Why Reddit is a Goldmine for App Marketers
Want free, targeted app downloads from engaged users? Reddit—the “front page of the internet”—is one of the most underrated app growth channels.
What’s up! Today, I will be talking about utilizing Reddit for app downloads. For those who aren’t familiar with Reddit, this is a vibrant community full of awesome people who are ready to download your app but the key to marketing on Reddit is to find the subreddit that is the most relevant to your app. I’ll be showing you a subreddit that I absolutely love to run one of my favorite campaigns called “free promotional campaign.” Stay tuned!
How to Promote on the Subreddit
AppHookup – When you are giving away something for free in your app, you can promote it on this subreddit. If you have in-app purchases, discount codes or anything that you’re making free within your app, this is the subreddit that you would want to promote.
You can also search for a subreddit depending on your app. For example, if you have a meditation app, you can go to reddit.com and search for “meditation.” The results will show you tons of subreddits including the number of subscribers. Choose the one you deem best, for example, for mediattion, I can choose the anxiety subreddit.
Read through all the rules because usually, they don’t want you to promote your stuff. Sometimes, what you can do is interact with others and maybe eventually you will find a subreddit that will allow you to do it.
How to Run Ads on Reddit
You can run very targeted ads on Reddit and get great CPI. Just find the right subreddit, find the right text for your ad and promote your app through there. If you can’t promote within that anxiety subreddit, you can easily run an ad within that subreddit for your app.
If you want a little boost in getting to the top of any subreddit, you can use Social Elves. They guarantee that in any subreddit, you’ll make it to the top three. I used them in the AppHookup and we really saw good results there.
Step 1: Find the Perfect Subreddit for Your App
Not all subreddits allow promotions—the key is relevance.
How to Search for Subreddits:
-
Go to Reddit.com → Search for keywords related to your app (e.g., meditation, fitness, gaming).
-
Check subscriber counts → Bigger communities = more potential downloads.
-
Read the rules → Many subreddits ban self-promotion, so find ones that allow it.
Example:
-
r/AppHookup → Perfect for free app promotions.
-
Niche subreddits (e.g., r/Meditation, r/Productivity) → Great for targeted exposure.
Step 2: Run a “Pay-to-Free” Campaign
Steve’s #1 growth hack for Reddit:
-
Paid apps → Make your app free for a limited time.
-
Freemium apps → Offer free in-app purchases (e.g., unlock premium features).
Why It Works:
✅ Gets featured on r/AppHookup (100K+ members).
✅ Drives organic press coverage (blogs like BGR pick it up).
✅ Boosts rankings (surge in downloads = better ASO).
Step 3: Engage (Don’t Spam) the Community
Reddit hates ads—but loves value.
How to Promote Without Getting Banned:
-
Be active first → Comment & post naturally before promoting.
-
Follow subreddit rules → Some allow “self-promo Saturdays.”
-
Use Social Elves (optional) → A service that guarantees top 3 placement in any subreddit.
Bonus: Run Reddit Ads for Laser-Targeted Installs
If organic promotion isn’t enough, Reddit Ads offer:
-
Super low CPI (often cheaper than Facebook/Google).
-
Hyper-targeted audiences (by interest, subreddit, etc.).
Pro Tip: Test small budgets first ($5-$10/day) to find winning audiences.
3 Actionable Tips for Reddit App Marketing
🔥 Test Free Promotions → Use r/AppHookup for quick download spikes.
🔥 Engage Before Promoting → Build trust in niche subreddits.
🔥 Combine Organic + Paid → Run ads alongside free campaigns.
Final Thoughts: Reddit = Free App Growth Hack
Most developers ignore Reddit—but smart indie marketers use it to:
✔️ Get thousands of free downloads
✔️ Boost ASO rankings
✔️ Build a loyal user base
Next Steps:
-
Find 3 relevant subreddits for your app.
-
Run a free promo (or offer a discount).
-
Engage & track results—then scale!
Tried Reddit marketing? Share your results below! 🚀
