How to do marketing on Reddit: finding the right subreddit for you

Reddit may be a gold mine for independent sellers, but knowing how to navigate the platform is crucial. While Reddit users are not fond of advertisements and Facebook and Instagram may reject ads that do not meet their guidelines, Reddit users may create a dedicated subreddit to criticize you. However, marketing or advertising on Reddit can still be valuable.

Firstly, you need to find communities, or subreddits, that are specific to topics relevant to your industry and engage with them. Regardless of your industry, there is a high chance that you can find subreddits related to it. Reddit users enjoy learning about new products and services, which is one of the reasons why they come to Reddit. If you are facing difficulties in driving traffic to your independent site, Reddit is a good choice to explore the market.

Before creating marketing campaigns, it is important to familiarize yourself with Reddit.

To do organic marketing on Reddit, you need to understand how Reddit works. If you get the methods of organic marketing wrong, Reddit users will criticize you without mercy. Therefore, you should thoroughly understand the community you are participating in, especially the subreddits where your target audience often hangs out, and make sure to read the rules of those subreddits (some subreddits do not allow advertising).

In addition, you also need to learn the abbreviations commonly used by your audience, such as OP (Original Poster), ELI5 (Explain Like I'm 5), TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read, a summary of a long post), TIL (Today I Learned), AMA (Ask Me Anything), and so on. Different subreddits have more specific abbreviations, and most subreddits provide relevant information in the sidebar.

Engage in the subreddits where your target audience frequently visits.

No matter what industry you are in, there will always be a subcategory related to your field. Whether it's a particle physics startup or a love for reading, computers, AI, Airbnb, futurology, or financial freedom, you can find corresponding subreddits on Reddit. First, search for keywords related to your industry to find posts and communities related to these keywords, as well as people who frequently post about these topics.

Additionally, you can also try searching for your brand name, as there may already be users discussing you. By participating in subreddits that your target audience often visits, you can better understand your audience, their needs, and interests.

Create unique content

Reddit is different from other social media platforms, as most users are anonymous and gather based on interests rather than location or friends. This provides businesses with more freedom and creative space to boldly experiment. You can try unique content such as self-deprecating humor, creativity, and a more internet-savvy approach. Use a casual language and incorporate humor. Share your failures, interesting interactions, or anything funny.

Listen to feedback.

Reddit users may not appreciate your marketing attempts on Reddit, and if they don't, you will know directly. Therefore, be prepared to accept user feedback, whether positive or negative, before marketing on Reddit. Learn from the feedback and improve your strategies for the next time.

When you want to do marketing on Reddit, you can't rush it. If you are not familiar with this platform, create an account and start following the subreddits related to your industry so that you can find out where your target audience is. I also suggest starting with paid advertising, so that you are less likely to anger Reddit users who are averse to marketing. Do not attempt to use memes and GIFs easily before truly understanding their meanings and user reactions.

Most importantly, when selling on Reddit, don't take yourself (or your brand) too seriously. Instead, keep an open mind, listen to user feedback, and constantly improve and enhance your marketing strategy.