How Can Reddit Support Your Company’s Digital Marketing Strategy
In February of this year, news hit that social media platform Reddit made a $60 million dollar deal with Google to make content available for training Google’s AI models. This created a wave of news and commentary from marketing professionals all over the world about the impact. Both businesses and marketers started to question the value of Reddit and what this type of platform could do for a brand’s holistic strategy.
Businesses must now work to navigate the digital landscape, maintain a positive brand image and adapt their overall online presence as conversations on Reddit could seriously influence search results.
What Is Reddit?
Reddit uses what is basically an online bulletin board to post user-generated content on the Internet, such as photos, videos and posts. Reddit was founded in 2005 by two college roommates from the University of Virginia. The site was acquired in 2006 by Conde Nast, a global mass media company that is owned by Advance Publications. Over the years Reddit saw changes in management and contribution from a variety of people and investors. In 2017 the company raised $200 million in funding which allowed for a total site redesign.
More About Reddit’s Vast User Base
So why do so many people love using Reddit? In short because there is a ton of variety on the platform. Registering an account on Reddit is free and because of its variety of communities (known as subreddits) it has become a very easy platform for users of all types to search content that is relevant to their interests. As of February 2024, Reddit is estimated to see about 1.2 billion monthly users.
Reddit’s Niche Communities and Their Value
Niche communities provide a way for users to connect with others that share similar interests. If you are interested in starting an herb garden, there is a subreddit for that. If you are want to discuss sports teams and fantasy football, there is a subreddit for that. Even if you just want a laugh, there are subreddits created around humor and jokes or memes for entertainment purposes. Reddit provides a sense of community for many by giving an outlet for people to gather together virtually over common grounds.
Because of how granular these subreddits can get, there is a huge opportunity to advertise to a specific targeted group. Audience is a major component to a business’s marketing strategy as it helps to define and guide advertising decisions to get products and services in front of the right people.
Reddit As A Tool In Your Digital Strategy
Reddit is not as prominent of a channel as some other major social platforms and so it could potentially be a good way to advertise in a less competitive platform with lower associated costs. And because Reddit has communities that cater to specific topics and interests, a more fine-tuned audience can lead to higher conversion rates and better ROI.
Content Marketing & Reddit
You’ve heard the saying … content is king! And content marketing is more than likely a major part of any marketing strategy. Whether it is creating copy for webpages or blog posts, videos, social and influencer marketing, or other forms of media, you need effective content for an effective marketing campaign. Understanding how to optimize content for search engines as well as how to leverage content via social media platforms will help you best utilize your content strategy across Reddit.
You can strategically use content you have created in subreddits that pertain to your products or services to increase trust in your brand and drive traffic and conversion. It is best to ensure that you are focused on content for the purpose of value and engagement instead of just marketing on the Reddit platform so that the Reddit community is accepting of your brand.
How To Use Reddit For SEO
A major way to leverage Reddit as a tool in your SEO arsenal is to just be consistently active. Represent yourself and your brand to demonstrate that you are an authoritative voice in your industry. Google uses the term E-E-A-T as the cornerstone of their Search Quality Rater Guidelines, and this means that the more experience that a brand has will play a major role in how well you may rank organically. So use Reddit for brand visibility and start speaking to your target audience and becoming the expert in your space.
Brand Reputation/Management & Reddit
Reddit has become a useful tool for online reputation management. Because of the large reach, a positive presence centered around being genuine and engaging can really have a positive effect on your brand. In the same breath, Reddit can also contribute to a negative brand persona. Reddit has an open-forum and that leaves a lot of room for people to discuss brands and their own personal experiences. If someone has a less than positive experience with your organization, that leaves room for discussion. Maintaining a strong awareness over the subreddits in your industry as well as engaging in genuine conversation and contribution will help to prevent any negativity where your brand is concerned.
Integrating Reddit into Your Campaigns
Select The Right Subreddits: Know your audience and choose a subreddit that makes sense and allows you to connect with your audience. Or create your own subreddit!
Crafting Content: Create engaging content that allows for open discussion. For example, if you are a small clothing business, participate in conversations around trends and new styles and connect with your audience to understand what type of content they respond to.
Building Credibility: Post frequently. Be active. And be professional. Post questions and content that are value-based and not spammy content to shamelessly plug your brand. Listen to the audience and provide any insight that could actually help address their questions and/or concerns.
Timing Posts: You can schedule posts on Reddit and also choose to repeat them during set hours, days, weeks or months. Be aware of how relevant your content is and do not over promote.
Conclusion
Reddit is all over the Internet and forums are showing up in search results. So it is imperative to consider how you can leverage the social platform in the best way possible to contribute to your marketing efforts and best position your brand. Choosing the right content and the right communities to engage in will help you to take advantage of the potential you have to highlight yourself and your business via the Reddit platform.
To learn more about how we can help you with your content marketing, SEO and overall digital marketing needs, contact the team at HardPart Media today. Let’s talk about how we can help with a customized strategy that works with you and your business!