5. You must focus deeply on 5-10 subreddits instead of spreading thin
What it is:
Instead of participating in dozens of communities, identify 5-10 highly relevant subreddits where your target customers actively hang out and focus all your energy there. Go deep in a few communities instead of shallow in many, becoming a recognized, genuinely helpful presence that people remember. This means you'll know the moderators, understand the inside jokes, recognize the regular contributors, and actually be part of the community fabric.
Why it works:
Building a recognizable presence in specific communities makes people remember your username as a helpful resource. It's dramatically easier to learn and adapt to fewer community cultures. Your engagement compounds as moderators notice consistent contributors and users begin recognizing you as someone who actually belongs. You become a "local" rather than a tourist hopping between communities. This delivers better ROI on time invested since you learn exactly what works in each specific community without burning out from trying to participate everywhere simultaneously.
How to execute it well:
Research 15-20 potential subreddits using niche search terms. Check both subscriber count and "currently online" ratio (small active communities often outperform large inactive ones). Evaluate each by asking: Are my actual customers here? Is self-promotion allowed? How strict are moderators? How active is daily discussion? Narrow to 5-10 total. Bookmark only these and create a daily routine checking just them. Unsubscribe from time-wasting communities to maintain focus.
6. You must aim for niche-specific subreddits, never broad general audiences
What it is:
Focus your efforts on hyper-targeted niche subreddits where your specific target customers actively hang out, rather than posting to broad general-interest subreddits or the Reddit homepage. Find communities built around the exact problem you solve or the exact type of person you serve. For example, if you built an email automation tool for e-commerce, target r/ecommerce and r/shopify, not r/business or r/technology.
Why it works:
Niche subreddits have highly engaged audiences with specific pain points that you can directly address (the same way our market clarity reports identify specific customer pain points for each market segment). Smaller communities have dramatically stronger culture fit and lower competition. Content relevance is infinitely higher, leading to better engagement and actual conversion. Community members are more likely to convert because their interest is validated by their subreddit membership.
How to execute it well:
Start with 10-15 broad topic ideas relevant to your product. Use Reddit's search, RedditList.com, or Subreddit Stats to find related communities. Filter for subreddits with 5,000-100,000 subscribers. Check activity levels (look for 50+ daily active users in the sidebar). Review top posts from the past month to understand what resonates. Read subreddit rules to check if promotion is allowed and under what conditions.
7. You should study top posts filtered by "All Time" in target subreddits
What it is:
Before posting anything in a subreddit, go to that community and filter the view by "Top" then select "All Time" to see the most successful posts in that subreddit's entire history. Study at least 20-30 of these top posts to identify clear patterns in format, tone, topic, and how people frame their messages. Do the same for "Past Month" to see recent successes that reflect current community preferences.
Why it works:
The top posts reveal exactly what that specific community values and rewards with upvotes. You'll quickly notice patterns like whether they prefer questions, detailed guides, personal stories, or data-driven case studies. You'll see which posts successfully mentioned products and exactly how they framed those mentions. This research eliminates guesswork and dramatically increases your chances of creating content that actually resonates instead of getting immediately downvoted or removed.
How to execute it well:
For each of your 5-10 target subreddits, dedicate 30-60 minutes to studying top posts. Create a document noting successful formats for each community. Look at post length, use of images or links, tone, structure, and how top posts handle product mentions. Note posting times and days for top posts. Study comment sections to understand what additional details people want and what objections they raise.
8. You must read every subreddit's sidebar rules at least twice before posting
What it is:
Every single subreddit has specific rules, posting guidelines, formatting requirements, and self-promotion policies listed in the sidebar. Before posting anything to any subreddit, read through all these rules at least twice, plus check pinned posts and wiki pages for additional guidelines that aren't in the sidebar. Each subreddit's rules differ dramatically from Reddit's global rules and from each other.
Why it works:
Violating subreddit rules leads to immediate post removal and often permanent bans on the first offense in strict communities. You lose all the time and effort spent creating content when mods delete it instantly. It permanently damages your reputation in that community. Repeated rule violations across multiple subreddits can lead to account-wide shadowbans. Some subreddits like r/startups and r/Entrepreneur are "super strict" about self-promotion while others actively encourage it, and missing simple formatting requirements like flair tags or title formats gets posts auto-removed by bots before anyone even sees them.
How to execute it well:
Read sidebar rules before posting, every single time, for every subreddit. Check pinned posts and wiki pages for additional guidelines. Look at mod comments on removed posts to understand what gets flagged. When uncertain about a rule, DM the moderators to ask for clarification rather than guessing. Note specific requirements: minimum karma, account age, post flair, title formatting, and each subreddit's exact stance on self-promotion.
Our market clarity reports track signals from forums and discussions. Whenever your audience reacts strongly to something, we capture and classify it — making sure you focus on what your market truly needs.
