Have you heard about the largest forum in the world? Learn what Reddit is and how it can transform the world of digital marketing .
According to Alexa’s Top Sites , this is one of the most visited websites in the world and ranks as the 7th most trafficked site in the United States. Its success is based on the variety of themes and the organic interactions of the users.
It is the social network that has the ability to revolutionize your marketing strategy. Learn more about how reddit is used and its evolution over time.
What is Reddit?
Reddit is a social platform with more than 52 million daily active users worldwide. It features a forum format that, in turn, is made up of many smaller forums with over 50 billion monthly views.
It calls itself “The Front Page of the Internet” , in Spanish, the front page of the internet. From this, the social network seeks to position itself as one of the main sources of information in cyberspace.
The content on the Reddit platform is built by the users themselves. So-called redditors can submit anything from questions and requests to writing informative articles. They can be in text, image or video format.
Reddit users post related to specific topics. The others can vote for or against , according to their opinions. The more votes in favor, the more popular the publication will have and will be available to more people.
On the other hand, if users decide to vote against the publication, it will take away visibility and the content will be available to fewer users.
As we mentioned, the social network is made up of smaller forums that are known as Subreddits. These represent different Reddit communities. Although most are in English, you can find a wide variety of Spanish-speaking communities.
The topics of Reddit posts are super varied. You can find from subreddits of memes of your favorite television program and videos of the cutest animals, to the most important current news and investments in stocks of the New York Stock Exchange. Today there are more than 100,000 communities.
How does Reddit work?
Reddit tells us that “Every day, millions of people around the world post, vote and comment in communities organized around their interests.”
The structure of Reddit is very easy to figure out. In the upper bar you will find the most popular publications of the different communities. Any post from any community can reach this section, unless you make your forum private.
As we already told you, it depends on the votes of the users how popular and visible the content is. Based on the up or down votes, a point system is used so it can determine which posts or discussions will reach the most people.
What is Karma on Reddit? It is the term used to describe the users’ score based on the “quality of their contributions”. This is based on the positive and negative feedback they receive.
You can find subforums of all the topics you can imagine. Each subreddit has a unique name. Likewise, each one will have their own rules and their respective moderators.
Make sure to read the rules of each community carefully! Reddit moderators will be responsible for removing posts and comments that violate the rules and for removing violating members.
On the other hand, the Internet platform Reddit has very strict policies on spam . The moderators will have the task of detecting all users who leave this type of comments and the website will ban them.
Reddit users can further explore this tool: Reddit video downoader.
The evolution of Reddit
In 2005, University of Virginia alumni Alexis Ohanion, Steve Huffman, and Aaron Swartz founded the project that would eventually become known as Reddit.
Their first platform “MyMobileMenu” was not developed; However, a short time later they got the necessary investors to open the company “Reddit – The Title Page of the Internet”. Before long, the company was sold to Condé Nast Publications and the founders took different paths.
By 2008, the forum already had more than 10,000 subforums, and in 2011 more than 60,000. In the same year, the organization became independent and the Reddit Premium service was introduced . For a subscription of $ 6 a month, ads are removed, you get special benefits and a VIP support service.
In 2014, Steve Huffman, one of the founders, returned to Reddit Inc. as CEO. He was one of the promoters of the rules of the platform called Reddiquette , including a ban on content that incites violence.
To date, the Reddit digital platform has more than 546 million users and has translation into almost 90 languages.
You’ve probably heard about the social network lately! It was all the rage in early 2021 with the Gamestop stock case . The users of the platform joined to speculate in the comments of Reddit and encouraged to acquire individual shares of the video game company causing huge losses for the large operators.
Also, recently, Reddit acquired Dubsmash , the direct competitor of the 2020 fashion platform, Tik Tok. The objective of Reddit is to promote this social video network and thus its presence among the youngest consumers.
Advantages and disadvantages of Reddit
Advantages of Reddit
✅ Solve all the doubts you may have. The platform is characterized by being a source of information for all the questions that may occur to you. Reddit users will be ready to help you find the answers you are looking for.
✅ You find a community for any topic. Forms communities based on specific interests. As we told you, Reddit has more than 100,000 subreddits of everything you can imagine. Sports, video games, news, television, animals, memes, photography, travel, music and art are just some of the topics you will find. There is something for everyone here!
