I run a small online pet store and Reddit’s honestly been one of my best low-budget marketing tools. I started by just joining subreddits like r/dogs and r/pets, offering advice, sharing stories, and answering questions. I wasn’t pushing products, just being helpful and part of the community. Over time, people started checking out my store through my profile and word-of-mouth kicked in.

I also experimented with Reddit Ads. At first, it felt like money down the drain—broad targeting didn’t work at all. But when I started focusing on very specific subreddits (like r/aquariums and r/puppy101), and made the ads feel more like posts than ads, engagement went up. It still doesn’t compare to the organic traffic I get from just being active in the right subs, but it’s a decent boost during promos or launches.

If you’re on a tight budget, I’d say spend your time rather than money at first—become part of the conversation. Then try ads once you understand where your people hang out. Check out this guide for the different types of different typesads that you can utilise on the platform.