This guide explains how to create posts and comments on Reddit that can attract positive votes. When another user on Reddit rates your content, you receive karma. A certain amount of karma may be required to enter some subreddits, but other than that karma is only for glory.
Steps
Step 1. Learn what karma is
This term refers to the points you receive thanks to upvotes, which on Reddit is the equivalent of the Like or "Like" of Facebook. You receive approximately one point of karma for each positive vote and you lose one for each negative vote.
Step 2. Learn about the different types of karma
You will receive karma for the following interactions on Reddit:
- Karma for posts. Posting an external link or creating a text post allows you to receive karma when they get positive ratings.
- Karma for comments. When one of your comments on an existing post gets a positive vote, you get karma.
Step 3. Visit the largest subreddits, with over a million subscribers, such as r / AskReddit, r / pics or r / funny
Sort posts as best-of-the-hour, growing, or new, and leave comments on those threads. This way, you can be sure that your words won't get buried by those typed before yours.
Step 4. Comment on new posts
One of the easiest ways to make your comments visible when you are a beginner is to write something that feeds the discussion on images or posts from other users. Witty jokes are the ones that earn the most karma, but tales and anecdotes work too.
With this method you are less likely to earn many karma points at once, but you will be able to increase your karma over time and build your reputation as an active user
Step 5. Avoid posting negative or poor quality posts
Your links and comments should add value to Reddit content. Posts that do not abide by commonly accepted community rules (also known as "reddiquette") often receive negative votes.
- You also need to avoid violating Reddit's terms of use, because even then you would receive at least negative ratings.
- You don't have to avoid criticism, as long as it's presented in a civilized manner. The exception to this rule is when you post something ironically, although you should always try to be civil.
Step 6. Post relevant content that deserves discussion
Reddit is a community based on the exchange of ideas and insights into any topic. Posting content that exposes solid, fact-backed reasoning may not be enough to reap karma, but it will show other users that it is worth listening to you.
The more users consider you a valuable resource, the larger the audience (and consequently the votes) for your future posts
Step 7. Talk to the people who comment on your posts
When you spark a conversation, carry it on to make it more interesting and to get positive ratings based on your responses. Remember the importance of respecting the opinion of others when doing this.
- It is not a problem (indeed it is recommended) to express your disagreement, as long as you present the opposite argument in a respectful way.
- Ignore the negative and provocative comments, because by responding, even when you are right, you will probably receive negative votes.
Step 8. Take advantage of the so-called "karma bombs"
A karma bomb is created when you reply to a newly posted comment, which will earn a lot of votes in the future. If the comment really receives a high number of positive votes, your answer will also gain a lot of karma thanks to the domino effect.
- For this strategy to work, you need to learn how to gauge the likelihood of a comment receiving a very positive rating, and this takes time and experience.
- This is a high-risk tactic but it allows for great rewards: if the comment you have chosen receives negative evaluations, your answer will probably be evaluated in the same way.
Step 9. Use creative headlines for your links
Since Reddit presents links using the title you choose, your words will determine the tone of the discussion.
Consider using irony in your titles (e.g. puns or jokes). Witty or surprising posts have a tendency to receive positive ratings
Step 10. Post link to photos or videos
As in all social platforms, users appreciate visual content. By adding a creative or informative title to interesting visual content, you will be able to grab the attention of users and earn positive votes.
Advice
- If you can't find ideas for your posts, try reading articles that offer different perspectives on current events or try to develop your own original point of view.
- Reddit is mostly made up of users with leftist political views. While this shouldn't stop you from posting on topics that you are passionate about or interested in, consider it when choosing your tone on issues such as identity or sexual orientation and religion.
- Get familiar with the site. Reddit users often refer to other well-known discussions, and you may get negative ratings if you don't understand what they're talking about.
- Watch out for altering grades. Some Reddit users are suspended without their knowledge (they can post, comment and vote, but these don't show up for other people). The site intentionally adds some votes, so that these users cannot understand that they have been suspended. However, the total karma score will not be changed.
- Add the "spoiler" tag before posting about movies, books or other content that could ruin the story for another user.
Warnings
- Never ask for positive grades.
- Always include the NSFW (not safe for work) tag in your titles if the content is not appropriate for the work environment.