✅ Very original content. Reddit users contribute very smart and interesting content. The comments are usually a debate between people informed about the subject. In the same way, the use of humor is another feature of the platform.
✅ Anonymity. Reddit just asks for an email and username. It is very easy to hide your true identity. 🤫
✅ Users are the center of the platform. All content is built and regulated by the users themselves. Even Reddit’s focus is on the community’s response to content rather than the content itself.
✅ Moderators. Reddit is self-managed by users. The moderators are the ones who will check if the specific rules of the subreddit are met. You will feel safe when browsing the site and you will not come across spammers.
✅ Easy to navigate. The structure of Reddit resembles that of many social networks. It will be very easy to understand. Once you are clear about the basics, you can explore all the forums quickly and contribute to the communities.
✅ Reddit is free! Despite having a paid subscription plan, almost all the site’s features are available for free.
Reddit downsides
❎ You must be careful with your words. Users can be very closed and will go against you if you think differently. Also, you must be careful not to offend anyone. Don’t forget to read the rules for each subreddit!
❎ You can spend a lot of time. Reddit is a site with a lot of interesting and captivating information. It will be very easy to get involved in a publication and continue browsing the web for hours like nothing.
How to post on Reddit?
You must log in or register first! In the top bar, on the right, will be the buttons to enter Reddit. They will only ask you for an email and a username.
Ready, you are already in Reddit. Now you should find the button that says “Create Post”.
A new page will open where the format of the publication will appear. The first step is to select a community.
Then let’s talk about the content! A Reddit post can only have one title. Also, you can include text, images, videos, links and take surveys.
Finally, do not forget to indicate, at the bottom of the box, if your publication includes spoilers or NSFW material (“Not Safe For Work” or, in Spanish, not safe for work). Other Reddit users will thank you!
The Reddit post will show the community, the author’s username, the title, the content, the votes, and finally the comments.
How to find Subreddits?
Subreddits are the communities that comprise the platform. Each one has a different theme.
Find the subforum of your interest with the search engine at the top of the screen. On Reddit, you can search for a general topic, the specific name of the community, or whatever keyword you think can guide you to the ideal subreddit.
Also, you can navigate the site through the windows on the right side of your screen. Here are the communities Reddit suggests and the categories you can explore.
To subscribe, you just have to press the “Join” button. This way all the content of the subreddit will appear on your homepage. Once inside, don’t forget to read the Reddiquette rules.
How to create a community on Reddit?
As we’ve mentioned throughout the article, Reddit is built on communities. Did you know that you can also create yours?
The only requirements are to have an account with a life time greater than 30 days and enough positive Karma points. You will only achieve this by interacting, commenting on publications and contributing new content to the different subreddits.
You will find the “Create Community” button at the bottom right hand side of your Reddit homepage screen. At this point, the form you need to complete to open your own subforum will open.
The first step will be to choose a name. Think wisely! It will be the way they identify themselves on Reddit.
Afterwards, you must indicate the main topic or topics, write a brief description, indicate if the subreddit will be public, restricted or private and, finally, if it will include adult content (+18).
Ready! You have created your community on Reddit.
Now your role has changed . By being the owner of your own community you can promote it and you will have the duty to moderate it.
Reddit as part of your digital marketing strategy
According to HyperStat , the Reddit platform is one of the most trafficked websites in the world. Why don’t we usually include it in our social media marketing plan ? Well, running an effective campaign on this site will be a bit different.
As we mentioned previously, Reddit focuses on highlighting community interaction over content itself. The way users interact with your content will be key to your success.
First of all, you need to participate in the communities to meet the users. Do your own market research. Identify what content they like and what content they don’t. Browse and subscribe to the Subreddits and find the one that best suits your business.
When it comes to content creation, you should focus on the positive impact . You need to develop innovative proposals that lead Reddit users to share them and give them positive feedback. Build your online reputation on the social network and increase traffic to your website.
How to use Reddit to keep promoting your brand? Remember, on this platform, we are not going to focus on the content. Find people who talk about your brand, ask for recommendations on the category of your products or services, or talk about your competition. Make it your goal to create authentic interactions with users.
Several brands such as Spotify, Toyota, Audi, Ford, and Red Bull have already chosen to include Reddit as part of their social media marketing strategy . Now is your turn!
You already know what Reddit is and how to use the platform. We hope this guide has been helpful to you. Go ahead and sign up on Reddit and start browsing the sub-forums. You will not regret.
