Ever since AI started disrupting search, businesses have had to get more creative with their SEO strategy. One area that is witnessing a lot of success is Reddit SEO.
Over the past year, Reddit posts have consistently ranked in the top three search results for nearly every conceivable niche.
In this article, we’ll dive into how Reddit helps brands get more customers, show higher on SERPs, and how to utilize Reddit for SEO.
First, let’s begin with a quick introduction.
What is Reddit?
Reddit is a community-based social media platform where users share everything from news stories to personal tragedies and even brand recommendations.
While the company was launched nearly two decades ago, its popularity has soared rapidly over the past year.
The platform thrives on user-generated content and has different groups or communities called ‘subreddits,’ where people with similar interests engage. Content shared by users gets voted up or down by other “Redditors.”
This voting system is what gives the platform a measure of credibility that is lacking on other platforms.
With 91.2 million daily active users as of August 2024, Reddit is one of the least-used major social media platforms, falling behind Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
However, when it comes to SERPs, nobody does it better, and that is why Reddit SEO should be a priority for your business.
How Did Reddit Dominate Search Overnight?
According to Sistrix, Reddit is the third most visible domain in Google search in the US, ranking higher than Facebook, Instagram, and even YouTube.
A lot of this has happened over the past year. Similarweb showed that Reddit had 3.4 billion total visitors in September 2024, up from less than 500 million a year before.
Much of that growth has happened since Google announced a $60 million partnership with Reddit. The social giant agreed to let the search giant use its content to train Google’s AI model.
From the look of things, the partnership has benefitted both parties. Subreddits now feature prominently in the top three searches, and Google’s AI overview has taken the top spot in nearly all search terms.
Of course, Google has denied any favoritism toward Reddit, stating, “Our agreement with Reddit absolutely did not include ranking its content higher on Search.”
Instead, the search engine has amended its algorithm to feature more user generated content over polished, salesly marketing copy written by professionals.
In other words, Google wants to show people what has been verified by real users, and no site does that better than Reddit.
What are the Benefits of Reddit SEO?
While many cry foul over Reddit’s unfair rise, it provides an extraordinary opportunity for businesses. As Google’s flavor of the month, there is no better time to develop a comprehensive Reddit SEO strategy than now.
Here are the main advantages of doing so:
Higher search rankings and “second-hand” traffic
Reddit is a clear case of “if you can’t beat them, join them.” There is a high chance that Reddit results will outrank you for certain keywords, but not if you’re the Reddit result.
Besides that, you can also benefit from more search real estate by occupying multiple slots on the first SERP.
Improved brand awareness
Adding Reddit to your marketing channels can significantly boost brand visibility and awareness.
By maintaining an active profile, you can become a thought leader on the site, which can trickle out to other platforms and your website.
Better customer engagement
One thing you can never have too much of is excellent customer service. Subreddits provide a platform to interact directly with customers in a way that is meaningful and personal, something that is now missing from other social paltforms.
A good way to leverage this is via “ask me anything” (AMA) posts.
Content promotion
Brands that earn the trust of users across different subreddits enjoy considerable attention. When your content is upvoted, it will lead to increased traffic to your website.
Reach your target audience
Reddit gives you the opportunity to target specific audiences with almost no limit to how unique the niche can be. This ensures that your content is seen by the right people, which maximizes marketing collateral and ROI.
The only thing missing from Reddit SEO is the fact that most links are no-follow links. As a result, being active on the platform won’t directly impact your website’s authority or link-building. However, the advantages are more than enough to compensate for this shortfall.
Reddit SEO Guide: How to Master It?
Even though Reddit SEO is a goldmine, you still have to learn how to play the game. Here is a simple strategy you can use:
Step 1: Create a Reddit account for your business
The first thing you need is a business profile that can drive traffic to your site. If you run a small business, you can have a personal and business profile.
Keep your bio short, and don’t make it sound salesy. Share your contact info and include a link to your website – you may choose to have a dedicated landing page, depending on the type of content you plan on sharing.
