Reddit Marketing Guide for Small Business Owners

Table of Contents: Reddit Marketing for Small Businesses

Introduction to Reddit
Reddit Etiquette (“Reddiquette”)
Identifying Relevant Subreddits
Getting Started: First 30 Days on Reddit
Leveraging Reddit’s Search Function
Advanced Reddit Strategies
Handling Feedback and Engagement
Reddit Advertising Options
Long-term Reddit Strategy
Other Effective Uses for Reddit

1. Introduction to Reddit

Reddit, often called “the front page of the internet,” is the world’s largest discussion forum. Users share and talk about all kinds of topics. It can be a useful tool for small business owners to market their business and connect with potential customers.

However, Reddit works differently from other social media sites, so it’s important to understand how it functions before you start using it for your business.

Subreddits: The Building Blocks of Reddit

Reddit is divided into thousands of smaller communities called subreddits, each focused on a specific topic or interest. Subreddits are identified by the prefix “r/” followed by the community name (e.g., r/smallbusiness, r/marketing).

Key points about subreddits:

Each subreddit has its own rules, culture, and audience
Users can subscribe to multiple subreddits to customize their Reddit experience
Content posted in one subreddit doesn’t automatically appear in others

Moderators: The Guardians of Subreddits

Moderators, or “mods,” are volunteers who manage individual subreddits. They have the power to:

Enforce subreddit rules
Remove posts or comments
Ban users who violate the rules

Remember: Rules can vary significantly between subreddits, so always read and follow the specific guidelines for each community you engage with.

The Karma System: Reddit’s Social Currency

Karma is Reddit’s scoring system that reflects a user’s contribution to the community. There are two types:

Post karma: earned from upvotes on your posts
Comment karma: earned from upvotes on your comments

Why karma matters:

It’s an indicator of your credibility and activity level on the platform
Some subreddits have minimum karma requirements to post or comment
Higher karma can lead to increased visibility of your contributions

Profile Age and Posting History

On Reddit, the age of your account and your posting history are visible to other users. This transparency serves several purposes:

It helps establish trust within the community
It allows users to gauge your level of experience on the platform
It can be used to identify potential spammers or inauthentic accounts

Tip: If you’re already a Reddit user, consider using your personal profile for business-related activities. The established history can lend credibility to your interactions.

2. Reddit Etiquette (“Reddiquette”)

Understanding and adhering to Reddit’s unique culture and unwritten rules is crucial for successful engagement on the platform. Here’s what you need to know about “Reddiquette”:

General Best Practices

Be authentic and genuine in your interactions
Contribute to discussions meaningfully before promoting your business
Use proper grammar and spelling
Avoid excessive self-promotion
Always give credit when sharing others’ content
Be respectful, even when disagreeing with others

What Can Get You Banned on Reddit

While rules can vary between subreddits, some actions are universally frowned upon and can result in bans:

Spam: Repeatedly posting the same content or links
Vote manipulation: Asking for upvotes or using multiple accounts to boost your posts
Harassment: Targeting or bullying other users
Doxxing: Sharing personal information about others without consent
Violating Reddit’s content policy: This includes posting illegal content, hate speech, or violent content

Subreddit-Specific Rules

Always read and follow the rules of each subreddit you participate in. Common subreddit-specific rules might include:

Restrictions on self-promotion
Requirements for post formatting
Guidelines for the types of content allowed

The Consequences of Getting Banned

Getting banned on Reddit can severely impact your marketing efforts:

You lose all accumulated karma
Your posting history becomes inaccessible
You lose credibility within the community
It can be challenging to rebuild your reputation, even with a new account

Remember: It’s much easier to maintain a good standing than to recover from a ban. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and adherence to the rules.

3. Identifying Relevant Subreddits

Finding the right subreddits is crucial for your Reddit marketing strategy. Here’s how to identify and choose the most relevant communities for your business:

Strategies for Finding Suitable Subreddits

Search Google for subreddits related to your areas of expertise
Use Reddit’s search function to find keywords related to your industry
Check the sidebars of relevant subreddits for lists of related communities
Use third-party tools like redditlist.com
Try asking this subreddit for help: https://www.reddit.com/r/findareddit/
Look at where your competitors or industry leaders are active

Balancing Business and Personal Interests

Aim to join 1-10 subreddits, including:

Most importantly: Subreddits where your target audience is likely to be active
Communities directly related to your industry
Communities aligned with your personal interests or hobbies

Why this balance matters:

It helps you present as a real person, not just a business entity
It provides opportunities for genuine engagement beyond just promotion
It can lead to unexpected networking or business opportunities

The Power of Niche Subreddits

Don’t overlook smaller, more focused communities. Niche subreddits can be goldmines for targeted engagement:

They often have highly engaged users passionate about specific topics
There’s typically less competition for attention
Your expertise is more likely to stand out and be appreciated

Tip: Look for subreddits that align with specific aspects of your business or target audience, not just broad industry categories.

