--- title: How to run an ad on Reddit url: https://blog.krasovskiy.team/en/how-to-run-an-ad-on-reddit/ date: 2026-07-14 lang: en source: blog.krasovskiy.team --- # How to run an ad on Reddit Reddit is not just a forum, but a platform with 57 million daily active users where advertising works differently than Facebook or Google. Here, the audience will not just scroll the tape — it will discuss, criticize and trust only those brands that know how to speak its language. If you want to start advertising on Reddit and not lose your budget on the very first comments with sarcasm, this guide will help you understand the nuances: from the selection of subreddits to the format of ads that will not cause negativity. ## Why should you run ads on Reddit? Reddit is not just a social network, but a unique ecosystem with over **430 million monthly active users** who spend an average of **10 minutes per session** every day. Unlike Facebook or Instagram, where the content is often shallow, Reddit is where people look for in-depth discussions, expert advice, and honest feedback. This makes the platform ideal for brands that want to go beyond just serving ads, but **embedding themselves in the conversation** — especially if their target audience is tech-savvy, skeptical of traditional advertising, or belongs to a narrow niche. The main advantage of Reddit is **niche communities (subreddits)**. Everything is here: from r/BuyItForLife (for lovers of durable goods) to r/3Dprinting (for 3D printing enthusiasts) or r/Ukraine (for the Ukrainian audience). For example, **NordVPN** ran a campaign in r/privacy and r/technology — and got a **CTR 30% higher** than the industry average, because the ad reached those who are really interested in cyber security. And the **Toyota** brand used the subreddit r/cars to promote hybrid models, which led to a **22% increase in test drives** among users who actively discussed green cars. Targeting on Reddit is also impressive. You can choose not only demographics or interests, but also **specific subreddits** or even keywords in the comments. For example, if you sell sports nutrition, you can only show ads on r/Fitness to people who have recently asked about protein shakes. Or run an ad in r/UkrainianConflict for a Ukrainian audience looking for reliable sources of information. Another plus is **low competition**: many brands still ignore Reddit, so the cost per click here is often cheaper than on Facebook or Google Ads. Reddit isn't for everyone. But if your audience is here, you'll get **not just traffic, but loyal customers** who are ready to engage with your brand on a deeper level. The main thing is not to try to sell right away, but to become part of the community. ## How to Create an Advertiser Account on Reddit [To run ads on Reddit, first](https://blog.krasovskiy.team/zapusk-reklamy-v-tiktok-pokrokove-kerivnytstvo/) create an advertiser account. Go to [ads.reddit.com](https://ads.reddit.com/) and click "Sign up" - the system will offer to log in through an existing Reddit account or register a new one. If you choose to register, enter your email, password and username. Important: The account must be older than 30 days and active (at least a few posts or comments), otherwise Reddit may restrict access to advertising tools. After logging in, fill out the advertiser profile: add company name, address, payment details (card or PayPal) and confirm email. Adjust your time zone and currency, which will affect your reporting and campaign budget. Reddit will automatically create an advertising cabinet for you, where you can manage ads, track costs (minimum deposit is $5) and analyze results. If you plan to run ads in several countries, add them in the "[Billing" section - the system allows you to target the audience](https://blog.krasovskiy.team/iak-stvoryty-sehmenty-audytorii-v-meta-ads-dlia-maksymalky-konversii/) by geolocation with city precision. ### Required documents and requirements In order to run an ad on Reddit, you will first need to verify your account. To do this, you will need: a valid email (preferably corporate), phone number for SMS confirmation, payment data (card or PayPal) and legal information about the business - company name, address, tax number (for Ukraine - EDRPOU). If you are advertising as an individual, Reddit may ask for a copy of your passport. Some niches (finance, medicine, crypto) additionally require licenses or certificates — for example, _NMLS ID_ is required for advertising loans in the USA, and for medical services - confirmation of accreditation. ## Types of ad formats on Reddit [Reddit offers several ad formats, each](https://blog.krasovskiy.team/vse-pro-reklamu-onlajn-10-telegram-kanaliv-pro-ppc/) of which works for different tasks. The most popular are **sponsored posts**, which look like regular discussions, but are labeled "Sponsored". They're ideal for starting discussions, gathering feedback, or promoting content that requires interaction (eg surveys, product tests). According to statistics, such posts receive 30-50% more comments than ordinary ads, because users perceive them as part of the community. The main thing is to adapt the tone to the subreddit: jokes for r/funny, technical details for r/technology. ![target