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How to use Reddit to get your first users

blog.spreadtheworld.net

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Re: How to use Reddit to get your first users

#91

Post by chungus_khan »

borja_froged wrote: post #56

I think reddit is a gold mine if you genuinely want to help others. In other words, promoting your product should be the consequence not the goal.

If your product is something the users will genuinely want and find very useful, and you present it as a member of the community who decided to make it for the community's benefit, people will be thrilled generally.

If you show up as an outsider, or with a product that either isn't useful or isn't unique/new you will be seen as the shill that you are.

Re: How to use Reddit to get your first users

#92

Post by yboris »

enumjorge wrote: post #5

Does anyone else have experience posting on Reddit for marketing purposes that they can share? I haven’t done it myself, but my understanding is that most subreddits frown upon self promotion posts. The article makes it sound like it’s as simple as posting to the right subreddits to get views, but I’m skeptical. The author also mentions getting 400 visitors as an example of success. 400 visitors is nice, but given th…

I keep trying to promote my Video Hub App: https://videohubapp.com/en/

This makes sense most-naturally when a user asks for "what's good software to organize videos?" So I answer honestly: "I created this app, this is what it does, I think it may fit your requirements".

I'm an independent developer and have never spent money promoting the app. Today my GA shows 70 visitors coming from Reddit this week. Usual number of visitors from all sources is 70 per day.

Re: How to use Reddit to get your first users

#93

Post by allenu »

josefresco wrote: post #7

Roughly 10 years ago I had a startup idea and had the thought to reach out to "enthusiasts" within the market niche on Reddit and elsewhere. My requests for feedback were met with extreme cynicism, criticism and just outright rudeness. Maybe 5% of the responses were constructive.\ My takeaways: Asking users what they want isn't always useful. Enthusiasts communities can be very negative to new ideas or members.

I think I've noticed this attitude from "enthusiasts" as well.

Even if a solution people are using has flaws, with regular use they get so used to its idiosyncrasies that they can't imagine it not working the way it does. It's very difficult to have them think creatively about a better way to do things at that point.

I think there's a bit of Stockholm syndrome in it as well, for lack of a better term. You get attached to the technology because now you know its ins and outs. If it gives you the results you want, what more could you want at that point?

If someone comes along and shows you "a better way", you might become violently dismissive because you're so attached to your solution.

Re: How to use Reddit to get your first users

#94

Post by imnotreallynew »

pluc wrote: post #88

1. Go on reddit 2. Find places relevant to your product 3. Talk about your product when relevant magic.gif

I built a little reddit/forum service awhile ago that pings me when a conversation related to my other project is happening. Its been a great way to generate leads - plugging the product right where its completely relevant to the conversation.

Ive thought about making it public - email is in profile if you think the tool would be useful to you.

Re: How to use Reddit to get your first users

#95

Post by yboris »

enumjorge wrote: post #5

Does anyone else have experience posting on Reddit for marketing purposes that they can share? I haven’t done it myself, but my understanding is that most subreddits frown upon self promotion posts. The article makes it sound like it’s as simple as posting to the right subreddits to get views, but I’m skeptical. The author also mentions getting 400 visitors as an example of success. 400 visitors is nice, but given th…

The benefit may be long-term trickle of visitors. I once recommended my app as an answer in a Reddit thread, and it is still getting me a few visitors per week.

Really depends on your app and where you promote it. About 5% of my visitors buy my app, and that's probably because they come from targeted Reddit comments (or organic searches for the specific thing my app offers).

Re: How to use Reddit to get your first users

#96

Post by volatilitywave »

It's a great resource but you have to be sneaky if you don't want to pay for ads. I've been banned from investing and wallstreetbets for just mentioning my website even though my posts got 100+ upvotes and great feedback from users. I get it though... too much self promotion could be toxic and wouldn't allow reddit to make money. It is what it is.

https://glimpse.info/congress

Re: How to use Reddit to get your first users

#97

Post by ozim »

josefresco wrote: post #54
pc86 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like you weren't a member of that community prior to trying to advertise your services for financial gain. Cynicism is probably the best outcome from something like that, honestly.

I lurked for weeks, did not try to sell anything and definitely learned how the community typically communicated before I made my first comment. Reddit is definitely not Hacker News which can be harsh but mostly fair.

Lurking for weeks is not being part of community.

Re: How to use Reddit to get your first users

#98

Post by throwaway3699 »

jbob2000 wrote: post #35
xavier_ wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes of course, don't spam or self-promote if it's not permitted! However, you can create some valuable content for the subreddit and share a link to your blog. Most Subs are ok with that (if you really bring value) and it can drive you some serious traffic.

Most subs don't allow you to promote your own blog posts. Because why not just make the post right on the subreddit? That's what reddit is for. The whole premise of trying to drag users away from reddit to your own domain is totally against what reddit is trying to do, expect to get blocked no matter how you work around it.

You've got this the wrong way around. Reddit, much like HN, is mainly centered around discussing links on the internet.

Re: How to use Reddit to get your first users

#99

Post by Kluny »

random_visitor wrote: post #17

The article can be summarised to: "Use the subreddit where your target audience hangs out" Nothing wrong with the advice, but most subreddits have a no self-promotion policy (and reddit has a "no promotion over 10% of account activity" policy). There are things like self promotion threads but its only visited by people looking to promote their products and not by other people. Users who don't cease the promotion on b…

I have successfully promoted my company on Reddit, but it is tricky, for the reasons mentioned. There are two techniques that worked for me.

0. Be a chronic reddit user for years, with a main account that has thousands of karma and a couple of throwaway accounts that also have various content.

1. Write an interesting blog post with useful content that relates to your product, and post it on a relevant subreddit. Put a call to action like "Buy Now" at the bottom of that post. Post it a maximum of twice in any 24 hour period. If it doesn't succeed on a given subreddit, you can try it maybe once more with a different headline before you should move on to a different subreddit. If you post it more than 4-5 times total anywhere on reddit, you're liable to get banned.

2. Hang out in subreddits where people discuss products like yours. Answer questions with useful information. After providing the information, link your site as the source. Do not just link your site without also providing a useful answer on reddit.

Reddit does drive quite a bit of traffic, something like 60-100 hits per upvote. It's great, but it still often doesn't result in as many sales-per-click as facebook or instagram.

Re: How to use Reddit to get your first users

#100

Post by rchaud »

xavier_ wrote: post #27
rchaud wrote: post #25

> Last step of the process: your MVP is ready, you need some traffic. The secret is to provide as much value as you can. Share your secrets, how you grow your product, share your analytics... This sounds more like how to get a post trending on IndieHackers or HN. Why would users of say, a no-code product care about your DAUs or growth strategy? Wouldn't they be looking for tutorials, or clear ways in which your app s…

It depends of your target customers of course. I meant create valuable for them, be transparent.

understood, thanks for responding.
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