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Guide to Advertising on Reddit - Reddit Ads

Written by Lukáš Lískovec | 4/26/22

In this article, we'll take a look at the social network Reddit, the pros and cons associated with advertising on this platform, the ad formats available, and last but not least, strategies for maximizing the effectiveness of ads on Reddit.

Content

Introduction

What is Reddit?

The Benefits of Advertising on Reddit

Disadvantages of Reddit Ads

Different Types of Ads

Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of Reddit Ads

Conclusion

Introduction

Ads on Reddit are a remarkable tool to reach a wide target audience and promote your brand or product. This article will give you an overview of Reddit Ads and the pros and cons of using them. 

We'll also walk you through the steps of creating a Reddit Ad so you can get the most out of your advertising budget. So let's get started!

What is Reddit?

Reddit is an online platform that allows users to discuss various topics and share interesting content at the same time. 

The way it works is that users can add specific posts here, vote on others' posts and leave comments on them, which affects their visibility. The posts with the most upvotes then appear on the front page.

Reddit also has sub-communities known as subreddits that focus on specific topics such as books, sports or games. These subsections help group like-minded members together and make it easier for them to find content that interests them.

In general, Reddit is an interesting platform for people to not only communicate with each other, but to stay informed about current topics and trends.

The Benefits of Advertising on Reddit

Reddit Ads offer several advantages, such as the ability to target specific audiences, low advertising costs, and maximizing reach. This makes it a great option for businesses of all sizes. In this section, we will discuss the benefits of advertising on Reddit in detail.

Targeting specific users 

One of the key benefits of Reddit Ads is the ability to target your content to a specific audience. With this unique feature, you can reach the right people at the right time with a highly personalized message.

Reddit Ads allow companies to choose their audience based on interests, location, subreddits, as well as other criteria that will make ad targeting even more relevant. 

Low cost of advertising

Reddit Ads are relatively inexpensive compared to other paid advertising platforms, making them an attractive option for businesses with smaller budgets. Their average CPM (cost per thousand impressions) starts at just $0.20.

The platform also offers the option to set your own budget, allowing you to determine how much money to spend on your ad campaign.

The lowest possible amount that can be invested in advertising is $5 per day.

Maximum Reach

With Reddit Ads, businesses can reach a large number of people with just one ad, helping them maximize the visibility of their products and services. 

Multiple subreddits can also be targeted with this single ad, further increasing reach.

In addition, Reddit Ads provide higher click-through and engagement rates compared to other social networks (CTR: Reddit - 1.81%, Facebook - 0.90% ; Engagement Rate: Reddit - 2.20%, Facebook - 0.07%) 

What is CTR?

CTR stands for Click-Through Rate, which is a metric used to measure the effectiveness of online advertising. It is calculated by dividing the number of clicks on an ad by the number of ad impressions. A higher CTR generally means that the ad is more relevant to the audience and therefore more successful.

What Is Engagement Rate?

Engagement Rate is a measure of the amount of interaction an account viewer has with its content. It is calculated as the ratio of the total number of likes, comments, shares and other interactions to the total number of followers.

Disadvantages of Reddit Ads

Unfortunately it's true, Reddit Ads also have a few potential drawbacks that you should be aware of. In this segment, we'll go over them in more detail, but we'll also give you some tips on ways to overcome them.

Auction System

Although they are a cheap form of advertising, Reddit Ads can become a costly venture if not used effectively. 

Reddit's advertising system uses a CPM (cost-per-impression) auction system, which works by selecting the highest bid per impression and then "delivering" the ad to the target users. However, this system is very unpredictable and can lead to significant overpaying as bids often increase exponentially within seconds. It is therefore important to monitor and control your ads carefully.

Reddit users

Audiences on Reddit tend to be more difficult to reach and convert into customers due to the very specific interests of users. 

In addition, many of these users find the constant barrage of ads annoying because it distracts them from what they use Reddit for in the first place - meaningful conversations and interesting content.

How to fight against these disadvantages?

  • Use Reddit Insights - a tool that can help you understand, at least to some extent, how people interact with your ads.
  • Take advantage of Reddit's unique features like subreddits (communities that focus on a particular topic), upvoting, downvoting (a system for expressing an opinion on a post by voting up or down), etc.
  • Pay attention to Reddit etiquette and make sure your ads are in line with its policies. For example, any advertising that endorses violence, illegal activities, discrimination or other activities prohibited by law is prohibited.

Different Types of Ads

Text Ads

Text ads are one of the most basic and popular ads on Reddit. They consist of a headline, text and a link that redirects the user to a web page. 

They can be placed in the sidebar of the subreddit or in the comments section of the post.

They are most commonly used to target specific subreddits and posts that are related to the ad, and offer the flexibility to tailor content to different subreddits or user groups.

Link Ads

Link ads are a type of ad that allows a user to share a link to their website or product page. 

They appear as a thumbnail image with a caption and short description and are useful for increasing website traffic as they tend to be placed in the sidebar of the subreddit where they are easily visible.

Display Ads

Display Ads appear as a static image or video and are placed in the sidebar of the subreddit. 

This is a great way to grab the attention of users and increase traffic to your website or get in the minds of your potential customers.

Keep in mind, however, that it is important to create an image or video that is truly attractive to users.

Strategies for Maximizing the Effectiveness of Reddit Ads

Creating effective ads on Reddit can be challenging, but there are a few proven strategies you can use to increase your chances of effectiveness.

Use Eye-Catching Visuals

Using eye-catching visuals is one of the most effective ways to make your ads stand out on Reddit. Visuals and graphics can help you catch the attention of many users. 

You can choose from three options to make your ad look more appealing: a still image, a GIF, or a video. 

Above all, make sure that these visuals match the message you're trying to convey to users with these ads. 

This will help ensure that the viewer understands not only the purpose of your ad, but also the message behind it.

Monitor your ads

Monitoring your ads is another important technique to help ensure they are as effective as possible. 

You should monitor your ads regularly to make sure they are performing as you expect. 

In addition, you should also constantly check how your ads are performing compared to your competitors, which will help you evaluate the success of your campaign and improve it if necessary.

Test different variants of advertising

Testing different ad variations on Reddit is also a great way to improve their effectiveness. 

You can experiment with different ad formats, audiences or messages to see what works best for your potential customers. 

However, by using engaging visuals, monitoring and testing different ad variations, you can maximize their effectiveness and get the most out of your advertising budget.

Conclusion

In conclusion, advertising on Reddit can be a very effective way to reach a wide range of users and potential customers. With a carefully planned and targeted advertising strategy, businesses can make the most of Reddit's unique user base and take advantage of the opportunities that the social network offers.

Ultimately, Reddit can be an attractive option for businesses of all sizes looking to increase their visibility and reach their target markets.

If you want to get your marketing campaign off to a good start, we recommend you also read our article on Google Ads.