audience Reddit](https://blog.krasovskiy.team/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/zapusk-reklamy-na-reddit-instruktsiia-inline1.jpg) **Banner ads** (display ads) appear at the top of the feed or on the side. This is a classic format for branding or quick traffic to a site - the click-through rate is usually lower (0.1-0.3%), but the reach is wider. It is better to use for mass information about promotions, new products or launching campaigns with a clear CTA ("Order now", "Learn more"). Banner sizes are standard: 300x250 (medium rectangle) or 728x90 (leaderboard), but they automatically adapt on mobile devices. **Video ads** on Reddit are of two types: short videos (up to 15 seconds) in the feed and longer ones (up to 2 minutes) in special video subreddits like r/videos. Video works best for emotional stories, product demonstrations, or viral content launches. For example, game app ads on r/gaming often use gameplay snippets — conversions increase by 40% compared to static ads. Important: the first 3 seconds should catch the eye, because 60% of users turn off the sound, and 40% do not watch any further. The choice of format depends on the goal: sponsored posts — for interaction, banner ads — for reach, videos — for emotional impact. Start with a small budget (for example, $50 per test), analyze metrics (CTR, conversion) and optimize for a specific subreddit. Reddit is a niche platform, so there are no universal recipes: what works on r/skincareaddiction will fail on r/wallstreetbets. ### How to choose the right format for your campaign Choosing an advertising format on Reddit depends on what you want to get: brand recognition, instant sales or site traffic. For branding, **video ads** or **image carousels** are best - they draw attention in the feed and allow you to tell a story. For example, _Adobe_ launched a video campaign on the r/photography subreddit, showing how users create masterpieces in Photoshop. The result: a 22% increase in recognition among the target audience. If the goal is sales, choose **ads with a promo button** ("Buy now") or **text posts with CTA**. The startup _MeUndies_ used targeted text ads on r/streetwear, offering a discount to first-time buyers, resulting in an 18% increase in conversions. **links in comments** (with the permission of the moderators) or **sponsored posts with a link are effective for site traffic. For example, _BuzzFeed_ launched a sponsored thread on r/funny with a link to the article and got 50K+ hits in a week. The key: test formats, analyze metrics (CTR, conversion) and adapt — Reddit loves experimentation, but hates intrusiveness.** ## Targeting settings in Reddit Ads Reddit provides a bunch of tools for precise targeting, and the main feature is working with communities, or subreddits. You can only show ads where your target audience is sitting: for example, if you sell guitar pedals, choose _r/guitar_, _r/audioengineering_ or _r/WeAreTheMusicMakers_. The platform allows you to target up to 100 subreddits at the same time, but do not overdo it - it is better to focus on the most relevant 10-20, so as not to dilute the budget. In addition, there is an "Interests" option: Reddit analyzes which topics users are actively discussing and allows you to target them. For example, 'Fitness', 'Cryptocurrencies' or 'DIY projects' are broad categories, but they work if your product is massive. Demographic filters are standard: age, gender, geolocation (up to city level), language and device. It's more interesting with behavior: you can show ads to users who often comment, put upvotes, or even to those who recently visited certain subreddits. For example, if you're running a campaign for gamers, targeting active members of _r/gaming_ or _r/pcgaming_ will do better than just targeting the "Video Games" interest. Another useful thing is device targeting: if your product is a mobile application, it is logical to limit the display of ads only to smartphone users. On the other hand, if it's something for a PC (for example, video editing software), it's better to exclude mobile users so as not to waste money. Don't forget about negative targeting: you can exclude subreddits that don't fit the topic or users with certain interests. For example, if you sell premium coffee, it makes sense to exclude _r/Frugal_ or _r/cheapmeals_, where those looking for economical options hang out. Reddit also allows you to set up audiences based on your data: upload a list of emails or user IDs, and the platform finds them on the site. This is useful for retargeting or working with loyal customers. The main thing is not to overdo it with filters: too narrow targeting can lead to ads simply not being shown due to lack of audience. ### How to find the best subreddits for advertising For Reddit advertising to work, you need to find subreddits where your audience sits. Start with a keyword search—for example, if you sell sports nutrition, search for r/Fitness, r/Gym, or r/Supplements. Don't limit yourself to the obvious: niche communities like r/VegetarianFitness or r/Running can give you a better ROI because there's less competition. Check the activity of the subreddit: if there are 50+ posts published in the last week and the comments collect hundreds