Stick to Sub-100k Subreddits and Never Recycle Replies

Stick to Sub-100k Subreddits and Never Recycle Replies is a reddit & forums tactic for getting your first users: Favor subreddits under 100k members and write a unique reply every time, since copy-pasting the same response across subs is an automatic ban trigger.

It's a strong fit for teams of almost any kind, and works especially well for any. 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?

Smaller communities have looser filters, and duplicate text across threads is one of the fastest ways the filter catches you.

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 "Stick to Sub-100k Subreddits and Never Recycle Replies" 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 & forumsMedium effort· Slow

Warm Your Reddit Account and Farm Subreddit Karma First

A long-time Reddit mod advises never posting from a brand-new account; instead build positive karma and genuinely participate in each target subreddit first, or your post gets silently shadowbanned.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsLow effort· Medium

Schedule Reddit Posts With a Tool That Flags Promo Rules

Use a Reddit scheduling tool (Postpone.app) that warns you when a target subreddit has rules against self-promotion before you hit post.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsMedium effort· Slow

Reverse-Engineer Each Subreddit Before Posting

After being banned six times, he closely studied how each subreddit actually operates — which posts land and what tone is accepted — and learned to blend in instead of looking promotional, eventually pulling thousands of visitors.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsHigh effort· Slow

Earn the Right to Link

A staged ramp where you contribute pure value for weeks before ever mentioning your product, so the community sees a real member rather than a drive-by marketer.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsLow effort· Fast

Reverse-Engineer What's Already Winning

Study the posts already racking up upvotes in your niche and create your own fresh take on the same format, angle, or topic.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsHigh effort· Fast

Necro-Reply to 6-Month-Old Reddit Complaint Comments

Skip promotional threads entirely and instead reply to old comments where people complained about the problem you solve, offering the tool you're building.

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.