Reddit for SMBs: A hidden SEO and engagement goldmine

Reddit: A powerful tool for small and medium-sized enterprises to enhance brand awareness and SEO

Reddit is not only a gathering place for emoticons and hot topics, but also a powerful tool for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) to increase brand awareness, connect with their audiences, and even enhance SEO.

While most of the marketing advice about Reddit is targeted at large brands, SMEs can also effectively leverage the platform to interact with potential customers, build trust, and achieve real results.

Think of Reddit as another social platform

So, why should SMEs consider using Reddit?

Unlike other social media channels like Instagram, on Instagram you have to keep up with every new feature in order for the algorithm to promote your account, and Reddit has little change.

It is a forum-style website that allows people to join a specific community—subreddit—to interact with others who share common interests.

Instead of relying solely on following social media best practices to want people to see your content, you can connect with your audience immediately on Reddit.

Almost anything you can think of has a subreddit.

Whether you are a photographer or a personal trainer, there are many existing communities to participate in.

It eliminates speculation about finding audiences.

Reddit Search

Another thing to consider is the popularity of Reddit in search results. People are actively searching for Reddit posts on Google.

When looking for a personal trainer in Brooklyn, the automatic completion advice includes Reddit.

This means that the user is actually adding "Reddit" to their query. (Automatic completion prediction is based on real searches and common word patterns found on the web.)

People want real comments, suggestions and opinions from real users.

Reddit is where they get that information—they just use Google to find it.

Even for those who do not add "Reddit" to their queries to search for local businesses, there are some SERP features that display Reddit results.

"Discussions and Forums" is a SERP feature that displays Reddit and other posts from forums like Quora in search results.

When looking for a photographer, I can check out who others in my area are recommending and read their experiences.

Community

Reddit has its own community, and community members are interested in and even passionate about all kinds of topics you can imagine.

Learn more about how Google’s partnership with Reddit affects brand management

getting Started

For SMEs, a first-time entry into Reddit may seem daunting, but starting small and keeping authenticity is key.

Don’t think of it as a traditional marketing channel, but as a space to connect with potential customers naturally.

Create your profile

Like any other platform, make sure you fill in your Reddit profile:

• Add a profile picture.
• Write a brief profile about who you are and what you do.
• Add your website and social links.

The Redditor above is a lifestyle, competition preparation and posing coach.

Their profile clearly shows who they are and what they do and links to their various social media accounts.

You can also see that they get posts and comments karma from people like them.

Find the right child reddit

What makes Reddit powerful for SMEs is its highly localized community.

You are not trying to release your information to the public. You are interacting with people in your city or niche interest group.

• Find your target group: Search for subreddits related to your region (such as r/Portland or r/Philly). Also, find industry-specific subreddits that your target audience frequently visits. For example, if you run a gym, you might find potential customers in r/Fitness or r/bikinitalk.
• Follow the rules: Each child reddit has its own guidelines. Some subreddits are very strict with self-promotion, while others are a little looser if you can contribute valuable content. Be sure to read the rules before posting.

Real interaction

Reddit users can see garbage self-promotion at a glance.

While the ultimate goal is to bring potential customers, your first goal should be to become a trusted community member.

You won't succeed without building trust and staying transparent in your Reddit policy.

• Start with comments: Get familiar with the environment by commenting on new, existing posts. Don't search for all posts related to your business and comment on posts a month ago. Depending on the activity of subreddit, stick to commenting on posts up to a week ago. Share tips, answer questions, or join the discussion in a meaningful way.
• Be a person, not a brand: People go to Reddit to get real opinions and suggestions. Share the lessons you have learned and interesting experiences related to your business and answer people’s questions sincerely.

You don't have to comment just about what is directly related to your business.

Suppose you run a cafe and work with a local bakery to provide pastries.

If people ask where to find the best croissants in your city, you can review and recommend them.

It doesn’t hurt to mention any business or charity you work with when people ask for suggestions on related topics.

It is true to advise businesses that have worked with in the past.

The screenshot above is a great example of interacting with your community and keeping it authentic.

• Someone asked about the pricing of training courses.
• The coaches we've seen before commented on addressing Redditor's concerns and sharing their fees as this is relevant to the post.

This is a perfect example of discussing your product/service without spam or “aggressive”.

Learn more about: SEO beyond Google - Build your brand on Reddit, Quora, TikTok and other platforms

Sharing is love

Reddit is about sharing information. For some, it is the source of truth.

When using it as a channel for SMB, remember that sharing is love.

You have to give more than you get to make this work, which means providing really useful information should be the point.

If every post is a sales pitch, you may be overwhelmed by a large number of votes of objection and may even be banned from subreddit.

When people just want to get information, you also create negative associations related to your business by sending them your services.

Think of it as an investment

Like other social media channels, you have to consider it an investment.

Unless you happen to be popular (which is rare), you don't usually see amazing results in posting TikTok or Instagram stories.

Don't expect to see the effect on Reddit overnight.

You are showing your expertise and highlighting your experience so others can see it.

Yes, the goal is to generate leads, but you have to work hard to build trust and connect with others to achieve that.

SMEs can manage this issue internally. No need to hire a company.

You are already familiar with your business, industry, and local communities and are best suited for real interactions on Reddit.

Use Reddit as a research tool

When browsing related subreddits, please pay attention to what you are reading.

• Do people often mention competitors?
• Do people complain about your industry?
• What are the pain points people have for your service or product?

Collect this information and use it for your advantage.

You can manually search for subreddit to see what people are talking about.

Britney Muller also shares an amazing resource about building your AI-powered Reddit tools.

If you are familiar with the code, she created a Colab notebook that can help you collect:

• Comments from specific posts.
• Insights on specific keywords.
• More information on any topic you are looking for.

She also offers an option without code, but this does limit the amount of information you can collect.

Use these insights about your business, industry, and competitors to create informed content for your website.

• Pain points can be translated into blog posts that address these issues.
• Frequently asked questions in subreddit can be added to your FAQ page.
• Take advantage of the weaknesses of an industry or competitor to create strong information that highlights your strengths, if true.

Example: Some plumbers quote a price but charge a higher price after completing the service. If your water pipe business offers transparent prices, highlight this in your message.

Authenticity drives success on Reddit

Reddit offers unique opportunities for SMEs:

• Connect with your local community.
• Participate in related discussions.
• Improve search visibility.

Unlike other social platforms, maintaining relevance does not require continuous content creation. It rewards authenticity and meaningful interactions.

By actively participating in the right subreddit, building trust and providing value without over-selling, SMEs can foster real relationships that lead to tangible results.

Think of Reddit as a long-term investment. Continuous efforts and sincere participation will pay off over time.

If you are looking for a platform to connect directly with your audience, gain insights, and build credibility in your niche, Reddit is worth exploring.

Start small, be helpful, and most importantly, be authentic, because on Reddit, authenticity always wins.

Learn more about: Reddit: Your new online reputation challenge

Specially invited contributors were invited to create content for Search Engine Land, who were selected for their expertise and contribution to the search community. Our contributors work under the supervision of editors and check the quality of their contributions and their relevance to our readers. The views they express are their own.

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