9. You should comment exclusively on "Rising" posts with 50-200 upvotes early
What it is:
Instead of commenting on random posts, filter your target subreddits by "Rising" to find posts that already have 50+ upvotes and 15+ comments. These posts are gaining traction but haven't hit the front page yet. By commenting early on these rising posts, your comment gets carried to visibility as the thread explodes, often earning more upvotes than better comments posted hours later.
Why it works:
Early comments on rising posts get exponentially more visibility than late comments on hot posts. Being in the first 5-10 commenters means your insight appears near the top of the discussion as thousands of people flood in. This builds karma faster and with less effort than creating your own posts. You can naturally mention your expertise when answering specific questions without triggering spam filters, and it demonstrates you're there to help first, not promote.
How to execute it well:
Set aside 15-20 minutes daily for commenting. Open your 5-10 target subreddits and filter each by "Rising." Look for posts at 50-200 upvotes with active comment sections. Write formatted comments with paragraph breaks and bold text for key points. Target leaving 4-7 thoughtful comments daily minimum. Check back within 2 hours to reply to follow-up comments.
10. You need to leave 4-7 thoughtful comments daily instead of posts
What it is:
During your first month, prioritize leaving multiple high-value comments on existing threads rather than creating your own posts. Aim for 4-7 genuinely thoughtful comments every single day on posts where you can add real value, answer questions, or share relevant experiences. Comments are your primary tool for building karma, learning what resonates, and establishing credibility without the high risk of failed posts.
Why it works:
Comments carry dramatically lower risk than posts because if a comment gets deleted, maybe one person saw it. Early comments on rising posts get carried to massive visibility as the thread gains traction, often earning more upvotes than better comments posted just hours later. Commenting builds karma faster and with significantly less effort than creating posts. You can naturally mention your expertise when answering specific questions without triggering spam filters. Most importantly, commenting helps you discover pain points and validate actual demand before you invest time creating full posts.
How to execute it well:
Set aside 15-20 minutes at the same time each day for commenting. Filter your target subreddits by "Rising" to find posts at 50+ upvotes. Also check "Hot" for top posts where early replies still get visibility. Write formatted comments with clear paragraph breaks and bold text. Reply early by being in the first 5-10 commenters. Only mention your product when it directly solves the specific problem being discussed.
11. You have to follow the 9:1 rule religiously for all content
What it is:
For every single promotional post or comment you make, you must have nine non-promotional, value-adding interactions across Reddit. This means if you want to post one promotional link, you need to first make nine genuinely helpful comments or posts that solve problems, answer questions, or share insights without any mention of your business. Reddit's own guidance literally states: "It's perfectly fine to be a Redditor with a website, it's not okay to be a website with a Reddit account."
Why it works:
Reddit users can instantly spot promotional content from accounts that exist only to promote. Violating this ratio gets you banned quickly from subreddits and damages your reputation permanently. The 9:1 rule maintains Reddit's community-first culture where genuine discussion matters infinitely more than marketing. Over-promotion is the number one reason marketers get downvoted into oblivion, banned from communities, or publicly flamed by angry users who then dig through your entire post history to expose your promotional pattern.
How to execute it well:
Keep a mental or written tally to maintain at least 9:1 ratio (though 10:1 is safer). Focus the vast majority of your time solving problems without ever mentioning your product. Don't lead with links (provide immense value first, then mention your solution only if someone directly asks). Participate genuinely in discussions to build authentic relationships over weeks before promoting anything.
12. You must frame every single post as a personal story, never a pitch
What it is:
When you finally create posts after building karma, structure them as personal narratives, case studies, or "lessons learned" posts rather than direct product promotions. Share your journey, mistakes, and insights while mentioning your product naturally as part of the story. The format is always: problem you faced, what you tried, results including failures, key lessons, how others can apply this.
Why it works:
Reddit users hate direct marketing but absolutely love authentic stories that teach them something. Story posts trigger emotional engagement and upvotes while bypassing spam filters. "I built X and learned Y" consistently outperforms "Check out my product X" by 10x or more. Stories build trust through vulnerability and transparency, and you can still promote your product when it's wrapped in genuine value that Reddit's culture actually rewards. Posts about failures and struggles often outperform pure success stories because they demonstrate honest vulnerability.
How to execute it well:
Frame every post as a narrative: "I tried X approach and here's what happened" or "My journey from problem to solution." Include specific details like exact numbers, timeframes, and real obstacles. Share both failures and successes (vulnerability builds trust faster than perfection). Avoid all marketing language by replacing "we offer" with "I built" or "I created." Mention your product as proof or context, never as the main point.
Each of our market clarity reports includes a study of both positive and negative competitor reviews, helping uncover opportunities and gaps.