of upvotes, it is a living community. Please note the rules: some subreddits prohibit advertising or require prior approval from moderators. Use tools for deeper analysis. **RedditMetis** will show the demographics of the subreddit (age, gender, geolocation) and the most active users. **SubredditStats** will help you track the dynamics of community growth and popular topics. If your target audience is developers, take a look at r/programming: there are 4.5 million followers, but the average engagement per post is 200+ comments, which indicates high activity. Don't ignore small subreddits (10,000-50,000 members): they often have higher content credibility and lower advertising costs. Before launching a campaign, analyze the top 10-15 posts per month — if they discuss the problems your product solves, that's your subreddit. ## Creating an Effective Reddit Ad Reddit is a platform where users value authenticity and don't tolerate intrusive advertising. Therefore, your ad should look like organic content, not like a sale. Start with a headline: it should be short (under 300 characters), intriguing, and relevant to the interests of the subreddit. For example, if you're promoting a tool for programmers on r/programming, instead of the banal "Buy our software" try: "How I cut my debugging time by 40% with this tool." Reddit users love stories and concrete results - give them that. ![advertising in social networks](https://blog.krasovskiy.team/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/zapusk-reklamy-na-reddit-instruktsiia-inline2.jpg) The ad text should be concise (up to 1000 characters) and structured: problem → solution → call to action (CTA). Avoid marketing clichés like "innovative product" — instead write like a human: "Tried 5 different libraries until I found this one. Now I write code 3 times faster." The CTA should be soft: "Try it for free", "Learn more", "Let's discuss in the comments". Aggressive "Buy now!" they don't work here. Remember: Reddit is about dialogue. Stay in touch in the comments, answer questions, do not delete criticism. If users feel that you are not here for sales, but for the sake of the community, they themselves will become your promoters. ## Reddit Ads budget and bidding strategy Setting up a budget in Reddit Ads is simple, but the effectiveness of the campaign depends on its correct selection. You can set a **daily budget** (minimum $5) or a **total** (for the entire campaign). If the goal is testing, start with $20-$50 per day: this is enough to collect audience data and creatives. To scale, increase the budget gradually - no more than 20-30% at a time, otherwise the algorithm will "break" and start showing ads to irrelevant users. Reddit offers two main payment models: **CPC (cost per click)** and **CPM (cost per 1000 impressions)**. CPC is suitable for campaigns with the goal of traffic or conversions - you only pay for conversions, the average price of a click varies from $0.30 to $2 depending on the niche (technology and finance are more expensive, meme communities are cheaper). CPM is beneficial for branding or video advertising - here it is important that the creative "sticks" from the first seconds, because users will quickly scroll the tape. Average CPM on Reddit is $3-8, but popular subreddits (eg r/gaming) can reach $15. Remember: Reddit is a community platform, so even the cheapest bid won't save a campaign if the ad looks spammy. Invest time in creating organic content that resonates with your audience, and then your budget will work for you, not against you. ## Analysis and optimization of advertising campaigns For Reddit advertising to work, it was not enough just to launch a campaign - you need to constantly analyze the data and make adjustments. Key metrics to look out for: **CTR (click-through rate)** - Reddit's average is between 0.2-0.5%, if yours is lower - look at creatives or targeting; **conversions** — track not only clicks, but also actions on the site (purchases, registrations); **CPM (cost per 1000 impressions)** - on Reddit it is usually lower than on Facebook or Google, but it depends on the niche (eg ~$5-$8 for tech, $10+ for finance); **Frequency** - If a user sees your ad more than 3-4 times, the effectiveness drops, so limit the frequency or change creatives. For in-depth analysis, use Reddit Ads Manager's built-in tools: reports by device, geography, demographics, and time of day. For example, if 70% of traffic comes from mobile devices, optimize landing pages for smartphones. Optimization starts with testing: run 2-3 ad variations with different images, texts, and CTAs (eg Learn More vs Buy Now). After 3-5 days, disable the worst in terms of CTR and conversions, and redistribute the budget to the winners. If the campaign is aimed at sales, use the **Reddit pixel** to track events on the site - this will allow you to set up retargeting to those who added the product to the cart but did not buy. Don't forget to **A/B-test audiences**: try targeting by interests ("cryptocurrency") and subreddits ("r/Bitcoin"), compare the results. If the budget allows, connect **automated strategies** (for example, "Maximize conversions"), but control the costs - algorithms can quickly burn the budget on low-quality traffic.