Key Terms and Concepts

Posts vs Comments

As we mentioned before, comments are usually more valuable than posts on Reddit. A helpful comment in a popular thread can get seen by thousands of people. Plus, comment sections are where most people spend their time. If someone asks about a problem your product solves, a helpful comment works better than making a new post.

Moderators vs Admins

Moderators run subreddits, Admins run Reddit. Getting banned by a moderator means you can't post in that subreddit. Getting banned by an admin means your whole account is gone. Moderators set their own rules - what's fine in one subreddit might get you banned in another.

Sort By New vs Hot

'Hot' shows what's already popular. 'New' shows recent posts that need help. Most business opportunities are in 'New'. Being the first helpful answer on a post that gets popular means hundreds of people see your response.

Post Flairs and Types

Many business subreddits can require you to use post flairs which are labels for your post. Using the wrong flair gets your post removed. Text posts usually work better than link posts for business. People are more likely to read a story about how you solved a problem than click a link to your website.

Awards and Their Value

Reddit awards cost real money. Getting them makes your post more visible. But buying them for yourself is obvious and backfires. Focus on writing posts good enough that others give you awards. One gold award keeps your post at the top of a subreddit longer than 100 upvotes.

Algorithm Basics

The First Hour Rule

Reddit decides if your post goes viral in the first hour. A post needs about 5 upvotes in that hour to start showing up in "Hot". The quicker you get early upvotes, the more likely your post will go viral. Without those first upvotes, your post stays at the bottom where nobody sees it. This is why posting time matters more than post quality.

You can use SubredditTraffic.live to see when people are most active in your subreddit, helping you post at the perfect time for maximum visibility.

Downvote Impact

One downvote cancels out an upvote. Getting quick downvotes can bury your post completely. If your last post got multiple downvotes, wait 24 hours before posting again. Multiple downvoted posts in one day can get your account flagged.

Comment Depth Value

Deep comment threads (replies to replies) get ranked higher than shallow ones. A back-and-forth conversation with 4-5 replies helps your post stay visible longer. Answer questions thoroughly and ask follow-up questions to encourage deeper discussions.

Weekend vs Weekday Weight

The algorithm needs fewer upvotes on weekends to push posts to "Hot". A post that needs 10 upvotes on Tuesday might only need 6-7 on Sunday. Keep in mind that fewer business people check Reddit on weekends, so while it's easier to rank, you'll reach fewer potential customers.

Content Types That Drive Traffic

We will cover some general content types that work well on Reddit. For content specific to business, check out our content strategy section.

Problem Solution Posts/Comments

These posts start with a specific problem you faced and end with how you solved it. For example: answering the question "How we cut our AWS bill by 40% by finding these three unused services." Include real numbers and specific steps. These posts often get saved and shared, bringing traffic months later.

Data Posts

Reddit loves data. A post titled "We analyzed 1000 SaaS landing pages and here is what converts" will get more clicks than generic advice. Even better, people link to these posts from other sites, sending traffic back to your Reddit post for months. Just make sure you include actual numbers and findings, not just conclusions.

Behind The Scenes

Show how something works inside your company. "Here is our actual customer service workflow" or "This is how we handle refunds" gets attention. Other business owners want to see real processes.

Failure Stories

Posts about mistakes outperform success stories. "We lost $10,000 on our first product launch and here is exactly what went wrong" gets more views than "How we made $10,000." People trust you more when you share failures, and these posts stay relevant longer.

Tool Comparisons

Comparing tools people actually use brings steady traffic. "Mailchimp vs Klaviyo: Our experience switching" helps others make decisions. The key is comparing tools you have really used. Include specific features and prices. These posts show up in Google searches too, bringing traffic from outside Reddit.

What Doesn't Work

• General advice posts like "10 tips for better marketing"
• Launch announcements (unless you're already well known)
• Asking for feedback without sharing what you've already tried
• Promotional posts about your company