13. You must write formatted comments with spacing, paragraphs, and bold text
What it is:
Instead of writing wall-of-text comments that are hard to read, format your comments with clear paragraph breaks every 2-3 sentences, use bold text to highlight key points, and add proper spacing to dramatically increase readability. Use Reddit's markdown formatting to make your comments visually scannable and easier to consume than competing comments in the same thread.
Why it works:
Well-formatted comments get significantly more upvotes than equally insightful comments that are poorly formatted. People skim Reddit threads quickly, and formatted text with bold highlights catches their attention and encourages them to actually read your full comment. Clear formatting makes complex information easier to digest, which increases the chances people will upvote and reply. It also signals that you care about quality and are willing to put in effort, which builds credibility and trust faster than sloppy, unformatted text.
How to execute it well:
Break comments into short paragraphs of 2-3 sentences maximum. Add a blank line between paragraphs by hitting Enter twice. Use **double asterisks** around key phrases to make them bold. Start longer comments with a brief TL;DR summary at the top. Use bullet points with asterisks for listing multiple items. Preview your comment before posting to ensure formatting looks clean on both desktop and mobile.
14. You have to reply to follow-up comments to keep engagement going
What it is:
After posting a comment or creating a post, check back within 1-2 hours to reply to any follow-up comments from other users. Continue replying to new comments over the next 24-48 hours as the discussion evolves. This ongoing engagement keeps your post or comment active in the algorithm and demonstrates that you're genuinely there for conversation, not just to drop content and disappear.
Why it works:
Reddit's algorithm rewards posts and comments that generate ongoing discussion by keeping them visible longer. When you reply quickly to comments, it signals to both the algorithm and the community that this is an active, valuable discussion worth participating in (similar to how our market clarity reports help you stay actively engaged with what your customers are actually discussing). Fast replies increase the chances that your post will continue gaining traction and reach more people. It also builds relationships with individuals who engage with your content, turning one-time upvoters into potential long-term supporters who remember your username and contributions.
How to execute it well:
Set reminders to check back on your posts 1 hour, 4 hours, and 12 hours after posting. Reply thoughtfully to every comment in the first 24 hours. Ask follow-up questions to commenters to keep conversations going deeper. Acknowledge criticism gracefully and address concerns directly without getting defensive. Upvote comments that engage meaningfully with your content. Aim to reply to at least 80% of comments within 48 hours.
15. You should be completely transparent about your company affiliation when relevant
What it is:
When your product, company, or service is relevant to a discussion, disclose your affiliation clearly and upfront in the first sentence rather than hiding it or hoping people won't notice. Say things like "I'm the founder of X" or "Full disclosure: I built Y to solve this exact problem" or "I work for Z company" before sharing any details about your solution.
Why it works:
Transparency builds trust exponentially faster on Reddit than on any other platform. Users respect honesty and will often support people who openly acknowledge their bias rather than trying to sneakily promote. When you're transparent, users know exactly where you're coming from and can evaluate your advice accordingly. Trying to hide your affiliation and then getting exposed later completely destroys credibility and often results in permanent bans. Reddit users actively investigate post histories and will call out undisclosed affiliations publicly.
How to execute it well:
Start relevant comments with your disclosure: "Founder here—I built X to solve this exact problem you're describing." Fill out your Reddit profile bio clearly stating what you work on and why. When someone asks for recommendations in your product category, be transparent about your bias but also mention competitors objectively. If users are discussing your product, identify yourself as the founder and engage authentically. Never use alt accounts to promote your product.
16. You must delete promotional posts that get fewer than 10 upvotes within 48 hours
What it is:
If you make a promotional post (even a well-crafted story-based one) and it receives fewer than 10 upvotes within 48 hours, delete it from your post history. Low-performing promotional posts in your history make your account look spammy when people investigate your profile before deciding whether to trust your contributions. A clean post history with only successful posts signals quality and builds credibility.
Why it works:
Reddit users check post histories religiously before engaging with someone's content or upvoting. If they see a history full of failed promotional attempts with 0-5 upvotes, they'll immediately tag you as a spammer and downvote everything you post going forward. Removing unsuccessful promotional posts keeps your history clean and focused on your valuable contributions and successful posts. This makes you look like someone who occasionally mentions their work rather than someone desperately trying to promote and failing repeatedly.
How to execute it well:
Check back on any promotional posts 48 hours after posting. If the post has fewer than 10 upvotes, delete it quietly. Don't delete successful posts even if they're old (those demonstrate positive contributions). Delete only promotional posts that clearly failed, not your helpful comments. Keep track of what got deleted so you can learn from those failures (wrong timing, subreddit, or format). If you're consistently deleting promotional posts, go back to pure value-adding for another few weeks.
We have market clarity reports for more than 100 products — find yours now.
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