HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

Warm the Account With Karma Before You Ever Promote

Warm the Account With Karma Before You Ever Promote is a reddit & forums tactic for getting your first users: Spend time being helpful in 5-10 target subreddits to earn karma and credibility first, then publish a couple of high-value posts with strong, non-promotional titles.

It's a strong fit for Newsletters / media teams, and works especially well for Newsletters and audience-first products. 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?

A small post can convert disproportionately well when the account looks like a trusted contributor, not a drive-by promoter.

The exact steps (5)

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
Newsletters / media

Frequently asked

What kind of products does the "Warm the Account With Karma Before You Ever Promote" tactic work for?
It is a good fit for Newsletters / media — pick it when your product looks like that, since the play is shaped around how those users find new tools.
How is the "Warm the Account With Karma Before You Ever Promote" 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· Medium

Post Value, Not Links, and Space Posts a Week Apart

To avoid being flagged as a spammer, post something the community values (a free tool, tutorial, or media coverage link) instead of a blog/Twitter promo, post only once per community, and wait about a week before posting elsewhere.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsMedium effort· Medium

Pick Subreddits Where Links Already Get Real Discussion

Instead of hunting for subs that 'allow self-promo,' target communities where shared links already get normal, upvoted discussion, ideally niche audiences (artists, AI builders) over generic startup subs.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsMedium effort· Medium

Build a Waitlist With Reddit Topic Threads Before You Launch

Before the YouTube channel even existed, post threads in relevant subreddits announcing what you plan to make and asking for topic suggestions, then collect those people and email them when content drops.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsHigh effort· Medium

Hunt Fresh Pain-Phrase Threads in Small Niche Subs

Skip the big launch subreddits and instead search small niche subs for people describing your exact problem in their own words, then reply helpful-first with zero product link in the first comment.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsMedium effort· Fast

Spread One Strong Post Across Many Subs

A volume play where you take a single high-performing post and place it across many relevant subreddits to stack impressions and increase the odds one breaks onto the front page.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsMedium effort· Slow

Warm a Reddit Account for Days Before You Ever Post

A fresh account that immediately posts a product gets flagged and shadow-suppressed; warming it first by participating builds enough standing to post without getting buried.

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