Reddit is a collection of communities, each with its own moderators, rules and culture. People ask for recommendations there all the time, often in great detail, which makes it valuable for founders. It is also a place where obvious self-promotion is unwelcome, so how you take part matters as much as where.
Finding relevant threads
Look for first-person requests: someone asking what others use for a task, looking for an alternative to a tool, or describing a manual process they want to get rid of. Smaller, focused subreddits often have more precise questions than large general ones. Reddit's own search is limited, so many people combine it with web search restricted to Reddit.
Rules come first
Reddit has site-wide rules against spam, and each subreddit adds its own. Some ban self-promotion entirely, some allow it only in designated threads, and some restrict links. The rules are usually in the sidebar or on the community's rules page. If a subreddit does not allow product mentions, either help without mentioning your product or do not reply.
Writing the reply
- Find the right subreddits. List the communities where your users discuss their work or hobby, including small niche ones, not only large general subreddits.
- Read each subreddit's rules. Check the sidebar or rules page for limits on self-promotion, links and designated threads before posting anything.
- Answer the question first. Write a reply that is useful even without your product, then mention the product once only if it genuinely helps.
- Disclose your affiliation. Say plainly that you built or work on the product you mention.
- Stay for the conversation. Answer follow-up questions from your own account and accept a no gracefully.
How Distrarc helps on Reddit
Distrarc can include Reddit when it searches for your product. Each conversation it returns links to the original thread, with the date and the reason it fits. Reply drafts answer the question first, mention your product at most once and include a disclosure. Distrarc never posts on Reddit for you: you check the subreddit's rules, edit the draft and post it from your own account.
Related: finding people asking for your product on Reddit and Hacker News and replying in public without spamming. Try it with a free first report, or see pricing.