Founded in 2005, Reddit started out as a simple social news aggregator where users could submit and vote on links. Today, it has grown into one of the largest online communities, with 73 million daily active users.
In 2023, the platform registered $804.03 million in revenue, indicating a spike in its popularity and usage.
Lately, there has been a lot of debate around Reddit’s potential as a marketing tool, especially with Reddit ads coming into play. Marketers are now exploring ways to incorporate Reddit into their search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. Moreover, our SEO Industry Trends Report found platforms like Reddit and Quora to outpace traditional publishers, a trend that reflects Google’s growing preference for authentic, community-driven content and insights.
Also, Reddit itself can be used as a place to find SEO tips and tricks from people who actually know what they’re talking about. In this guide, we look at Reddit’s potential from both angles.
Reddit SEO Guide and Tactics:
What Is Reddit?
Reddit is a forum and social news website where registered members submit content to the site. It is made up of thousands of communities called “subreddits”, each focused on a particular topic or interest.
Users can vote on posts and comments, giving them either an upvote or a downvote depending on their opinion. Reddit users are called redditors.
There are some disagreements as to whether Reddit can be classified as a social media site. While some argue that it is, others believe it is more of a discussion forum.
On Reddit many people seem to believe that Reddit, in fact, is a social media site. In a subreddit called “r/PetPeeves,” a Redditor explained that Reddit is social media based on this definition:
“Websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.”
Most respondents agreed with the opinion.
Some also believe that Reddit is a blend of social media and discussion forum. For example, a redditor said that the platform would
“classify more as a social cesspool but yes it is social media, don’t understand why anyone would say differently.”
So, it seems that while Reddit has some characteristics of a social media site, it’s also unique in its own way.
What Do People Use Reddit For?
Reddit has a wide range of uses, depending on the individual user. Some people use it as a source of news and information, while others use it for its entertainment value.
Reddit is often the first place for rumors and breaking news to surface. It also has a vast array of subreddits dedicated to different topics, making it a great resource for finding niche communities and discussions.
For example, there’s a subreddit called r/DogShowerThoughts, where people share dog memes. There’s another one called r/muglife, where Redditors post pictures of their mugs.
There’s no limit to how niche a subreddit can be. If you’ve ever had a random, vague question, chances are someone on Reddit asked it three years ago and received dozens of detailed responses.
Some people also use Reddit as a platform to self-promote their content, whether it’s their art, writing, or YouTube channel. They usually do it through relevant subreddits that are specifically for self-promotion.
Reddit is also known for its AMA (Ask Me Anything) threads, where experts answer user-submitted questions.
Is Reddit a Search Engine?
While Reddit does have a search function, it’s not necessarily considered a search engine like Google on Bing.
Interestingly, Gen Z is finding Google to be less reliable and turning to Reddit for more accurate information. There’s a lot of discussion around Google “dying” due to its algorithm and scaled content.
The Washington Post reported that people are turning to Reddit and TikTok to find information. Clint Choi, a London-based marketer, told the publication,
“When I was just starting to access the internet, Google was an authority, but … the parent company that owns Google has misplaced the consumer’s trust. We don’t see Google as the central authority on search anymore.”
It’s not just external publications that have noticed this trend. In 2022, Google itself recognized the influence of social media platforms as a source of information for younger web users.
Senior Vice President at Google, Prabhakar Raghavan, said,
“In our studies, something like almost 40% of young people when they’re looking for a place for lunch, they don’t go to Google Maps or Search. They go to TikTok or Instagram.”
The Washington Post article mentioned that people now search Reddit for queries or
“append the word Reddit to the end of their Google search, knowing that a post on one of the platforms’ many forums may have a more useful answer than what Google can dig up on its own.”
There are also some concerns about ads taking up too much space in search results, pushing down organic results, and potentially leading to inaccurate or biased information being prioritized.
Do Reddit Results Show in Search Engines?
Apparently, yes.
Recently, Lily Ray, an X user, posted about Reddit results popping up in Google search engine result pages (SERPs) for a search query regarding weight loss.
Since weight loss is a Your Money Your Life (YMYL) topic, it makes sense that Google would prioritize reliable information from authoritative sources. Previously, the top spots would have been taken up by sites like the CDC or Mayo Clinic.
Danny Sullivan, Google Search Liaison, responded to this by saying that he has sent the feedback to the appropriate team.
With this being said, he also mentioned,
” I also know some of the SEO folks who tend to be vocal on this platform really dislike seeing more forum content in our search results. But actual searchers seem to like it. They proactively seek it out. It makes sense for us to be showing it to keep the search results relevant and satisfying for everyone.”
When told that SEO specialists don’t dislike forums but the spammy and low-quality content that can be found in them, Danny Sullivan said that issues are always there, but Google is working to resolve them.
He also said this about forum content,
“We know it can be useful, and that’s why we’ve been showing more of it. I expect the work will continue to be tuning on the how and when we do so, as well as trying to improve the quality of what we show.”
These responses hint that Google will continue to show forum results because that’s what users are looking for. At the same time, Google is working on improving the quality of these results to provide more reliable information to its users.
