![\"Download](\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/53\/3dc1dfd9-2cb4-4498-8c57-19dbb5671820.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWith other social platforms going through lots of upheaval, plenty of brands are making decisions about the future of social media<\/a>. Reddit isn\u2019t usually top-of-mind, and it\u2019s not for everyone \u2014 it\u2019s notoriously tough on brands. But, it\u2019s an incredibly valuable space, as long as you follow the rules.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll take you through the best ways to use Reddit for your brand and how to build genuine connections.<\/p>\n Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n If you\u2019re wondering how to market to Reddit\u2019s 100+ million DAUq, or Daily Active Uniques (its term for daily users), without getting downvoted into oblivion, the first step lies in understanding who is on the other end of the computer.<\/p>\n With that in mind, before I go any further, here are a few stats to help you understand who is using Reddit:<\/p>\n Looking for the demographics of other social media platforms? Read this post.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Demographics are absolutely important, because you have to know who is using a platform.<\/p>\n But in my experience, it\u2019s not just who uses it, but how<\/em> they use it. And because each subreddit is so different with its own set of rules and culture, you really have to explore each community to find out how things work in that space.<\/p>\n With that said, to help you better understand how Redditors use the platform, we surveyed 103 Reddit users about their favorite content \u2014 and here\u2019s what we learned.<\/p>\n The people we surveyed most frequently engage with:<\/p>\n It comes as no surprise that subreddit categories people visit most often relate directly to the types of content. The top three categories are Entertainment & Pop Culture, Memes & Humor, and Technology.<\/p>\n The majority of people use Reddit for personal interests only, with 56.3% saying they never use it professionally. This could work in your favor if you\u2019re a B2C brand.<\/p>\n However, if you\u2019re in the B2B space, all is not lost: 11.7% of those we surveyed say they frequently engage in business or industry-related discussions, and another 32% say they do so occasionally.<\/p>\n The key for you will be finding the right subreddits for your brand.<\/p>\n Remember, even though only about 12% of Redditors are business users, that still represents millions of people.<\/p>\n And whatever industry you\u2019re in, there\u2019s probably a community for you. I was surprised by the career diversity of those we surveyed who use Reddit for business purposes. Though a relatively small sample size, the top three industries were Technology, Real Estate, and Healthcare & Life Sciences.<\/p>\n Wondering what other fields were represented? Ecommerce & Retail, Education, Marketing & Advertising, and Finance & Investing rounded out the top seven.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a brand wondering if using Reddit to engage with people is a smart marketing move, there\u2019s good news \u2014 most Redditors are okay with it. In fact, 46.6% welcome brand engagement if done authentically, and 31.1% don\u2019t mind as long as it\u2019s not intrusive.<\/p>\n However, with 14.6% feeling negatively about brand engagement, I\u2019d advise you to tread carefully here. Be sure to check out the tips I\u2019ve shared below.<\/p>\n Even though most of my focus here has been on engagement, since Reddit does allow ads, I also wanted to get a sense of how Reddit users feel about advertising content. A whopping 67% majority say that positive ads that evoke joy are most likely to catch their attention.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Amazingly, 40% of Internet users<\/a> find a Reddit recommendation most influential to their decision to buy \u2014 more than reviews and influencers. However, not all product review content is created equal.<\/p>\n More importantly, the best reviews are organic and not overly promotional.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Reddit is largely anonymous, there\u2019s quite a bit of skepticism. Moderators play a big role in setting the tone for subreddits, but it\u2019s the ability to upvote and downvote content that makes it easier to smoke out people who are shilling versus providing a valuable and helpful solution,\u201d says Bryan Grover<\/a>, a B2B marketing strategist who uses Reddit personally and professionally.<\/p>\n However, there are definitely opportunities to get your brand in front of new audiences \u2014 if you do it the right way.<\/p>\n What is the right way to do it, though?<\/p>\n All of the Redditors I spoke with feel strongly that brands should be transparent and authentic.<\/p>\n While that can mean different things to different people, those we surveyed overwhelmingly agree that it starts with transparency about being a brand (61%), with another 54% believing that providing valuable insights or expertise contributes to authenticity.<\/p>\n Additionally, 47% feel that brands engaging in discussions like regular users boost their credibility and trust factor.<\/p>\n One of the subreddits I looked at with Grover had a rule that said no shilling. That means that in that space, you can\u2019t self-promote. However, you can add value to the discussion and share your knowledge \u2014 and people pay attention. If your profile is optimized, they can learn more about you and your brand and reach out to start a one-on-one conversation.<\/p>\n In fact, this is Martin Ceisel<\/a>\u2019s strategy on the subreddits he uses professionally. He is a freelance B2B tech writer who uses Reddit for both personal and professional interests.<\/p>\n \u201cEngaging in organic natural conversation where I can add value or insight might not lead to immediate leads, but I can stand out as knowledgeable in these spaces,\u201d Ceisel says.