Reddit Ads: A Step-by-Step Guide to Running Effective Campaigns

Reddit isn’t like other platforms. It’s home to millions of communities, each with their own rules, inside jokes, and spam filters. If you try to advertise here the way you would on Facebook or Instagram, your campaign will likely flop, or worse, get ridiculed.

But when done right, Reddit ads can drive serious traffic at low cost.

This guide covers how to run self-serve Reddit ads without getting ignored, mocked, or banned.

We’ll focus on the practical steps: from targeting the right communities to creating compliant ads that actually convert.

Why Reddit Advertising Works

Reddit has over 100 million daily active users and more than 100,000 active communities (subreddits). These aren’t passive scroller, they’re engaged, curious, and often skeptical. But that’s exactly what makes Reddit powerful for advertisers.

Here’s why Reddit is excellent for marketing:

• People come for real conversations, not polished influencers
• Niche subreddits allow pinpoint targeting
• Engagement is high when your ad fits the community

That said, Redditors are quick to reject anything that feels like spam or a hard sell. You need to meet them where they are – with ads that respect the culture and offer real value.

Types of Reddit Ads (Explained Simply)

Reddit offers a mix of ad formats, but not all of them are accessible to everyone. Here’s how they break down:

1. Promoted Posts (Self-Serve)

These are the most common type of Reddit ads. You create a post text, image, video, or link, and pay to have it shown in user feeds.

• Bidding model: CPC, CPM, or CPV
• Where they appear: Home feed, subreddit feeds, or conversations
• Good for: Driving traffic, conversions, brand awareness

You can run these directly from the Reddit Ads Dashboard using a credit card.

2. Promoted Video

These autoplay in the feed and support optional CTA buttons. You can bid by CPM or CPV.

Best for: Product demos, app previews, or emotional brand storytelling

3. Carousel Ads

Let you feature up to 6 images or GIFs in one swipeable unit.

• Bidding model: CPC or CPM
• Great for: Showcasing multiple product features or benefits in a single ad

4. Display Ads (Managed Only)

These are banner-style ads that appear in sidebar or premium placements. You need to go through Reddit’s sales team to book them.

• Minimum spend: $30,000+
• Ideal for: Big brands running large awareness campaigns

5. Takeover Ads (Front Page or Trending)

These are top-tier placements that dominate the Reddit homepage or trending feeds for a limited time.

• Reach: Millions of impressions in a single day
• Used by: Major launches (movies, apps, national brands)

Reddit Ads Rules and Quality Guidelines

Reddit enforces stricter ad quality standards than most platforms. They care about user experience, and so do their communities. Break the rules, and your ads may be rejected or flagged fast.

Here’s what you need to get right:

Video Standards

• Use clear visuals and audio
• Avoid flashing/strobe effects
• Label mature content when required
• Follow country-specific content laws

Visual and Text Guidelines

• Use high-quality images and media
• Proofread-no grammar or spelling errors
• Avoid ALL CAPS or emoji spam
• Non-English ads must only target relevant regions
• Never include personal data unless legally required

Truth in Advertising

• Don’t make false claims
• Headlines must match the landing page
• You can’t promote organic Reddit posts with self-serve ads (only through managed buys)

URL and Landing Page Rules

Your landing page must:

• Match the ad in message and tone
• Clearly display the advertised product or offer
• Avoid pop-ups, shady redirects, or autoplay spam
• Not link to banned or restricted items

Pro tip: Always preview your ad before submitting it. Then double-check it against Reddit’s full ad policy.

Why Advertise on Reddit at All?

Reddit is often overlooked by marketers, but it shouldn’t be.

It’s one of the internet’s largest platforms, with a uniquely high level of user engagement.

Here’s why Reddit deserves your ad dollars:

Huge, Active User Base

• 100 million+ daily users and over 1 billion monthly users
• Home to 150,000+ communities (and growing)
• Active discussions around nearly every interest or niche imaginable

Community Depth = Targeting Power

Unlike platforms that rely on broad interest categories, Reddit lets you target actual conversations happening in real time.

You can advertise directly inside subreddits like:

• r/PersonalFinance
• r/Fitness
• r/TechSupport
• r/SkincareAddiction
• r/Entrepreneur
• Any other subreddits you want.

This level of specificity is rare and powerful.

