How To Post on Reddit

If you’re wondering how to post on Reddit, this article explains setting up a Reddit account, selecting subreddits and submitting your first post.

There are a number of reasons to use your Reddit account when building your personal or professional brand.

By sharing thoughtful insights through your Reddit account, you’ll position yourself as a niche expert. Plus, Reddit is one of the only social media platforms that encourages deep back-and-forth discussions. And some subreddits and posts even function as real-time focus groups, allowing you to quickly gather advice and opinions about topics that interest you.

Best of all, whether you’re using a Reddit account for personal reasons or for your business, the platform helps you build and control your digital reputation.

In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know to start posting on Reddit and engaging with peers or your target audience.

NetReputation provides information and services to help you protect your digital presence using your Reddit account and beyond. Call us at 844-461-3632 to learn more, or fill out the contact form below for a free consultation.

How To Post On Reddit: Creating a Reddit Account and More

In order to post Reddit content, you’ll need to set up a Reddit account, choose the subreddits you want to participate in, and then create a new post while adhering to community guidelines and Reddit etiquette.

Setting Up a Reddit Account

You won’t be able to post to Reddit without having an account, so getting set up with a Reddit account is your first step.

Even if you already have a Reddit account, you can create a new one. This is commonly done by individuals or company owners who want to use a different Reddit account for different purposes.

If you already have a Reddit account, make sure you’re logged out before trying to create a new one.

Head to the Reddit home page and click the Three Dots icon on the top right. From the drop-down menu, select Log In / Sign Up.

Click the Sign Up link at the bottom of the window.

Enter your contact information in the window, then click Continue. You’ll be sent a verification email immediately. Enter the code from the email into the designated spot on the Reddit website and click Continue when you’re done.

Next, you’ll create a username and password for your Reddit account. Click Continue when you’re ready to move forward.

Reddit will ask you questions about yourself, but you can click the Skip link on the top-right of the window if you’re not interested in answering them. However, you do need to select at least one interest to move forward.

Within a couple of minutes, you’ll be able to use your new Reddit account.

Selecting the Subreddits To Participate In

Next, you’ll want to pick a few subreddits to participate in. If you know the name of a subreddit, you can search for it in the search bar at the top of the page. Or, you can type in an interest and see what comes up.

You can also click the Popular or Explore links in the left sidebar to find other subreddits.

If you’re having trouble finding subreddits, Googling something like “subreddit + [topic]” could help. You may find subreddits you didn’t come across yet or helpful listicles with a bunch of recommendations.

Once you’ve found a subreddit you want to join, click the Join button on the top right of the page.

Going Over Community Guidelines

Every subreddit has rules to follow. If you neglect to follow these rules, you could get kicked out of the group.

To see the rules for a subreddit, scroll down the right-hand sidebar. This is where you’ll find must-know information about the community, including rules to follow and posting guidelines.

Reddit Rules vs. Subreddit Rules

In addition to community guidelines for a subreddit, Reddit itself also has rules to follow, such as:

• Do not bully, harass or threaten other users.
• Do not share inappropriate material involving minors.
• Abide by the rules of your subreddit.
• Subreddits must be properly labeled if content is explicit, graphic or offensive.

Read the full list of rules here.

Creating a New Reddit Post

Note that you can post using a computer or the mobile app. For this tutorial, we’ll be giving computer-specific directions.

To create a post on Reddit, click the + Create link on the top right of the home page.

Alternatively, if you’re already in the subreddit you want to post to, you can click + Create Post on the top right.

If you need to select or change where you’ll be posting, use the drop-down menu at the top of the page. Then, enter your title and the body of your post.

If you want to add anything extra, like images, a video or a link, click the tabs and add the additional content.

You also have the option of starting an AMA (ask me anything) from this page, but you’ll need to select a time to start it, and you’ll also have to upload a selfie.

When you’re finished, click the Post button. Or, if you want to return to your post later, click Save Draft.

5 Reddit Etiquette Best Practices

According to the Reddit Help section, Reddit etiquette — called “Reddiquette” — is “an informal expression of the values of many redditors, as written by redditors themselves.” You can go over the complete list of etiquette tips here. Below, we’ve focused on some of the major ones.

Create a Compelling Title for Your Post

Having a strong Reddit post title can attract more people and improve engagement. Keep these tips in mind when writing your Reddit post title:

• Be direct and clear. Avoid clickbait-y titles.
• It’s OK to add a bit of mystery as long as the post actually delivers — don’t trick your fellow Redditors.
• Clarify the value of the post upfront. Numbers and lists are great for conveying value.
• Match the culture of the subreddit, whether that’s professional, laidback, funny, etc.
• Keep it short. Titles over 120 characters may be cut off on mobile devices.

Common title types that are clickable include confessionals, how-tos and questions for others to answer.

Format Your Posts for Readability

Just like when writing an article, formatting your posts for readability can help engage users. For example, using headers and bullet points instead of huge blocks of text makes it easier for readers to skim and consume what you post. Otherwise, they may be turned off and ignore your post altogether.

You can also use eye-catching visuals in your posts. Consider adding images or videos to make the content even more compelling.

Avoid Too Much Self-Promotion

Unless you’re in a subreddit that’s specifically for self-promotion, avoid going overboard. Redditors don’t have a high tolerance for on-the-nose marketing.

Instead, always consider the value you’re offering users. If you can offer the most value by also promoting something you’ve created, then that’s more tolerable than promoting for the sake of getting more eyes on your brand.

Overall, always focus on creating honest, meaningful content on Reddit.

At NetReputation, we work with individuals and businesses to help them build and take control of their online reputation. Give us a call at 844-461-3632 to learn more.

Post at an Optimal Time

The best way to figure out the ideal time to post to a subreddit is by considering your target audience and the natural flow of activity in the community.

However, aside from that, there are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind:

• Most Reddit users are located in the U.S., so it makes sense to post according to U.S. time zones.
• It’s more common for people to use Reddit during the morning and afternoon than late at night.
• However, certain subreddits are mainly active at night or on the weekend, so it pays to keep an eye on the routines of participants.

You can also make a habit of posting early in the morning, around 7 a.m., so that anyone who logs in that day has a chance to see your post.

Engage With the Community

To get the most traction out of a post, stay engaged with the community, both on the content you post and elsewhere in the subreddit. Get involved in other conversations. When it comes to your own posts, respond to feedback. This shows that there’s a human behind the Reddit account, and it also illustrates your thanks for those who are engaged.

Unless you’re going to be a lurker 100% of the time, meaning you’ll only ever read Reddit account content instead of posting your own, it’s important to be an active member of the community. This is the best way to build a positive reputation, get people interested in your posts and show your thanks for their engagement.

Final Thoughts About Using Your Reddit Account

Reddit has a community for pretty much anything you can think of. It’s possible to reach highly targeted groups on the platform instead of trying to connect with a broad and unfocused audience.

Plus, well-crafted posts can gain a lot of traction and introduce you and your brand to thousands of people. In this way, you can harness the power of Reddit to raise brand awareness or even send traffic to your website.

It’s also worth mentioning that Reddit threads rank well in Google, making Reddit one of the platforms you can use to shape your digital footprint and Google Search presence.

You can take control of your online reputation, whether you’re working on your personal reputation or your professional digital presence. Call us at 844-461-3632 for more information or fill out the contact form below.