HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

Search Reddit for 'Problem Words,' Not Your Category

Search Reddit for 'Problem Words,' Not Your Category is a reddit & forums tactic for getting your first users: Find buyers by searching the frustration phrases people actually type ('how do I automate...', 'is there a tool that...', 'frustrated with...', 'looking for recommendations') instead of your product category.

It's a strong fit for B2B SaaS teams, and works especially well for any SaaS / tool. As a reddit & forums play, plan for medium effort and expect results to arrive at a steady pace, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

Reddit & forumsMedium effortMedium

Why does reddit & forums work for this?

People describe problems, not solutions, so problem-phrase searches surface active buying intent.

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 / universalB2B SaaS

Frequently asked

What kind of products does the "Search Reddit for 'Problem Words,' Not Your Category" 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 "Search Reddit for 'Problem Words,' Not Your Category" 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

Reddit & forumsLow effort· Medium

Answer the Exact Pain Phrase, Not a Broad Launch Post

Instead of generic launch announcements, post and comment around the precise terms people search for your function, like "no-root auto clicker" or "macro recorder".

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsLow effort· Fast

Model the Posts That Already Win

Studying the top-performing posts in your target communities and adapting their structure for your own content across related communities.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsMedium effort· Medium

Post the Market, Not the Product, on Reddit

Sidestepped subreddit self-promo bans by starting discussions about the problem space and market instead of dropping a product link.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsMedium effort· Slow

Help First, Pitch Last

Solve someone's problem completely in a public comment before you ever mention your product, and treat the mention as an optional afterthought.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsLow effort· Fast

Mine the Comments for Validation, Not Just Vanity Metrics

There's no fixed upvote benchmark for "success," so the most valuable output of a Reddit post is the qualitative read you get from comments: how people react, what tone they take, and whether the idea resonates.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsMedium effort· Medium

Earn Google AI-Overview Citations Through Honest Reddit Threads

Instead of ads or backlinks, the founder spent weeks in r/agile having genuine discussions about why developers hate a rival tool, which led Google's AI Overview and ChatGPT to cite his product as the top specialized tool.

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