[Space for personalized subreddit recommendations based on the client’s specific business and interests]

4. Getting Started: First 30 Days on Reddit

Your first month on Reddit is crucial for establishing yourself as a valuable community member. Here’s how to approach it:

Focus on Building Reputation

Prioritize being helpful and informative over promoting your business
Aim to provide unique insights or perspectives in your comments
Be consistent in your engagement, but don’t force interactions

Commenting Strategies

Start by commenting before making your own posts. This helps you:

Understand the tone and style of each subreddit
Build karma and credibility gradually
Learn what types of contributions are most valued

How to identify posts to comment on:

Sort by “Rising” or “New” for better visibility
Look for posts where you can provide unique, valuable insights
Avoid posts that already have many high-quality comments

Tips for effective commenting:

Put effort into your responses; thoughtfulness is appreciated
Don’t be afraid to start a comment with something like “As a [Profession] who specializes in [Specialty]…” as long as it’s relevant. It lends credibility to your comment.
Avoid confrontational language; focus on constructive dialogue
Be authentic and willing to show some vulnerability

Remember: Your goal in the first 30 days is to establish yourself as a knowledgeable, helpful community member, not to generate leads or promote your business directly.

5. Leveraging Reddit’s Search Function

Reddit’s search feature can be a powerful tool for finding relevant discussions and opportunities for engagement. Here’s how to use it effectively:

Basic Search Techniques

Use keywords related to your industry, products, or services
Enclose exact phrases in quotation marks (e.g., “social media marketing”)
Use Boolean operators like AND, OR, NOT to refine results
Limit your search to specific subreddits using the “limit my search to r/[subreddit]” option

Advanced Search Tips

Use “flair:” to search for posts with specific tags (e.g., flair:question)
Search for posts within a specific timeframe using “time:” (e.g., time:week)
Find posts by a specific user with “author:[username]”
Use “site:” to find Reddit discussions about specific websites

Utilizing Search Results

Look for recurring questions or topics to identify common pain points in your industry
Find discussions where your expertise could add value
Identify trending topics or emerging issues in your field

Tip: Save your most useful searches for easy access in the future. This can help you quickly find new opportunities for engagement on a regular basis.

By mastering Reddit’s search function, you can more efficiently find relevant conversations and opportunities to showcase your expertise, ultimately building your credibility within the Reddit community.

6. Advanced Reddit Strategies

Once you’ve established yourself as a valuable community member, you can start employing more advanced strategies to increase your impact on Reddit.

Cross-posting: Best Practices and Etiquette

Cross-posting involves sharing the same content across multiple relevant subreddits. When done correctly, it can increase your visibility without being seen as spam.

Best practices for cross-posting:

Only cross-post to truly relevant subreddits
Use Reddit’s built-in “crosspost” feature when possible
Customize your title for each subreddit to match its specific audience and rules
Space out your cross-posts over time to avoid appearing spammy
Engage uniquely in the comments of each cross-post

Making Your Own Posts

Creating original posts is a powerful way to showcase your expertise and initiate discussions. Here are strategies for effective posting:

Content Types

Storytelling: Share personal experiences or case studies
- People connect with stories, and they feel less promotional
- Example: “How I Turned My Failing Bakery Around: A 6-Month Journey”
Asking Questions: Initiate discussions with genuine curiosity
- Avoid obvious lead-fishing; ask questions you truly want answers to
- Example: “Fellow small business owners, what’s your most effective customer retention strategy?”
AMAs (Ask Me Anything): Once established, offer your expertise to the community
- Be prepared for personal questions and maintain transparency
- Example: “I’m a small business tax expert with 20 years of experience. AMA about tax strategies for entrepreneurs!”
Original Content: Share valuable, in-depth content directly on Reddit
- This could be industry analysis, how-to guides, or insightful observations
- Example: A detailed post on “10 Common Legal Mistakes Small Businesses Make and How to Avoid Them”

Using Photos Effectively

Visual content can significantly boost engagement on Reddit. Here’s how to use photos effectively:

Ensure images are high-quality and relevant to your post
Use before/after photos to showcase transformations or results
Include infographics to present data or complex information visually
Always respect copyright; use your own images or properly licensed ones
Consider adding explanatory text or captions to provide context

Remember: Some subreddits have specific rules about image posts, so always check before sharing visual content.

