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How I Achieved 16,000+ Signups by Trending on Reddit 26+ Times

Hey IH,

I'm excited to share my journey of achieving over 26 trends on Reddit in just four months within the SaaS industry, resulting in 16,000+ signups for the project.

Background:

I've been an active Reddit user for over a decade. My initial interactions on the platform often led to me picking fights with internet strangers and getting banned frequently. However, this experience turned out to be valuable as it helped me understand the nature and voice of the platform. Reddit, like all other platforms, has its unique voice and way of communicating. Many learn this the hard way after being downvoted into oblivion.

In this article, I'll share the lessons and strategies that helped me drive 16,000+ signups. These steps are generalised and will help you find an acquisition channel through Reddit. Let's dive into it:

Goal:

Our primary objective was to harness the vast Reddit audience to channel traffic to our website, ultimately driving signups for our products or services. While the most straightforward approach was to encourage email signups on the landing page, the effectiveness of this strategy depended on specific use cases.

Methods:

  1. Understanding Reddit's Voice:

    A crucial aspect of Reddit marketing is grasping the platform's unique voice and dynamics. Reddit has its own culture and etiquette, and ignoring these can lead to negative sentiment that hinders the algorithmic push your content needs to trend.

  2. Thorough Research:

    Before diving in, thorough research on Reddit is essential. I searched for related keywords, products, or services that had previously trended successfully. This provided insights into what works and what doesn't. Additionally, I explored the comment sections to understand how negative sentiments were addressed and if any valuable lessons could be learned.

  3. Crafting the Perfect Headline:

    Crafting a compelling headline is crucial to capture users' attention. I kept my headlines simple and relevant to the subreddit I was targeting. Experimentation was key; I tried different headlines to see which resonated best with the community.

  4. Starting Small:

    I initiated my journey by testing the waters in niche subreddits, such as local city subreddits or interest-based groups. These smaller communities allowed me to validate my approach before targeting larger audiences. The goal was always to identify which choice of words garnered the most attention.

  5. Managing Multiple IDs:

    To maximize my reach and avoid overexposure, I managed over 10+ Reddit accounts. However, it's essential to note that using multiple accounts must be done ethically and within Reddit's guidelines. Many of my accounts were banned due to misuse.

  6. Results and Competition:

    My efforts paid off significantly, resulting in 16,000+ signups over four months. However, as success attracted attention, competitors began adopting similar strategies, making the method less effective. Consequently, it's crucial to continuously adapt and innovate to stay ahead of the competition.

  7. Sustainability:

    Certain trends on Reddit can be repeated every six months if executed effectively. Staying informed about changing trends and community preferences is essential for long-term success.

Ethical Considerations:

It's important to note that using multiple IDs to manipulate upvotes and downvotes is considered unethical. While it helped me achieve my goals initially, Reddit eventually shadow-banned links posted by these accounts. Such methods are not reliable if your accounts are consistently getting banned due to the same activities.

In conclusion, my journey on Reddit taught me the importance of understanding the platform, conducting thorough research, and being adaptable in the face of competition. With the right strategy and dedication, Reddit can be a powerful tool for driving signups and achieving your marketing goals.

Seeking New Opportunities:

I'm sharing my experience because I'm actively seeking a full-time project with companies targeting the US market and Western Europe. If you're interested in collaborating or have any questions, please feel free to connect on LinkedIn

on September 29, 2023
  1. 4

    But what was your actual approach for driving people to a landing page, or away from Reddit?

    Have an example?

    I've had some success with this as well, but half the time you have to deal with a bunch of hate if you are linking out.

    1. 1

      Hey Mac, Sorry for the late reply. I posted on IH and almost forgot about it until it was featured today in the newsletter.

      To answer your question, I was collecting email signups on the landing page. Very simple landing page with clear value why sign up for the newsletter.

      The idea was to have a newsletter audience to whom I would launch my SaaS product.

      Also, If you're trending, you will find haters. The trick is to not let negative voices kill the momentum. I found ways to suppress them by downvoting them from various accounts which led to a few bans as I was affecting the voting by unfair means.

      1. 1

        Thanks, I get that, but have links to specific Reddit posts?

  2. 2

    Where are the examples of these Reddit posts you claimed that resulted in 16,000+ signups?

    1. 2

      Yep, some links to these would be great. Bit odd they're not in the actual article? Big claims always require some kind of evidence because right now it just sounds a bit like word salad

    2. 1

      I would gladly link but this was a 3rd party project and I am not sure I am allowed to link their work here. If you would DM me, I would gladly share the links there.

      Thanks for understanding.

  3. 2

    Thank you for this insightful piece. You certainly made a lot of effort and reaped great dividends.

    1. 1

      Thanks for your kind words, Shobz.

  4. 2

    Just starting my own business and this my friend is GOLD! Thank you for sharing.

    1. 1

      Glad you liked it. Feel free to reach out if you need any help. :)

  5. 1

    This is helpful. I recently started leveraging Reddit to drive traffic for my company, UpLadder, an online marketplace that connects college students to career mentors. But I have noticed that many subreddits don't allow marketing posts, even though I'm trying to be strategic - focusing on college student subs. That being said, I'm pretty new to Reddit, so still trying to figure out how best to reach out to people.

    1. 1

      Glad you found it helpful. I don't recommend posting anything promotional on the platform. Even your history can cause negative sentiment in comment section if they know you are just here to promote your business. You need to speak from a 3rd person perspective esp when you're testing new subreddits out.

      For example, r/recruitinghell - a slightly negative/complaining nature resonates a lot with the audience there. So, adapting your content accordingly and sometimes not posting links in the body and posting the link in comment for those interested works like a charm.

  6. 1

    I'm still having trouble understanding where my audience is actually. flickpulse is about recommending movies on the weekend days and the thing is it's large and hard to find the right people.

    1. 2

      If you post using substack link, majority of subreddits will delete the post.

      I recommend trying r/internetisbeautiful for Flickpulse. Please use some other web address though.

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