Reddit as a Gateway to Google Search (and ChatGPT): Do’s and Don’ts
Yes, Reddit ranks in Google. Yes, it is cited by ChatGPT and AI Mode, and yes, it is ok to ride that wave IF YOU DO IT RIGHT!
Two weeks ago, I started my own subreddit to curate everything useful that relates to optimizing for LLMs.
And one week after its existence, I shared this screenshot showing how incredibly fast it started ranking in Google:
[Join my SEO for AI subreddit btw]
While I am not claiming this is anything new (I mean, we have been marketing on Reddit for over 12 years, of course we knew about its organic search visibility powers), this has resulted in a flood of posts and comments talking about Reddit being a quick and easy getaway to Google search.
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Well, I expected nothing more from our dear SEO community but let me share some thoughts:
There’s nothing easy about creating an active subreddit
Trust me, it is hard work.
Ask me how to do Reddit marketing right (to benefit from organic search visibility, ChatGPT visibility, while planning for the future!)
I was able to rely on my other channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, etc.) to get people to join but even with that, it is almost a full-time job.
You need to create content inside your subreddit that is interesting enough for people to want to engage with and share. You cannot create an impactful Subreddit by just throwing links in there.
It is tougher than LinkedIn, Instagram, or any other social media network because Redditors are flooded with content. It takes time and hard work for them to like you enough. Your content should resonate, I mean… really resonate with them. It’s a lot of trial and error.
It is much more than a “getaway to Google”
If you are considering Reddit marketing just because Reddit is currently ranking in Google, you don’t know Google well enough. Reddit’s organic visibility may be temporal (we’ve seen a lot of these cases throughout the years).
Investing in Reddit as a long-term marketing channel is the only smart solution.
Yes, you can get threads and comments about your brand here and there, and even get away with it (and avoid a reputation crisis if you are lucky), but in the long run, this will give you nothing.
Reddit has many more powers that can only be achieved through long-term authentic strategy:
Brand visibility across lots of channels (Reddit itself, ChatGPT, Google, etc.). This is why I started the subreddit.
Consistent, powerful lead/conversion driver (if you do it right) that will not stop working even if Reddit stops ranking so incredibly well. This is why I started the subreddit.
Has Google taught us anything, guys??
Google traffic comes and goes! We’ve seen it a lot for years. It can (and often does) break businesses (even large ones) when it disappears.
Yes, ride the tide while it is there, but ALWAYS THINK WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO once it is gone.
Reddit is a great platform to create a powerful channel that will sustain you through any marketing shifts and changes.
Ask me how to do Reddit marketing right (to benefit from organic search visibility, ChatGPT visibility, while planning for the future!)