Tired of getting banned on Reddit every time you try to grow your startup? This guide shows you how to ethically market, build trust, and avoid the shadowban hammer like a pro.
Reddit isn’t your average social platform. It’s not Instagram with memes or LinkedIn in a hoodie. It’s a digital coliseum of opinions, callouts, and karma, where the community has zero patience for self-promotion and an instant Reddit ban trigger finger.
Here’s the truth:
Reddit is an incredible growth channel—until you screw up. Then it bans you, shadowbans you, and forgets you existed.
This playbook breaks down how to market on Reddit without getting torched, banned, or downvoted into oblivion.
Let’s go.
Before we get into the tactics, let’s talk about what not to do. Reddit has a long, gory history of brands and growth hackers flying too close to the sun:
Reddit’s AutoMod + mod teams detect duplicate content across subs. This tactic is often used by crypto and affiliate marketers and leads to global shadowbans. It’s been discussed in r/ShadowBan and r/ModSupport.
Result? Instant global shadowban. No appeal.
Reddit’s AutoModerator can automatically remove posts that match certain criteria, such as containing links or specific keywords, which can lead to bans if not addressed.
“I got banned from a channel, the reason for the ban was ‘TikTok spam’… I was banned for 25 days.”
— u/[deleted] in r/AutoModerator
Reddit can shadowban users, making their posts invisible to others without any notification, often due to spammy behavior or violating site-wide rules.
“Being shadowbanned means Reddit’s algorithm itself thinks your account is a spam account, a bot, or some other unwelcome presence.”
— u/PolylingualAnilingus in r/NewToReddit
Some users find it challenging to gain karma due to AutoModerator removing their posts, which can hinder their ability to participate in certain subreddits.
“I have been on Reddit for over 2 years now and I am having a very hard time earning Karma, thanks to AutoModerator deleting almost everything I post or comment.”
— u/[deleted] in r/NewToReddit
Pattern: Redditors don’t hate links. They hate intent that smells like sales.
Read More: LinkedIn Posting – Do’s & Don’ts
Before posting a single URL, do this:
Each subreddit has custom rules. Some examples:
A new Redditor was banned from a subreddit for exceeding the allowed percentage of self-promotional content, highlighting the importance of understanding each subreddit’s rules.
“I got banned from a certain subreddit for self-promotion… they won’t remove my ban until I have under 10%.”
— u/[deleted] in r/NewToReddit
Always check the rules tab and mod posts. A single mistake = insta-ban.
Try these tested approaches:
Start with a post like:
“I bootstrapped my email tool to $25k MRR in 18 months. Ask me anything.”
No links. Just credibility and storytelling. Once the thread gets traction, let someone else mention your product, or reference it casually.
Find high-performing posts and drop insanely helpful comments. No links.
Then in your profile:
“Founder of X | Check out what we’re building: [Your site]”
People will click.
Share breakdowns like:
“How I ran a $500 Reddit ad experiment and got 43 demo calls in 1 week.”
Link only at the end, if at all. Add screenshots, numbers, and story.
You can suggest your own tool IF:
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Tool | Use |
Pushshift.io | Archive and analyze Reddit trends, comments, and keywords |
Later for Reddit | Schedule posts, track upvotes |
GummySearch | Find audience questions by niche and keyword |
Reddit Ads Manager | Run official Reddit ad campaigns |
CleverTap / UTM.io | Track Reddit traffic without getting flagged |
SubredditStats.com | Analyze subreddit growth, post timing, keywords |
Use these to plan content, find the best time to post, and monitor competition.
If you want to play it safe and pay-to-play, Reddit Ads is your tool.
Pro Tip: Use Reddit Ads only after you’ve seen organic traction in a sub. Otherwise, you’re burning your budget.
“Hey [ModName], I realize I posted outside the rules. Totally my bad. Would love to stay active here and contribute. Appreciate any reconsideration.”
Sometimes it works. Sometimes you eat the ban and move on.
And this time… don’t blow it.
Reddit users are professional bulls—they can smell promotion 3 links away. If you wouldn’t say it in a bar, don’t say it in r/Entrepreneur.
That said?
If you play it smart—build karma, offer value, tell real stories—Reddit will reward you.
It might just become your most honest, high-converting traffic source.
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