Should I Advertise on Reddit? Who Should (and Shouldn't)
Should I advertise on Reddit? Only if you fit. Reddit ads are for brands whose customers have a community on Reddit, who sell something good, and who are willing to listen to blunt feedback. They're a poor fit if you need sales next week, can't track what happens after the click, or sell something people on Reddit already distrust. As Dāvis puts it in his eBook: Reddit ads are for those who are brave, not selling junk, and actually interested in user feedback.
Who should advertise on Reddit?
Brands with an enthusiast audience: tech, gaming, hobby gear, home and DIY, finance and many more. If people argue about your category on Reddit, that's a good sign.
Products people research before buying. Reddit is where people ask "what should I get?"
B2B companies whose buyers have a professional subreddit. Almost every profession has one.
Brands that already spend on Meta or Google and want to reach people those platforms can't target precisely.
Teams that can answer comments. Open comments build trust faster than any ad.
Who should not advertise on Reddit?
Brands that need results within a week. Reddit takes testing, and judging after a few days gives the wrong answer.
Products with no community behind them. If nobody discusses your category on Reddit, there's little to target.
Anyone who can't track results. Without a pixel, UTM links or another way to measure, you'll be guessing.
Brands that hide flaws. Redditors will find them and say so in the comments.
Budgets too small to learn from. In our experience, anything below about $6,000 over 3 months ($2,000 a month) won't teach you much.
Why is Reddit different from Meta for advertisers?
Reddit is Facebook groups on steroids. Both have groups built around topics, but on Reddit you can target the group itself. On Meta, a dog leash brand gets "people interested in pets", including cat owners and people who just like dog photos. On Reddit, it can target the communities where dog owners talk about their dogs. That precision is the reason to be here, and the reason ads must fit each community.
How do you know if Reddit is right for your brand?
Search Reddit for your product category. Are there active communities asking about it?
Search for your brand and competitors. What do people say?
Check which of those communities you can target with our free subreddit finder.
Make sure you can track sales or leads from Reddit traffic.
Plan at least 3 months of testing before deciding.
If you get through all five, Reddit is worth testing. Our Reddit ads review covers the pros and cons in more detail.
Should I advertise on Reddit: FAQ
Is Reddit advertising worth it for small brands?
Often yes, if the brand's customers have a community on Reddit. Small brands that are honest and specific tend to do better on Reddit than big ones that sound corporate.
What kind of businesses fail on Reddit ads?
Usually brands that copy ads from other platforms, judge results after a few days, or can't track what happens after the click.
How long should I test Reddit ads before deciding?
Plan for about 3 months and about $6,000 in ad spend ($2,000 a month). A new ad needs at least 4 days before you judge it.
About the author
Written by Dāvis Lejnieks, CEO of Undecided Agency and a Redditor for 15+ years. He plans and runs Reddit ad campaigns for DTC, gaming and app brands, and shares what the data shows here.
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