Title Strategies

SEO-focused: Use keywords that match what people might search for on Google
- Examples:”What [this new law] means for people in Nevada” or “How to know if it’s time to replace your AC unit”
Click-bait: Create intrigue or urgency to encourage clicks
- Example: “This customer wanted a refund after giving me 5-stars” or “I thought this was going to be a waste of my time, but it changed my life”

7. Handling Feedback and Engagement

Engaging with feedback, both positive and negative, is crucial for maintaining a strong presence on Reddit.

Dealing with Negative Feedback

Stay calm and professional: Emotional responses often backfire on Reddit
Respond promptly: Quick, thoughtful responses show you’re attentive and care
Address the issue, not the tone: Focus on the core of the criticism, even if it’s harshly delivered
Admit mistakes if necessary: Redditors appreciate honesty and accountability
Offer solutions: If possible, suggest how you’ll address the issue or improve

Engaging Constructively with Criticism

Ask for clarification if the feedback is vague
Thank users for their input, even if you disagree
Use criticism as an opportunity to showcase your expertise or explain your perspective
Consider updating your original post with edits addressing common criticisms
- adding “EDIT:” to the bottom of a post you edited with notes on the edits you made is common practice to maintain the integrity of the post

Building Positive Relationships

Respond to positive comments with genuine appreciation and upvotes.
Follow up on suggestions or ideas shared by community members
Remember and reference past interactions to build continuity in relationships
Offer help or resources beyond just what’s related to your business

8. Reddit Advertising Options

While organic engagement is crucial, Reddit also offers paid advertising options that can complement your strategy.

Types of Reddit Ads

Promoted Posts: These appear like regular posts but are tagged as promoted
Display Ads: Traditional banner ads that appear in various locations on Reddit
Video Ads: Short video content that can appear in-feed or as a banner

Benefits of Reddit Advertising

Highly targeted: You can target specific subreddits or interests
Cost-effective: Often less expensive than other social media platforms
Various formats: Choose the ad type that best suits your content and goals

Best Practices for Reddit Ads

Maintain the Reddit “voice” in your ad copy; avoid overly salesy language
Use eye-catching visuals that blend well with Reddit’s aesthetic
Engage with comments on your ads; treat them like organic posts
A/B test different ad formats and targeting options to optimize performance

Remember: While ads can boost visibility, they should complement, not replace, your organic engagement strategy.

9. Long-term Reddit Strategy

Success on Reddit comes from consistent, valuable engagement over time. Here’s how to approach your long-term strategy:

Flexibility in Engagement

Unlike other platforms, Reddit doesn’t penalize you for inconsistent activity
You can engage intensively for a few days and then step away for weeks or even a month
This flexibility allows you to fit Reddit into your schedule as time permits

Advantages of Regular Checking

While consistency isn’t crucial, frequent check-ins can be beneficial
The more often you check, the more likely you are to find ideal posts to comment on
Some valuable subreddits only get a few posts per day, so daily check-ins can give you an edge

Balancing Self-Promotion and Community Contribution

When promoting, focus on providing value rather than direct sales pitches
Use your expertise to help others, which indirectly promotes your business

Leveraging Established Credibility

Once you’ve built a solid reputation:

You can be more direct about offering your services when relevant
Your posts and comments are likely to receive more attention and trust
You might be invited to participate in AMAs or contribute to wiki pages

10. Other Effective Uses for Reddit

Beyond direct engagement, Reddit can be a valuable resource for various aspects of your business:

Content Inspiration

Use popular posts and comments as inspiration for blog posts, videos, or social media content
Look for frequently asked questions in your industry to create FAQ content
Identify trending topics or concerns in your field for timely content creation

Market Research and User Feedback

Observe discussions about products or services similar to yours
Use Reddit to gauge public opinion on industry trends or new ideas
Consider creating polls (if allowed in the subreddit) to gather direct feedback

Networking and Collaboration

Connect with other professionals in your industry
Find potential partners or collaborators for projects
Discover industry events or conferences through subreddit announcements

Competitive Analysis

Monitor how your competitors engage on Reddit
Identify gaps in the market based on user pain points or requests
Stay updated on industry news and developments

Remember: While these strategies can provide valuable insights, always respect Reddit’s rules and community norms. Avoid using the platform solely for data mining or market research without also contributing value to the community.