How to Use Reddit for SEO?
The way Reddit works for SEO isn’t the same as your website or YouTube channel. You don’t own the platform, and you can’t do anything about its algorithms.
But you can do a few things to increase your credibility on Reddit and then transfer it over to your website or channel.
The crux of how it works is that you need to create value for the Reddit community. When you post about something, your post will be on the front page of the subreddit.
If the post receives a lot of upvotes and comments, it will stay there for longer. The more upvotes your post receives, the more exposure it gets.
Ideally, you want to stay in the top posts section for as long as possible. Why?
You can use your posts on Reddit to generate traffic for your website. Also, Google may index these posts, which can lead to more exposure for your website.
However, using Reddit for SEO requires a strategic approach. Here are some tips.
Post in Relevant Subreddits
You don’t want to start posting on random subreddits that have nothing to do with your niche. Doing this will only lead to downvotes and a negative reputation on the platform.
Instead, find subreddits that are relevant to your niche or industry. Let’s say you run a travel blog.
You post stuff like itineraries and destination reviews on your blog. You could join subreddits like r/travel or r/backpacking and see if people are asking questions you can answer.
What are some things that you’ve learned from traveling?
byu/stanerd intravel
Suppose someone asks, “What are some underrated destinations in Europe?”. You have a blog post about the top underrated destinations in Europe.
Answer their question with a quick summary. For instance, you can say something like, “I highly recommend visiting Estonia, Albania, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In case you want to learn more about what you can do here, I wrote a blog post about it on my blog some time ago.”
Add a link to your blog post.
If people find your answer helpful, they may check out your blog and even subscribe for more content.
For example, a Redditor wrote a detailed SEO guide, explaining how to do SEO for beginners. They also added a link to their Medium article in their post to get more visits on it.
Plus, they mentioned that they have written a book about SEO and added a link where readers can purchase it. As you can see, this Redditor used their post as a way to get traffic on their Medium post and generate sales. It’s a two-in-one strategy!
SEO is Not Hard . A step-by-step SEO Tutorial for beginners that will get you ranked every single time
byu/tianan inEntrepreneur
You can do something similar with your product or service.
Use Reddit as a Research Tool
Reddit is not just for promoting your blog or business. You can also use it to find niche information.
Part of the reason most web users add ”Reddit” to their search queries is that they believe Redditors are more likely to have honest opinions and unbiased reviews. However, even now, Google holds the largest market share for desktop search engines.
Even when trying to find answers on Reddit, people are using Google as the primary search engine. So, if your content is highly valuable to Google users, chances are you will rank high in SERPs.
In its 2024 update, Google has increased the focus on people-first content. One way to meet the E-E-A-T guidelines is to establish expertise.
How do you do that? By adding anecdotes or conversations from real people in your blog post.
In fact, many Redditors also believe that going forward, this will be a norm. On one of the threads about Reddit SEO, a user said, ‘
‘I think Quora is a bit more questionable (it’s too spam ridden to survive long in SERPs) but Reddit and other better policed forums certainly are great top of funnel opportunities for many businesses and are pretty critical in SEO.”
Build Your Karma
On Reddit, ”Karma” is like your online reputation or score. It represents how much contribution you have made to the community.
The more people upvote your posts and comments, the higher your Karma will be.
A higher Karma will give you more authority and credibility on Reddit. As a result, other users will trust your word more.
Having a high Karma score can also improve the visibility of your posts within subreddit communities, as some subreddits have minimum Karma requirements for posting.
Don’t overdo it, though. Avoid posting too much or answering every single question. Instead, provide helpful answers and post meaningful content that gets upvotes.
Run an AMA Session
Once you have established yourself as a valuable contributor on Reddit, you can take it a step further by hosting an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session. In this thread, you can answer your audience’s questions directly.
Suppose you’ve created a new AI website builder. You’ve talked about it in the relevant subreddit communities, and people are interested.
Use an AMA session to answer people’s queries. Let them know about your product’s unique features and how it can benefit them.
More importantly, add links to your website or relevant landing pages in the answers. That’s how you’ll boost SEO: by getting more traffic.
For example, two team members behind Songs of Silence, a new game, held an AMA to answer people’s questions about the new gaming title.
Hi! We’re Songs of Silence, a 4X strategy fantasy game that combines art nouveau style with turn-based rounds and ultra-fast real-time battles. We’re nearing our Early Access release. Ask us Anything!
byu/songsofsilence inIAmA
If you want to take it a step further, you might even offer something to the Reddit community as a token of appreciation for their support. For example, you can announce a limited-time discount or a giveaway exclusive to Reddit users.
The idea is to show the community that you are not just there to self-promote. Redditors aren’t as open to being advertised as YouTube or Instagram users, where ads are the norm.
So, you have to be creative and find ways to provide value while promoting your product.
Run Reddit Ads
If you’re not a huge fan of the organic approach, you can always opt for Reddit Ads. Similar to other social media platforms, Reddit offers advertising options to reach a larger audience.
However, keep in mind that Redditors are very sensitive to ads and easily identify them. So, make sure your ad is authentic and relevant to the subreddit community you are targeting.