<\/p>\n If this sounds like a long game, it absolutely can be. That said, I\u2019d argue that most content marketing is a long game, too. By consistently demonstrating you know your stuff, people in your target audience can see that you\u2019ve got the chops to solve their problems with your product.<\/p>\n If authenticity is the most important thing, then it makes total sense that posts that feel staged are the biggest turnoff for Reddit users.<\/p>\n Other no-nos?<\/p>\n All of this makes sense. When someone walks up to you and tells you how great they are or interrupts your conversation with something completely from left field, you\u2019re going to politely excuse yourself.<\/p>\n The same goes on Reddit.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m more likely to take recommendations from fellow Redditors seriously because they\u2019re in the same boat as me. Conversely, if they are recommending a brand and didn\u2019t disclose that they\u2019re a rep, it would definitely reduce my trust,\u201d shares Grace Fortune<\/a>, a copywriter who primarily uses Reddit for personal interests and voice of customer research.<\/p>\n That leads me to the next point.<\/p>\n What better place to get to know your audience and their pain points than to head straight to the source? For that matter, it\u2019s also a great place to uncover competitive opportunities by finding out how people are talking about your product and the competition.<\/p>\n With that in mind, Reddit is a goldmine for anyone doing market research and voice of customer (VoC) research. If market research is about identifying opportunities, then VoC is about finding the right words to talk about the problem, solution, and dream state. It\u2019s also about the overall sentiment.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve found that the most effective copywriting uses the same words your audience does to talk about their problems. After all, it makes them feel like you\u2019re speaking directly to them.<\/p>\n And I\u2019m not alone.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery time I\u2019m doing research for content, I add \u2018Reddit\u2019 to the search term. It\u2019s one of the few places people are actually talking about issues like AI and automation, to name a few,\u201d says Ceisel.<\/p>\n Fortune also uses Reddit for VoC, though she offers a word of caution: \u201cThere\u2019s an issue with bots and automated responses on Reddit. If you\u2019re using Reddit for market research, I encourage you to review the account profiles of any responses you\u2019re considering using to ensure they\u2019re legitimate.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Interestingly enough, both Grover and Ceisel refer to Reddit as the Wild West. The very level of anonymity means that every comment is up for debate and can \u2014 and will \u2014 be judged on its merit.<\/p>\n And due to the nature of the beast, if you will, there may be a lot of people who aren\u2019t too thrilled that brands are engaging. Remember, 14.6% of those we surveyed said no way to brand engagement. While these folks may be a minority, they still represent about 15 million people. So, if you make them mad, it could turn into a PR nightmare.<\/p>\n That means you\u2019ve got to play by the rules and use Reddit the smart way. Here are a few tips to help you get started on the right foot.<\/p>\n Pick a few topics and search for subreddits to find communities that make sense for you to be in. Generally, you want to find a place where people are choosing to be because they care about the topic.<\/p>\n Grover recommends checking the age of the subreddit and whether or not it has a wiki with the rules and moderators. He also suggests poking around to learn more about the moderators and who they are. The more transparency in the details, and the more established the subreddit, the more trustworthy it is as a resource.<\/p>\n All this information can be found at the top of the subreddit if you\u2019re on desktop or by clicking \u201csee more\u201d on mobile.<\/p>\n Community members are there because they care about the topic and the community. They will defend the rules, so if the rules say clearly, \u201cNo shilling,\u201d you\u2019d better follow them. Otherwise, you will get dragged in the responses.<\/p>\n \u201cFundamentally, that\u2019s how Reddit works \u2014 the community democratically chooses the course correction and lets people know what\u2019s welcome and what\u2019s not welcome,\u201d says Ceisel.<\/p>\n Ultimately, this is the best opportunity for you as a brand. If you regularly show up and engage meaningfully on subreddits, people will go to your profile to learn more about you. Make sure your profile talks about your brand, products, areas of expertise, and interests.<\/p>\n When they\u2019re headed your way to learn more about you, you can be sure you\u2019re sharing what you want people to know about you.<\/p>\n As with lots of things, you\u2019ve got to read the room on Reddit before you start posting. Spend some time getting to know the subreddit and reading up on the discussions. Also pay attention to what gets downvoted. By getting a sense of the vibe, you can engage in more meaningfully ways.<\/p>\n When I talk about any type of marketing campaigns, I coach people to avoid \u201chit-and-run\u201d or \u201cding-dong-ditch\u201d moments. By that I mean, don\u2019t just drop in when you have something to promote or sell.<\/p>\n Ceisel says, \u201cMy fundamental belief is that I\u2019m not making noise to make noise. I want to contribute to the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n If you\u2019re building a history \u2014 regularly showing up and delivering value, whether that means sharing helpful content, solving problems, or even participating in thought-provoking discussions \u2014 people will take notice. And because you\u2019ve taken the time to build that history and trust, it\u2019s far more likely that they\u2019ll be open to your recommendations.<\/p>\n This goes hand in hand with adding value, but it\u2019s slightly more nuanced.