HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

Build Subreddit Karma Before Dropping Any Links

Build Subreddit Karma Before Dropping Any Links is a communities tactic for getting your first users: While SEO sits in the sandbox, engage in the subreddits where your buyers hang out and build karma and credibility first, so you can later share links without getting nuked.

It's a strong fit for B2B SaaS teams, and works especially well for bootstrapped content sites and SaaS. As a communities play, plan for medium effort and expect results to arrive at a steady pace, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

CommunitiesMedium effortMedium

Why does communities work for this?

Communities deliver immediate conversations and trust while organic search slowly compounds in the background.

The exact steps (4)

The full step-by-step this founder ran, what they posted, where, and in what order, plus the watch-outs, is part of the library.

Unlock the steps · $29 oncePlus all 3,000+ tactics and the new ones we add weekly.

Sources

Works for
B2B SaaS

Frequently asked

What kind of products does the "Build Subreddit Karma Before Dropping Any Links" tactic work for?
It is a good fit for B2B SaaS — pick it when your product looks like that, since the play is shaped around how those users find new tools.
How is the "Build Subreddit Karma Before Dropping Any Links" tactic verified?
It is drawn from 1 primary source — a real founder write-up or interview, not generic advice. It is linked in the Sources section above so you can read the original account yourself.
How much effort is it and how fast are results?
It is medium effort, and results tend to be medium.
Where can I see the exact step-by-step?
The full step-by-step a founder ran, documented via Source — IndieHackers, is in the paid library.

Related tactics

CommunitiesMedium effort· Slow

Build in Public to Earn Trust and Shape the Product

Share your build journey, revenue milestones, and decisions openly inside communities, and personally stay present in the resulting conversations to build credibility and a direct line to users.

Read the steps →
CommunitiesLow effort· Fast

Pay to Reach Serious Buyers

Deliberately join paid or private communities, including paid memberships and the member areas bundled with courses, because the entry fee filters for people willing to spend money to solve problems.

Read the steps →
CommunitiesLow effort· Fast

Mine Niche Communities with a Directory

Use a community directory to quickly locate the exact Discord, Slack, and forum groups where your target customer already gathers, instead of guessing where to spend time.

Read the steps →
CommunitiesLow effort· Fast

Post a Founder's Story in Niche Groups, Not Links

Guerrilla posting inside niche Facebook groups and LinkedIn communities of agency owners and SEO pros, leading with a personal pain story instead of dropping a product link.

Read the steps →
CommunitiesMedium effort· Slow

Grow Alongside a Group's Admins

Find an early-stage but growing group built around your exact niche and form an ongoing partnership with its admins so their growth feeds yours.

Read the steps →
CommunitiesMedium effort· Slow

Earn Trust Before You Pitch

Embed yourself in the forums and groups where your ideal customer hangs out and become a genuinely helpful regular, only mentioning your product once you have established credibility.

Read the steps →

Get all 3,000+ tactics in one place

Filter by your product and channel, follow the exact steps, and get the new tactics we add every week. One payment, yours for good.

Unlock for $29 onceBrowse by channel