Underused = Undervalued

Reddit Ads still have low competition in many niches, which means:

• Lower CPMs and CPCs than Facebook or Google
• Better ad placement opportunities
• Easier testing of creative without getting drowned out

Younger, Savvy Audience

Reddit skews toward a younger, educated demographic. If your product fits tech-savvy or research-driven users, Reddit may outperform other channels.

Plus, Reddit now offers $100 in free ad credit for new advertisers—easy incentive to test the waters.

Step-by-Step: How to Launch a Reddit Ads Campaign

Launching a Reddit campaign isn’t hard, but doing it right takes planning. Follow these five steps to set yourself up for success.

1. Define Your Audience

Start with a clear picture of who you’re targeting.

• Build a customer persona (age, interests, pain points)
• Research which subreddits align with their habits
• Use tools like subranking.com or r/findareddit to locate niche communities
• Consider targeting by location, device, or interests

The more specific your targeting, the better your results.

2. Prep Your Assets

You’ll need more than just an idea. Gather everything in advance:

• Visuals (image, video, or carousel)
• Headlines and body copy
• Final URL or landing page
• Tracking tools (Google Analytics, UTM tags, or third-party trackers)
• Clear goals (clicks, views, conversions)

Having everything ready makes the next steps faster.

3. Set Up Your Campaign

Go to ads.reddit.com and log in.

Then:

• Click “Create Campaign.”
• Name your campaign
• Choose an objective (traffic, conversions, video views, etc.)
• Add your payment method

Reddit’s self-serve system accepts major credit cards.

4. Build and Submit Your Ad

In the final step:

• Name your ad unit
• Add your creative (image, video, or carousel)
• Write your copy and CTA
• Attach click + impression trackers
• Preview everything before you submit

5. Set Targeting & Delivery

Segment your campaign into ad groups based on device, audience, or placement. For each group:

• Set your budget (daily or lifetime)
• Choose feed or conversation placement
• Define targeting: subreddits, interests, locations, etc.
• Set a bid (second-price auction model)

Tip: Start with a $20-$50/day budget to gather clean data.

Once approved, your ad goes live. Monitor performance in the dashboard and iterate based on what works.

Pro Tips for Reddit Ads That Actually Work

Reddit isn’t a place to run lazy ads. Users can sniff out anything inauthentic. But when done right, Reddit Ads can quietly outperform flashier platforms.

Here are 5 proven tactics to boost your Reddit ad performance:

1. Use Reddit as a Research Tool First

Before you advertise, study the platform.

• Read threads in your target subreddits
• Pay attention to what users upvote or downvote
• Look for language and tone patterns
• Use r/findareddit or subranking.com to uncover micro-niches you may not have considered

Treat Reddit like a focus group, learn before you spend.

2. Warm Up the Community

Engage before you advertise.

If you plan to advertise in a specific subreddit:

• Post genuine content first
• Answer questions and upvote comments
• Build karma and credibility

You don’t have to do this with ads, but it lowers the risk of getting ignored or downvoted.

3. Find Niche Relevance

The tighter the community match, the better your ad performs.

• Don’t just target broad interests (e.g. “fitness”)
• Go for subreddits that reflect your customer mindset (e.g. r/RunningShoeGeeks, r/BudgetHomeGym)
• Speak their language. No jargon. No fluff.

Niche relevance = higher CTRs and lower costs.

4. Offer Immediate Value

Don’t lead with the product. Lead with what Redditors get out of it.

For example:

• “Struggling with [pain point]? Here’s what actually helped me.”
• “I tested 4 tools for [task]. This one saved me hours.”
• “We built this for [specific audience] – feedback welcome.”

You’re not selling, you’re helping.

5. Enable Comments, and Respond

Reddit is about conversation.

• Always allow comments on your ads
• Answer questions fast
• Accept criticism and use it to improve your pitch
• Don’t delete negative replies unless they break rules

Transparent replies build trust. Silent brands get ignored.

Examples of Reddit Ad Campaigns That Got It Right

Reddit rewards creativity and relevance. The best-performing ads don’t feel like ads, they feel like something a Redditor might post themselves.

Here are two standout examples:

CodeRabbitAI: Meme-Driven Relevance for a Niche Audience

1. Speaks the Language of the Subreddit

• The ad is clearly targeting programmers or dev communities (like r/learnprogramming, r/coding, or r/ProgrammerHumor).
• The meme format is native to Reddit and especially common in these subreddits. It feels like a real post, not an ad.