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s say someone has a question about how to do something technical that you\u2019ve actually published a step-by-step guide on your blog. They come to Reddit for advice \u2014 and this is your moment to shine.<\/p>\n But don\u2019t just send them to your blog post.<\/p>\n Answer the question. Show them how to do it. Then, depending on the rules of the subreddit, it may or may not be appropriate to share the blog post.<\/p>\n And Fortune, Ceisel, and Grover all have slightly different takes on this.<\/p>\n Grover was much more resistant to seeing a brand share the link, whereas Ceisel and Fortune were more open to it.<\/p>\n \u201cIf this is exactly what you\u2019re talking about, and I think it answers your question or offers some insight, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to drop the link,\u201d Ceisel says.<\/p>\n Fortune agrees. After answering the question, \u201cYou could let me know you\u2019ve got a post and drop the link \u2014 I can then decide what I want to do with that information.\u201d<\/p>\n The caveat and common thread are that this should come across as informational, not promotional.<\/em><\/p>\n Posts asking for recommendations offer a number of opportunities for you as a marketer and a consumer. So keep an eye out for people asking for advice, recommendations, or solutions.<\/p>\n Notably, 23% of recommendation posts<\/a> lead to people selecting a brand or product not already on their radar. It also gives you a platform to find out how people are talking about problems (back to VoC), and identify opportunities and demands for new products or offers.<\/p>\n Fortune shares, \u201cIt\u2019s a great platform for ideation \u2014 people go on Reddit specifically for advice. It\u2019s great to see what people want and how they talk about their problems and experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n And of course, if your product or brand can solve a problem, don\u2019t hesitate to mention it \u2026 just be sure to be transparent about your connection. That leads me to the next tip.<\/p>\n Always disclose that you\u2019re a brand or you represent a brand \u2014 in your profile and in any posts where you\u2019re sharing brand content.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re simply answering a question and highlighting your knowledge, you don\u2019t have to start every post with \u201cI\u2019m Jane Doe from Acme Brand.\u201d In fact, I\u2019d argue that you probably shouldn\u2019t do this as it will come out over the top.<\/p>\n But if you\u2019re answering a question and referring people to your resource, be sure to disclose your connection to it.<\/p>\n If this sounds like strange advice to and from marketers, buckle up \u2014 it\u2019s something I say often. At its core, Reddit is another networking platform \u2014 albeit very different from anything else out there. Because it\u2019s about community, all of the best networking rules apply.<\/p>\n Even though yes, if we\u2019re talking about marketing, you have some goals in mind, let go of the immediacy and focus on connecting and sharing value. It allows your authenticity to shine \u2014 not a sense of desperation. <\/em>In turn, that means it\u2019s easier to build trust with the people who may eventually become your buyers.<\/p>\n\n
\n
Reddit User Demographics<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
What content resonates with Reddit users?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
More people use Reddit for personal interests.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Business users are still out there \u2026 and there are millions of them.<\/h3>\n
![\"pie](\"http:\/\/nurseagence.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/reddit-users-2-20250407-9209771.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nRedditors are okay with brand engagement \u2026 to a point.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"pie](\"http:\/\/nurseagence.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/reddit-users-3-20250407-2571147.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nReddit users prefer positive ads.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How to Market to Reddit Users<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Understand that authenticity matters more than anything.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Build trust by adding value.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Know that \u201cfake\u201d or staged posts work against you.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"reddit](\"http:\/\/nurseagence.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/reddit-users-4-20250407-936877.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n\n
Reddit is a great resource for market research data.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Tips for Engaging Reddit Users<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Find the right subreddit and check the rules.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"check](\"http:\/\/nurseagence.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/reddit-users-5-20250407-7835673.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nTake the rules seriously.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Optimize your profile.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Listen before you speak.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Add value to discussions.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Answer a question (don\u2019t just shill).<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Watch for recommendation posts.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Be transparent about who you are.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Let go of the outcome.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/track.hubspot.com\/__ptq.gif?a=53&k=14&r=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.hubspot.com%2Fmarketing%2Fwho-uses-reddit-anyway-a-deep-dive-into-reddit-users-and-what-they-think-of-marketing&bu=https%253A%252F%252Fblog.hubspot.com%252Fmarketing&bvt=rss\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"