How can businesses use Reddit ads to drive website traffic?
Reddit isn’t just for memes and deep-dive discussions. It’s also an amazing place for businesses to connect with their target audience. With over 50 million daily users, your future customers might be out there scrolling Reddit right now. Why not show them what you’ve got?
Reddit Ads can be a powerful tool to drive traffic to your website. And the best part? It can be really cost-effective if done right.
Why Reddit?
Table of Contents
Before we dive into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.”
- Vast Communities: Reddit has a community (or “subreddit”) for almost every interest imaginable.
- Engaged Users: People on Reddit are curious, engaged, and love discussing.
- Affordable Ads: It’s still cheaper than most platforms like Google or Facebook Ads.
- Less Competition: Fewer businesses are advertising here—so you stand out more.
Now let’s dive into how to do it—and do it right!
Step 1: Know Your Audience
Reddit is all about niche communities. That’s your secret weapon.
Are you selling eco-friendly shoes? Try subreddits like r/ZeroWaste or r/SustainableFashion.
Offering cool software for designers? You might want r/UXDesign or r/WebDev.
Find your tribe. Then speak their language.
Step 2: Pick the Right Ad Type
Reddit has two main ad formats:
- Promoted Posts: These look like normal Reddit posts but are tagged as “sponsored.” They sit right in the feed.
- Display Ads: These are more traditional banner ads. But they don’t blend in as well.
Promoted Posts usually perform better because they feel natural. They spark conversation, which leads to clicks.
Step 3: Craft a Killer Headline
Your headline can make or break your ad.
- Be honest
- Be interesting
- Don’t be too salesy
Wrong: “BUY OUR AMAZING SHOES NOW!”
Right: “We made a shoe out of ocean plastic. AMA (Ask Me Anything)”
The second one feels like a conversation starter, not an ad. That’s the Reddit magic!
Step 4: Target the Right Subreddits
Reddit lets you run ads on specific subreddits. Use this wisely.
Instead of targeting “all Reddit users,” hand-pick subreddits where your niche hangs out. This keeps your ad focused and relevant.
Test a few and see which ones drive the most traffic. Double down on winners.
Step 5: Include a Strong Call to Action (CTA)
You’ve grabbed their attention. Now tell them what to do next!
Here are a few good CTA ideas:
- “Check out the full review on our site”
- “See how it works in action”
- “Try it free for 30 days”
Make sure your CTA links straight to a landing page that loads fast and looks great on mobile. Reddit people will bounce quick if it feels clunky.
Step 6: Engage with the Comments
Redditors love to ask questions and share thoughts. If your ad has a comment section (and it should), jump in!
Be human. Say thanks, answer questions, share more info. This builds trust—and leads to more clicks.
The Secret Sauce: Be a Redditor First
Reddit users can sniff out “sales mode” from miles away. So don’t be a robot.
Hang out in your target subreddits before launching ads. Join conversations. Learn the vibe. This helps you post more naturally later.
Also, it doesn’t hurt to test posts organically first. If a topic gets traction as a regular post, it’ll probably perform well as a promoted one, too.
Track, Learn, and Improve
Use Reddit’s dashboard to check your ad’s performance. Track:
- Clicks
- Cost per click (CPC)
- Time-on-site—use Google Analytics for this
If one ad worked, tweak it and try again. If it didn’t, change your targeting or message.
Every test brings you closer to more traffic, more fans, and more sales.
Final Thoughts
Reddit ads aren’t magic. But they can be a golden ticket if you use them with care. Focus on real conversations, helpful content, and a bit of Reddit-style humor.
Try it out. Your next customer is probably just a scroll away!
