Using Reddit for self promotion

[JenTheTracy]

What are your thoughts on the subject?

For a long time I was against the idea. Reddit is a place to post cool stuff that I find on the Internet. It was my hope that if someone thought my stuff was good enough, it would end up on Reddit.

As Reddit grows exponentially, I see it more as an opportunity to network than a site for sharing ideas. Some may see this as a degradation of the site, bit I'm not so sure. What are your thoughts?

Also, seeing a million "help me out I'm a starving artist" and "hey, look at this thing I drew" posts get upvoted, I figured that type of behavior was acceptable now.

[Former_Member]

Only twice have I done something vaguely akin to this... I've posted an image of something I made (actually the bag in my avatar) onto imgur, and posted it on 2 relevant subreddits with a title like "fuck yeah! just crocheted and embroidered this f7u12 bag!" I thought it was fine because the focus was on my excitement over doing this; not on selling the item. Very important distinction! And I did this by posting one image; not linking to the etsy listing.

The good news is a few people in the comments asked if I sell stuff like this. THEN I was fine posting my shop URL in response to them. I also got some PMs about custom orders, two of which ended up working out.

I tried this again with my trollface laptop sleeve, but it never got beyond my one upvote. I assume it's because I posted it at a wrong time or something -- because it's awesome! :)

So my thoughts: reddit is NOT for shamless self-promotion of your shop, but it CAN be a forum to show off a picture of your favorite craft (in fact, that's what a lot of subreddits specialize in, such as hookandyarn). Then if people inquire in the comments, by all means share that etsy url! But don't be pressuring redditors to click it.

And those are my two cents. :)

[BookishlyUK]

I totally agree, it has do be done carefully! I just (nervously) submitted to r/artstore (http://www.reddit.com/r/artstore/comments/kweu5/hi_rartstore_are_you_ready_to_think_about/), so hopefully I might get some people interested. I think that relevant subreddits are really useful. I dream of the day I get a popular item on suatmm!

[Former_Member]

r/shamelessplug
r/shutupandtakemymoney
r/mall


It's pretty much safe posting there! :)

[FiveOfMine]

I've posted a couple of items on reddit and my number of listing views has SKY ROCKETED because of it. My shop has been open for a few months, but with two separate posts on reddit, in just a couple of days, I've seen an increase in my total views by almost 50%. That's HUGE!!

Posting there does make me a little uncomfortable because I believe reddit should be a site for sharing great ideas and online finds, not about shameless self-promotion. So I'm trying to post sparingly on Reddit. I'll delete my one listing post and replace it with another when I have an item I think is especially cool and not getting the love it deserves.

[Former_Member]

Yeah, definitely r/shamelessplug! If you've just listed a bunch of new items, you're more than likely to get a lot of positive feedback (and some karma as well, hehe)!

[CharlottesAttic55]

I think it depends on where you post your stuff- if you're promoting your shop in the etsy subreddit, or the shamelessplug subreddit, then that's fine. I also think it's fine to post pictures of what you've made then link to your shop if someone asks.

I have noticed my views have gone up a lot after posting some things on reddit. I think it can be great for promoting etsy accounts, but only when done in the right way.

[Valiantstudios]

I've posted my shop twice in etsy and also promoted my favorite tea shop there. (I buy all of my tea from Teaman and just had to share!) I'll definitely have to check out shamelessplug. There are so many subreddits I'm not even aware of yet!

[Former_Member]

Well, at first I posted my shop on the etsy subreddit, but that didn't really get any upvotes or anything. But then my friend bought a stamp from me and made his own rage comic (you can see it here if you like http://www.reddit.com/r/fffffffuuuuuuuuuuuu/comments/p7f8j/so_thats_her_thing_now/)

So I guess it's not really a shameless plug? I was so grateful, in any case :)

[Valiantstudios]

I upvoted it, Alexa and commented about the Me Gusta stamp. ^_^

[Former_Member]

I don't really see a problem with it, as others have mentioned, as long as it's in the appropriate subreddit. I posted into r/mall and r/shamelessplug today in fact! There are so few "free" resources available to get attention, and I've been a loyal redditor for ages, rarely attempting to get Karma. I don't feel bad about it.

[Valiantstudios]

Alexa plugged my shop shamelessly in another f7u12 comments post and I got over 800 views that day! Thanks, Alexa!

[Former_Member]

I've only listed things in relevant subreddits. r/shutupandtakemymoney r/etsy and my latest try is on r/shamelessplug

http://www.reddit.com/r/shamelessplug/comments/q2h66/our_side_business_we_make_tshirts_etch_glass_an...

:-)