2. Uses Humor to Build Relevance

• Instead of pitching features, it captures a common dev pain point: confusion while reviewing code.
• The punchline aligns perfectly with the product promise in the headline (“understand your code faster”).

3. Clear Value Proposition

• The headline tells users exactly what the tool does, without jargon.
• It frames the tool as a time-saver and a clarity booster, which are huge incentives for coders.

4. Strong Engagement Signal

• 21K upvotes and 88 comments show that the community embraced the ad. That’s rare – and a sign the execution resonated.

5. Call to Action Is Subtle

• “Sign Up” is present but not aggressive.
• The focus is on the meme and relatability, not conversion – which ironically makes people more likely to click.

Kilo Code: Niche Value, Clear Breakdown, and Community Language

1. Strong Technical Hook

• The headline is immediately relevant to devs and tech-savvy users.
• “$0.41 of API calls” is oddly specific – this builds credibility and piques curiosity.

2. TL;DR Format Matches Reddit Culture

• Many devs scan posts – leading with “TL;DR” signals that this post respects their time.
• Bullet points are scannable and info-dense – perfect for a technical audience.

3. Demonstrates Cost-Effectiveness and Utility

• The ad doesn’t oversell – it explains exactly what the tool does, what it costs, and how it works.
• This “no BS” style matches how Redditors prefer to discover new tools.

4. Personal Voice Feels Authentic

• The second paragraph shares a personal note: “vibe coding” as a playful concept feels genuine.
• It adds a bit of philosophy without sounding preachy.

5. Smart Call to Action

• Offering $20 in credits is tangible.
• Saying “that’s like 45 different apps of this size” makes it relatable without needing a calculator.

Where It Could Be Stronger

– No Visual Hook

• A clean meme, terminal screenshot, or simple UI gif could improve engagement dramatically.
• Right now it blends in too easily with text-only posts.

– Engagement is Low

• 3 upvotes and 0 comments suggest the post didn’t catch fire – possibly due to lack of a strong opening image or underwhelming subreddit targeting.

Reddit Ads FAQ

If you’re new to Reddit Ads, these are the most common questions—and straight answers you need before getting started.

Are Reddit Ads well-targeted?

Yes, if you use them properly. You can target by:

• Subreddits (communities)
• Interests
• Location
• Device
• Time of day

Subreddit targeting is especially powerful because it lets you reach users by mindset, not just demographics.

What do Reddit Ads look like?

Promoted Reddit ads appear just like normal posts in the feed, with a small “Promoted” label. They blend into the conversation—which is good, as long as they’re relevant.

Formats include:

• Text or image posts
• Video ads
• Carousel-style ads
• Sidebar banners (for managed campaigns)

How much do Reddit Ads cost?

There’s no minimum spend for self-serve ads. You bid per click (CPC), per 1,000 impressions (CPM), or per video view (CPV).

• CPC range: $0.20–$1.00+
• CPM average: $0.50–$5.00 depending on targeting
• Managed ads: Start at $30,000

Start with a $50/day test budget and optimize from there.

What sizes do Reddit Ads use?

There’s no strict ad size since Reddit posts vary by format. But for best results:

• Image ads: 1200×628 pixels (recommended)
• Carousel: Up to 6 cards, same image ratio
• Video: 1:1 or 16:9 ratios work best

Reddit’s ad system will guide you through specs during setup.

Conclusion

Reddit can be one of the most rewarding—but also one of the most punishing—platforms for paid advertising.

If you treat it like just another ad channel, your campaign will flop. But if you respect the platform, study the communities, and offer real value, you can unlock access to highly engaged audiences that are hard to reach anywhere else.

Recap: What It Takes to Succeed on Reddit Ads

• Do your research. Know the subreddits. Read the room.
• Blend in. Your ad should feel like a native post, not an interruption.
• Offer value first. Help, entertain, or inform—don’t just pitch.
• Talk back. Enable comments and join the discussion.
• Test and iterate. Start small, watch what works, and optimize.

With the right strategy, Reddit Ads aren’t just viable—they’re powerful. Especially for niche brands, direct-to-consumer products, or anything with strong community appeal.

Ready to launch your first campaign? You already know more than most marketers on the platform.