Setting Business Goals on Reddit
Let's look at how to set clear goals for your Reddit strategy and track what matters for your business.
Traffic Goals vs Conversion Goals
Getting lots of visitors from Reddit is great, but what really matters is turning those visitors into customers. Here's how to think about both types of goals:
A Simple Way to Set Goals
Start with what you want - let's say it's 10 new customers each month from Reddit.
If about 1% of your visitors become customers, you'll need 1,000 visitors from your target audience to get those 10 customers. This helps you focus on finding the right 1,000 people instead of just getting more traffic.
Finding the Right Traffic
Look for subreddits where people are talking about the problems your business solves. A hundred visitors from these places are often better than thousands from random subreddits.
Getting lots of visitors is tempting and easy, but what matters is finding the right visitors. Here are two simple examples:
- A productivity app might get many clicks from r/technology (18M+ members), but will find more paying customers in r/productivity (3.5M+ members) where people actively look for solutions to work better.
- A fitness coach focusing on weight loss will convert better in r/loseit than r/videos, even though r/videos is much larger.r/loseit members are actively looking for weight loss guidance and support, making them ideal potential clients.
High traffic but lower conversion potential
Low traffic but higher conversion potential
Turning Traffic into Sales
The best way to convert Reddit visitors is to be helpful first. Give good advice, answer questions completely, and only bring up your product when it actually helps solve someone's problem. People will naturally check out your product if they find your content helpful.
We'll cover specific conversion strategies and techniques in detail in our content strategy and traffic conversion sections.
Realistic Timeline Expectations
Getting results on Reddit takes time and patience. Let me walk you through what you can expect along the way:
First Month
This is about learning how each subreddit works. Spend time reading posts, understanding what people like, and making helpful comments. Don't expect much traffic yet - focus on getting comfortable with the platform and learning Reddit's culture.
2-3 Months
You'll start seeing which types of posts work best. Some of your posts might get good attention, while others might not. Use this feedback to adjust your approach. You might get your first visitors to your site during this time.
4-6 Months
If you've been consistent, you'll have found a few subreddits that regularly bring in visitors. Your posts will start ranking in Google searches too, bringing in steady traffic even to older posts.
6-12 Months
This is when things get more predictable. You'll know which posts bring in sales, how many visitors you need to get a customer, and have a clear system that works for your business.
These timelines can vary based on your industry and how much time you put in. The key is being consistent and learning from what works.
KPI Setting Framework
Getting lots of views on Reddit is nice, but sales are what keep your business running. These are the numbers that actually matter:
How many visitors buy something:
If 1,000 Reddit visitors come to your site but nobody buys, those visitors aren't helping your business. Track how many actually become customers.
Time spent on your site:
Reddit visitors who spend more than 3 minutes on your site are usually more interested in buying. Focus on getting these engaged visitors.
Where sales come from:
Track which subreddits bring in customers, not just visitors. A small subreddit that brings in buyers is better than a big one that doesn't.
A Warning About Reddit Numbers
It's easy to get excited about a post getting thousands of upvotes or lots of website visitors. You can get a lot of attention on Reddit and still make zero sales. What matters is finding the right people who actually need what you're selling.
A real example: This post got 1.2 million views but didn't lead to any sales
Set numbers that make sense for your business. If you usually turn 1% of visitors into customers, and you want 10 new customers per month, aim for 1,000 quality visitors instead of trying to get 10,000 random ones.
ROI Tracking Setup
Here's a simple way to track if Reddit is actually making you money:
1. Track Your TrafficAdd "?source=reddit" to your website links when you share them on Reddit. This lets you see which visitors came from Reddit in your analytics.
2. Monitor Time InvestmentKeep track of how much time you spend on Reddit each week. Include time spent reading, posting, and responding to comments.
3. Monthly AnalysisAt the end of each month, review:
• How many Reddit visitors became customers
• How much money you made from Reddit customers
• How many hours you spent on Reddit
4. Calculate ROIDivide the money you made by the hours you spent. This tells you if Reddit is worth your time compared to other ways you could grow your business.
Reddit ROI Calculator
Your Reddit ROI:
$0.00 per hour
If you're not making enough money for the time you're spending, try posting in different subreddits or change how you talk about your product.