What Is Social Selling?
Social selling is the practice of using social media platforms to find, connect with, and nurture prospects. On Reddit, social selling means engaging authentically in conversations where potential customers are discussing problems your product solves, building relationships before making any sales pitch.
Unlike traditional selling, social selling on Reddit prioritizes adding value first. The "sale" happens naturally when someone trusts your expertise and is receptive to your product recommendation — not because you pushed a pitch on them.
Why It Matters for Marketers
Social selling on Reddit works because people trust peer recommendations. When you've been helpful in a community and then mention your product in context, it carries the credibility of a personal recommendation rather than an advertisement.
Reddit's format is ideal for social selling: conversations are long-form, allowing you to demonstrate expertise. Threads persist for years, meaning your helpful contributions compound over time. And the voting system ensures genuinely helpful content gets the most visibility.
Examples
- Spending weeks answering questions in your industry subreddit, then naturally mentioning your product when someone asks for a recommendation.
- Writing a detailed comparison of tools in your category (including competitors), demonstrating expertise and fairness.
- Offering free advice and resources in comments, with a subtle mention that your product automates what you're describing.