How to reply on Reddit without getting banned (a founder's guide)

Reddit is one of the best places to find people asking for your product, and one of the easiest places to get banned. The difference is almost always how you reply.

Every subreddit has its own rules

Reddit has sitewide rules, and each community adds its own on top. Before you comment anywhere, open the subreddit's About or sidebar and read the rules. Look for anything about self-promotion, links, "no advertising" or a dedicated promotion thread. Many founder-focused subreddits keep a weekly or monthly thread for sharing what you built and remove promotion everywhere else.

If the rules say no links, don't post a link, even a helpful one.

New accounts get filtered

Many subreddits use automatic filters that hide comments from very new accounts or accounts with little karma. Your perfect reply may simply never appear. If your account is new, spend some time joining conversations without mentioning anything you've built.

The reply format that works

1. Answer the question they asked. If someone asks how to chase unpaid invoices, start with how to chase unpaid invoices.
2. Add something specific: what you tried, what worked, a number, a mistake to avoid.
3. Mention your product only if it genuinely helps, only if the rules allow it, and always say it's yours: "Disclosure: I built a tool for this."

A good test: would your reply still be useful if you deleted the last sentence? If not, it's an ad.

Things that get founders banned

• The same comment pasted in many threads. Moderators and filters spot this fast.
• Hiding that you built the product. Pretending to be a happy customer destroys trust when it comes out, and it usually does.
• Asking friends to upvote, or using extra accounts. Vote manipulation breaks Reddit's sitewide rules.
• Unsolicited DMs. Messaging people who didn't ask is a quick way to get reported.
• Links where links aren't allowed. Check every subreddit, every time.

Reply first, follow up second

If someone answers your comment or asks for the link, that's your moment: reply quickly and personally. Most first customers come from that second exchange, not from the first comment.

How First Adopter handles this

First Adopter drafts a reply for each lead and adjusts it to the community. When a subreddit bans promotion, the draft leaves out links and the product entirely and just helps. You always edit and post it yourself; we never post on your behalf. More on finding these posts in the first place: how to find your first 10 customers without an audience.

Try a free check to see who's asking for your product →

Questions

Can I mention my product on Reddit at all?

Yes, where the subreddit's rules allow it, when it genuinely answers the question, and when you say you built it. Some subreddits only allow it in a dedicated self-promotion thread.

Why did my comment disappear?

Often an automatic filter: new accounts, low karma or links can hide a comment without notice. Check the subreddit rules and message the moderators politely if you think it was a mistake.