1. Oh no, which Subreddit Should I Join?: Finding the Right Subreddits

• Step 1: Use tools like Anvaka (https://anvaka.github.io/sayit/?query=SaaS) Subreddit Finder to discover subreddits similar to your niche.
• Step 2: Search for keywords related to your product, e.g., "startups," "design," or "side projects." Don't miss the big subreddits where you can leverage your content for greater reach, such as r/Entrepreneur, r/SmallBusiness, r/technology, r/marketing, r/dataisbeautiful, or r/interestingasfuck.
• Step 3: Analyze activity by checking metrics: member count (at least 100,000 members), look for rising or hot posts with at least 50 upvotes to ensure they are active subs, and number of active users (aim for 100-150 online users). Ensure that there are at least 40-50 new posts per day, although this may depend on the specific subreddit. Also, don't forget to target niche subreddits. Even if they are not highly active, they can be valuable for long-term SEO, and posts in such subreddits may remain relevant for weeks, helping you get consistent exposure.
• Step 4: Start big by following larger subreddits to maximize reach from the beginning. Focus on subreddits with significant activity for better visibility and interaction. Know your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) well, and find creative ways to post about your product on broad or seemingly irrelevant subreddits. Creativity is crucial here. For example, I used humor and storytelling with SocialBob News to succeed in r/shortstories. By posting funny weekly recaps that tied fictional characters to real events, I managed to keep it relatable and entertaining. Even if a subreddit isn't an exact fit, a unique approach can make it work effectively.

2. Oh I Don't Have Enough Karma, I'm a Baby: Account Warm-Up Strategy

• Day 1: Scroll through the subreddits you've chosen. Use a consumer-first approach, but with a bit of Sherlock Holmes' insight. Understand what kind of posts people are making, observe how people are behaving in the sub, and start vibing. Get into their mindset and understand what they enjoy. 
  • Like a few posts that resonate with you to show you're active.
• Day 2: If you are allowed to comment in this sub, start with value-driven comments. Avoid being a motivator or a "yes person." Redditors tend to be harsh if you just write, "Wonderful, you're doing great." Those kinds of comments sink quickly. Instead, try to add humor or share some real knowledge. Fun or informative content is the key on Reddit. 
  • Look for opportunities to engage meaningfully. Ask questions, provide relevant anecdotes, or offer a unique perspective.
• Day 3: Don't worry about commenting directly on the main post; instead, focus on replying to the replies. It helps foster a conversation and keeps the engagement rolling.
• Day 4: Use the "First Commenter Advantage" by visiting "New" or "Rising" posts and adding thoughtful comments as soon as they are posted. This helps your comment stand out and potentially earn more upvotes. 
  • Example: Instead of generic encouragement, add personal insights, e.g., "I've had similar issues managing customer feedback; using X approach helped me streamline it."

3. Look Mom, I'm Earning Karma!: Building Karma

• Step 1: 
  • Focus on comment karma, as it helps unlock the ability to post in certain subreddits (read community rules). It's not necessarily more valuable, but it opens up the sub for you to post. Finding the right triggering post and being one of the first to comment can easily help you earn 50-100 comment karma.
  • For example, when you engage in discussions early, particularly those gaining traction, your comment is more likely to be seen and upvoted. It’s all about getting in before the post goes viral. If the post gains popularity, your comment will stay at the top, getting more visibility and karma.
  • By following Day 3 and Day 4 of the warm-up strategy, you can easily achieve 50-100 comment karma with just a few comments. Make sure to identify posts that have potential and engage with them quickly. Aim for at least 50-100 comment karma to unlock access to high-quality subreddits where you can start posting.
• Step 2: 
  • Avoid AI-generated content. Redditors value authenticity above all. It's better to write with a few typos than to sound like a bot. They care more about the message than perfect grammar, so focus on writing in a natural, human way. Be relatable and approachable.
  • Share personal anecdotes and your own experiences. Be real about your challenges. Use humor, share failures, and add personality to your comments. This kind of authenticity is what gets people engaged and keeps them interested in what you have to say.
  • If you are marketing someone else's product, act as a ghostwriter for them. Share some of the feedback you've received from their customers, making it very clear that it’s a customer testimonial. Post these in subs like r/wholesome. A creative way to do this is to create a WhatsApp-style chat screenshot that shows a customer talking about your product. Post the screenshot and explain how it made you feel. This kind of visual and personal touch resonates well with Reddit users.
• Step 3: Balance your activity by engaging with fun posts or sharing personal anecdotes to show that you are more than just a marketer. Keep the content varied to avoid looking like a marketing bot. Think like people in the build-in-public community, where they openly share their progress while also discussing their products. This approach helps create transparency and authenticity, allowing followers to connect with both the journey and the product itself. On platforms like X, doing this doesn't always get you customers, but on Reddit, it brings a lot of traffic.

