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Troubleshooting

12 Reddit marketing mistakes small businesses make

· 3 min read

Most Reddit marketing problems are not new. The same mistakes come up again and again. Here are twelve of them, with what to do instead.

1. Starting with a post about yourself

The most common first move is “Hi Reddit, we just launched”. It rarely goes well. You don’t have any history, nobody knows you and it sounds like an ad.

Do this instead: Spend your first weeks reading and commenting. Post about yourself later, if at all.

2. Ignoring the rules

Every community has its own. Many people post first and read second. The result is a removed post or a ban.

Do this instead: Read the rules and pinned posts every time. Our guide on how to read subreddit rules takes ten minutes.

A link at the end of every comment makes you look like a promoter. Even if the comments are good.

Do this instead: Give the full answer in the comment. Add a link only when it truly helps and links are allowed.

4. Hiding who you are

Some people try to look like a neutral customer. It gets found out, nearly every time, and it’s the most damaging thing you can do.

Do this instead: Say it plainly. “I work on this” or “I’m the founder.”

5. Posting the same thing in many communities

Copy-pasting looks like spam, and moderators and users notice quickly.

Do this instead: Write each post for its community, or pick the two or three that fit best.

6. Picking communities by size

The biggest communities are noisy, strict and full of people who aren’t your buyers.

Do this instead: Choose by fit. A small community of the right people beats a huge one. See finding the right subreddits.

7. Arguing with critics

It feels natural to defend yourself. It almost always makes things worse.

Do this instead: Stay calm, correct facts once, thank people and move on. Our guide on replying to negative comments has a script.

8. Posting and disappearing

A post with no author replies looks abandoned. And you miss the chance to answer the people who care.

Do this instead: Only post when you can be around for the next few hours.

9. Asking for votes

Asking friends, staff or followers to upvote is vote manipulation. It’s against Reddit’s rules, and it can get an account banned.

Do this instead: Write something good enough to earn votes on its own.

10. Using a brand new account for everything

Brand new accounts with no history look suspicious, and many communities block them.

Do this instead: Build a real history first. See building a credible Reddit account.

11. Giving up after two weeks

Reddit is slow. Some people try it for a fortnight, see nothing and decide it doesn’t work.

Do this instead: Plan for at least three months of steady activity before you judge it.

12. Measuring only upvotes

Upvotes feel like progress but they don’t tell you if anyone became a customer.

Do this instead: Track visits, enquiries and what new customers say about how they found you. See measuring Reddit marketing results.

What these mistakes have in common

Look at the list again. Almost every item comes from one habit: treating Reddit like a place to broadcast, when it’s a place to talk. Fix that and most of the rest fix themselves.

A quick self-check

Before you post or comment, ask:

  • Would this still be useful if my link was removed?
  • Have I said who I am?
  • Did I read the rules?
  • Am I writing this for the reader, or for me?

If you can answer yes to all four, you’re ahead of most businesses on the site.

Not sure where you stand? Talk to us and we’ll take a look.

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