Grind an Account to 1,500 Karma Before Promoting

Grind an Account to 1,500 Karma Before Promoting is a reddit & forums tactic for getting your first users: Build a fresh account's trust through karma, account age, and genuine engagement (the author took one to 1,500 karma) before posting anything promotional, since new accounts dropping links get flagged as spam.

It's a strong fit for teams of almost any kind, and works especially well for Founders without an established Reddit account. As a reddit & forums play, plan for high effort and expect results to build gradually over time, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

Reddit & forumsHigh effortSlow

Why does reddit & forums work for this?

Reddit grants reach only after trust is established, so karma and age earn you the right to be seen.

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
Any / universal

Frequently asked

How is the "Grind an Account to 1,500 Karma Before Promoting" 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 high effort, and results tend to be slow.
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

Reddit & forumsLow effort· Fast

DM the Mods for Permission Before You Post

When unsure whether a sub allows promotion, message the moderators directly and ask if you can post, framing it as genuine feedback-seeking rather than promo.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsLow effort· Fast

Bury the Link in a High-Effort Comment, Then Re-Post a Thank-You Wave

Two reinforcing moves: placing the product link inside a genuinely useful comment instead of the post body, and following up days later with a gratitude post to catch people who missed the first one.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsLow effort· Fast

Set Up Keyword Alerts So Threads Come to You

Instead of manually scanning Reddit every day, use free monitoring tools to get pinged whenever your keywords, brand, or competitors are mentioned across forums.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsMedium effort· Slow

Warm the Account for a Week Before Pitching Anything

Build karma and account age by commenting on unrelated topics for about a week so you clear each subreddit's hidden posting thresholds instead of getting silently filtered or banned.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsMedium effort· Fast

Hunt Buying Signals, Not Brand Mentions

Instead of waiting for someone to name your product, watch for people describing the exact problem you solve or shopping for an alternative, and step in to help while they're mid-decision.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsLow effort· Medium

Ambush Niche Questions With Free Keyword Alerts

Use a free monitoring tool to get pinged whenever someone mentions your exact niche terms, then show up with thorough, genuinely helpful answers before launch.

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.