4. Let's Make That Post Shine, Baby!: Crafting Effective Posts

• Step 1: 
  • Timing is crucial. Use tools like https://social-rise.com/subreddit-analysis or https://subreddittraffic.live to know the best time to post. Aim for times when there are at least 100-150 people online.
  • You might not need the tool every time; just like other social media platforms, become an active consumer. With patience, you can see patterns and determine when the most people are online.
• Step 2: Craft your content thoughtfully. 
  • Hook: Craft an engaging title. Use numbers and curiosity-driven phrases, e.g., "How I Gained 1,000 Users in 2 Months." Numbers add credibility and attract clicks. Something that's not clickbaity, but something relatable and something people dream about.
  • Structure: Keep posts simple and direct. Reddit is not the place for jargon or overly polished language. Just tell the story, people just love reading there and feeling good.
  • Value: Focus on storytelling, advice, or humor. Reddit users respond well to honesty, even if it involves failures.
• Step 3: Examples of effective posts. 
  • Personal Success Story: "I built SocialBob News by posting funny weekly stories on r/shortstories, here's how it went".
  • Controversy: Carefully navigate controversial topics to gain attention. Be cautious, as this can lead to bans if done incorrectly. Always weigh the risks. For example, you could share a strong opinion on a popular topic like 'Why I think remote work is not the future.' Be ready for opposing views, but if you present your perspective in an engaging way, it can spark meaningful discussions and gain traction.

5. I'm wearing a mask, but it's a see through!: Staying Authentic

• Step 1: Post about a mix of things: personal stories, casual comments, and product insights. This balance is crucial for authenticity. Keep in mind that Reddit may seem anonymous, but it's not entirely. People can easily backtrack your activity, especially if you're promoting yourself or your clients. If you're just there for fun and not revealing much, it's a different game. But if you're marketing, your anonymity is not truly secure.
• Step 2: Avoid being overly promotional. If you're promoting a product, do it subtly and ensure you offer value. 
  • Instead of saying 'Check out my tool,' share your experience with it, describe the problems it solved, and invite discussion. For instance: 'I struggled with X problem, and I built this tool to solve it. It helped me reduce my workflow by 50%.' This kind of content can be shared in specific subreddits that allow for subtle promotion, making sure it adds value and stays relevant to the audience. However, this approach should only be used sparingly, perhaps once or twice in those subreddits. If repeated too often, people will recognize the pattern, and your content will quickly get downvoted. That's why you should get creative.
  • Another Example: SocialBob News succeeded by posting funny weekly stories on r/shortstories, which was unrelated to the product itself but still managed to attract users. Additionally, posting customer feedback in a wholesome context, like in r/wholesome, can also help. Presenting testimonials in a creative way, such as a WhatsApp-style chat, makes it more relatable and engaging for users.

6. Ride the Traffic Wave, Dude!: Leveraging Reddit for Traffic and Feedback

• Post on threads that are ranking well on Google to maximize reach. Contributing to threads that appear on page one of Google searches can help you gain indirect exposure. Avoid getting upvotes from the same people repeatedly, as this can be a red flag to Reddit moderators. If the same users are consistently upvoting your content, it can lead to negative attention or penalties for manipulating engagement.
• Once your product gains traction, post case studies or share testimonials on subreddits like r/SideProject or r/startups.
• A lot of subreddits don't allow links in posts, but Redditors are naturally curious. If they find your content valuable, they often dig deeper into your profile to find more. Make sure you have a clear call to action in your profile bio. Keep it friendly and approachable, don't make it too professional, like showing up in a tie and a suit. The more relatable you are, the more likely they are to click through.

7. These guys are very mean to me: Handling Trolls and Downvotes

• Don’t take downvotes personally. Downvotes happen, but persistence pays off. Just like how you celebrate upvotes, learn to appreciate downvotes too. People often love reading heavily downvoted comments, I don't know why, but they do! These comments can spark a lot of interest and replies, and sometimes downvoted comments end up with more replies than high-upvoted ones. So, don't take it too personally, both upvotes and downvotes are part of the game, and both can bring attention.
• If a post gets removed, this would be the time to read the community rules very thoroughly and make sure you align with those like 110%. Adjust your tone, choice of subreddit, or posting strategy next time.
• Focus on engagement. Reply to comments, both positive and negative, to keep the conversation alive. Even critical comments can be turned into positive discussions if handled well. For example, if someone criticizes your product, acknowledge their point and explain how you are addressing that concern. This approach can often turn a critic into a supporter, as it shows you are open to feedback and willing to improve.