Reddit is one of the most influential platforms on the internet, but it's also one of the hardest to crack. Redditors can smell self-promotion from a mile away, and the community quickly downvotes anything that feels inauthentic.
In this guide, you'll learn how to write Reddit comments that genuinely add value, earn upvotes, and build your reputation in any community.
Understanding Reddit Culture
Before writing a single comment, understand these Reddit principles:
- Value > Self-promotion — Redditors hate being sold to
- Authenticity matters — Be a real person, not a brand
- Each subreddit has its own culture — Lurk before posting
- Helpfulness wins — Genuinely help people
- Humor works — But know your audience
Types of Comments That Get Upvotes
1. The Expert Answer
Share genuine expertise:
"Software engineer here with 10 years experience. The reason your code isn't working is because you're mutating state directly. In React, you need to create a new array using [...spread] or .map(). Here's how to fix it: [detailed solution]"
2. The Personal Experience
Share relevant stories:
"I was in the exact same situation 2 years ago. Here's what actually worked for me: [specific steps]. It took about 3 months, but I went from [before] to [after]. Happy to answer any questions."
3. The Helpful Resource
Point people to useful information:
"This is actually covered really well in [resource]. The key points are: 1) [point], 2) [point], 3) [point]. Saved me hours of research when I was learning this."
4. The Thoughtful Counter-Point
Respectfully disagree with substance:
"I see where you're coming from, but I'd push back a bit. In my experience, [alternative perspective]. The reason I think this matters is [explanation]. Curious what others think?"
5. The Well-Timed Joke
When appropriate, humor wins:
"Instructions unclear, accidentally started a successful business instead."
Reddit Comment Mistakes to Avoid
- Self-promotion — "Check out my blog/product/channel!"
- Low-effort comments — "This." or "Came here to say this"
- Being condescending — "Actually, if you knew anything about..."
- Not reading the post — Answering a different question
- Ignoring subreddit rules — Each sub has guidelines
Strategy for Building Karma
- Find your subreddits — Pick 5-10 where you can add genuine value
- Sort by "Rising" — Comment on posts gaining traction
- Be early — First quality comments get more visibility
- Be thorough — Detailed answers outperform quick ones
- Engage in threads — Reply to replies, have conversations
Generate Thoughtful Reddit Comments
FlirtCopilot helps you craft insightful, valuable comments that add to the conversation without feeling promotional.
Get the Free Chrome ExtensionKey Takeaways
- Genuinely help people — karma follows value
- Share expertise and experiences
- Be authentic, not promotional
- Learn each subreddit's culture
- Engage in conversations, not just drive-bys