Once your profile is ready, it’s time to join some communities and build yours.
also, to maximize your visibility, you can learn how to drive traffic with LLM SEO and connect with your audience more effectively.
Step 2: Research and join relevant subreddits
Subreddits are a maze. With so many options, it is very easy to get lost. According to Redditmatrix, 3.4 million subreddits have been created and there are 138,000 active ones.
Your first step should be to find appropriate niches for your brand. You can begin your search by using broader terms and narrow it down depending on the number of active users.
Large groups give the most visibility, but they are also very competitive and have strict rules. Your best bet is to find a small enough niche where you can quickly rise through the ranks.
For example, if your brand is about car repairs, the r/cars subreddit has 6.9 million members. However, the r/autorepairs subreddit has just 35k members.
Pay attention to what they discuss in these groups. You might find that a group with a seemingly unrelated name to what you had in mind talks more about a relevant topic, so be flexible.
Step 3: Conduct keyword research
Once you’ve found the subreddits you’d like to join, it is time to find out the keywords they rank for on the first page of Google.
SEO tools like Ahrefs, Semrush and UbberSuggest will come in handy. They will help you quickly identify how high they rank and how much traffic those topics generate.
You can also conduct manual research by typing directly into Google and adding “+ reddit” to the keyword search.
This search may also show you new subreddits you hadn’t considered. You will also see keywords you still need to consider.
Step 4: Participate actively in subreddits
Reddit SEO and typical SEO share one major thing in common: you have to give a lot before you can get. Before you can get people to visit your profile and click on your website link, you need to first demonstrate your commitment to the group.
Share your expertise by responding to threads, but don’t sell anything. Incorporate keywords naturally in your responses.
While some subreddits allow you to mention your brand or include links to your products and services, use this sparingly.
You want to show a genuine commitment to solving people’s problems with advice first and sales second. Remember that if you violate a group’s terms, they will delete your post and evict you.
Step 5: Develop a content calendar
The best way to ensure that you are consistent and you utilize the right keywords is to have a calendar specifically for Reddit.
Plan to share different types of content across the different subreddits and post content at peak engagement times for the particular group.
Depending on how active the group is, this could mean preparing to post anything from once a day to once a month.
Remember to keep promotions to a minimum. If Redditors sense that you’re only there to promote your brand, you’ll be cut off. Share as much information as possible in your own native posts and keep people glued.
You want to spark conversations that attract upvotes so share unique insights that are buzzworthy. The more popular you are on Reddit, the higher your chance of ranking in Google.
Step 6: Boost high-performing posts
Reddit ads are a great way to get your content seen by more people and to generate sales. It is also cheaper to advertise on the platform than on more popular sites.
However, Reddit has the lowest average conversion rate of the major social media sites. That is why it is best only to promote posts that are already performing well.
These posts have already proven to be a hit within the group, so they will likely appeal to other users.
Step 7: Monitor performance and optimize accordingly
Reddit takes some getting used to, so you must be agile in your approach. You need to monitor your performance on the app and your website.
The first place to start is Google Analytics. Check to see how much traffic is coming from Reddit and how much revenue that is bringing in. Just like with regular SEO, don’t expect miracles overnight.
Once you’re done analyzing website data, move over to your Reddit page. Keep an eye on metrics like post views, upvotes, comments, shares, and follower growth.
You should also monitor brand mentions on the platform using tools like Buzzsumo, Mention, or Reddit Pro. Ensure that you are engaging with or responding to mentions meaningfully – answer questions without self-promoting unnecessarily.
These internal metrics will help you better plan future content.
Don’t Sleep on Reddit SEO
Having to master yet another social media platform can be exhausting. However, considering its recent trajectory, Reddit SEO is worth the effort.
Just remember that you need to keep consistent, play by the rules and keep tweaking your strategy until you strike gold.
Also, bear in mind that many other brands will be considering Reddit SEO now, so the quicker you move, the better. If you don’t know where to begin or you need a team to handle it for you, ours is available to you.