Reddit drives massive traffic but bans spammers instantly. Here's the safe way.
Rule #1: Be a Redditor First
Spend 2-4 weeks genuinely participating BEFORE promoting. Build karma (1,000+), learn each subreddit's culture and rules. No shortcuts.
The 90/10 Rule
90% value (helpful comments, genuine posts), 10% soft promotion. Redditors smell marketing instantly — authenticity is mandatory.
What Works
- AMAs: "I'm a [expert], ask me anything" in relevant subs
- Genuinely useful posts: guides, data, tools (free tools do great)
- Comment marketing: helpful answers with subtle profile links
- r/SubredditOfTheDay features: pitch your community
What Gets Banned
Link-dropping, new accounts promoting, ignoring mods, buying upvotes. One misstep = permanent subreddit ban.