You’ll have to create a Reddit ads account to start paid advertisement. We recommend going through Reddit’s best practices for ads before you kickstart your campaign.
Advertising on Reddit isn’t the same as other platforms. On social media sites, you have to follow the platform’s conventions and best practices while creating ads.
However, on Reddit, you have to tailor your ads to the subreddit’s culture and community. For example, Reddit reports that using ”Redditisms” in your ads is more likely to resonate with the community and lead to a higher engagement rate.
Redditisms simply refers to the acronyms and unique language Redditors use. It can double your medium MMP revenue for a campaign.
For example, Universal UK ran a Reddit ad with the copy playing on subreddit naming conventions.
So, instead of using generic advertising language, try incorporating Reddit lingo to make your ad more relatable to the audience. You can find some of these terms in this subreddit.
For example, a common acronym on Reddit is ”FTFY” which stands for ”Fixed That For You”. If you’re running an ad for a pimple patch or a skincare product, you could use the phrase ”FTFY – No more pimples!”
It’s likely to get more attention than the verbiage you may use on Instagram, such as ”Say goodbye to acne!”
Similarly, you can send Reddit notifications to people in case your ad is about an upcoming release or product launch. Here’s how The Game Awards did it.
Reddit SEO Guide: How to Learn SEO Tactics from Reddit?
As we mentioned earlier, Reddit can be a research tool. Many people are now using SEO threads for information, especially niche-specific subreddits.
Besides using Reddit as an information source for your website content, you can also use it to learn more about SEO tactics from people who do it in their everyday work.
Here’s how.
Find SEO Tips and Tricks
The most obvious way to learn social media from Reddit is by following SEO-related subreddits. These subreddits are filled with discussions, insights, and tips from experienced professionals.
Or you can simply search for ”best SEO tips for 2023 Reddit” in Google and check out the top three or four posts. We came across this post.
It enlists some quick tips that are relevant even today.
Discover SEO Resources
We all know about the basics: Moz, Semrush, Ahrefs, Google’s blog, and our very own Influencer Marketing Hub.
But sometimes, you need something a little more specific. Reddit comes to the rescue.
Search for SEO resources on Reddit, and you’ll see hundreds of comments with links to useful tools and guides. You can also mention your limitations in the post.
For example, if you’re on a budget or are looking for free tools, you can ask for recommendations on Reddit. It’s much quicker than scrolling through pages and pages of search results.
For example, we found a good thread for SEO resources.
Posts from the seo
community on Reddit
Keep Up With SEO-Related News
The SEO world is ever-changing. From Google algorithm updates to new tools and AI’s influence, a lot is happening all the time.
Keeping up with all of this yourself can be daunting, especially if you’re busy with client work and meetings.
Luckily, Reddit can be your go-to source for staying updated on the latest SEO news. For example, you can join a relevant subreddit like this one.
{Weekly Discussion} Google finally releases reason why Reddit ranks first
byu/WebLinkr inSEO
As you can see, they hold weekly discussions about the latest happenings in the SEO world. You can also ask questions if you’re confused about a recent update or news.
Understand SEO Concepts
Google’s documentation can be a bit dry and overwhelming for some, not to mention extremely technical and long. However, Reddit has a way of breaking down complex concepts into easier-to-understand language.
If you’re struggling to understand a particular SEO concept, you can always search for ELI5 (Explain Like I’m Five) posts on Reddit.
For example, here’s a question where someone used this acronym to ask about SEO and what it does.
Can you eli5 what is seo is, what it does, and how its achieved?
byu/panos21sonic inwebdev
Reddit lets you sort answers using the following filters. If you want to see the best option, it will be set by default. But if your question is time-sensitive, you can select New to see the most recent responses.
Get Expert Insight
Let’s say you’re working on an SEO strategy for a client and you’re not sure if your approach is the best one.
Turn to Reddit for some expert advice and opinions. You can share what you’ve done so far and ask for feedback or suggestions.
It’s sort of like GitHub but with concepts rather than code.
For example, this Redditor asked if their on-page SEO checklist was missing something. In the comments, people offered their input to make their list more comprehensive.
Is this On-Page SEO Checklist missing anything?
byu/WayTooBlazed inSEO
Conclusion
Reddit is not just for memes and discussions about the latest TV shows. It’s also a valuable resource for learning and improving your SEO skills.
Even better, you can use Reddit itself to improve SEO and market your brand. Both ways, Reddit is a win-win for SEO and businesses.
Pro Tip: Go through Reddit’s guidelines before you start promoting your business or sharing links. The platform is a bit different from your regular social media sites. You want to approach it according to its community guidelines to avoid any bans or negative reputation.
About the Author
Writer
Nadica Naceva, Head of Content at Influencer Marketing Hub, is a seasoned writer and reviewer with in-depth expertise in digital and content marketing. Leveraging her extensive experience in guiding content creation and strategic direction, Nadica brings a critical eye and analytical approach to reviewing articles and educational pieces. Her commitment to accuracy, integrity, and innovation with each review helps IMH grow as a leading source in influencer marketing. Her insights are backed by first-party data, ensuring content meets the highest standards of relevance.
