Using Reddit to Grow Your Newsletter: Actionable Strategies That Work

Most newsletter publishers obsess over the same growth channels.

Meta Ads. Beehiiv Boosts. X. LinkedIn.

Meanwhile, one of the internet's largest platforms - with billions of monthly pageviews and highly engaged niche communities - sits largely untapped by newsletter operators.

I'm talking about Reddit.

I recently came across an incredibly valuable thread in r/beehiiv where a user (u/ronin657) was offering personalized Reddit growth strategies to newsletter publishers. 

The insights shared were gold, with dozens of newsletter operators receiving tailored advice for their specific niches.

Let’s break down the advice in the thread 👇

1. Find your audience's digital neighborhoods

The first step is identifying the right subreddits where your ideal readers already gather.

These aren't just broadly related communities. They're specific digital neighborhoods where discussions relevant to your content naturally happen.

For example:

• A finance newsletter might target r/personalfinance, r/investing, and r/financialindependence

• A coffee newsletter would focus on r/coffee, r/cafe, and r/barista

• A SaaS-focused newsletter could engage with r/SaaS, r/startups, and r/Entrepreneur

The key is to find communities where your expertise adds genuine value, not just places to drop your links.

1. Master the art of contribution-first promotion

Here's where most publishers get Reddit wrong: they drop their links and disappear.

Successful newsletter operators take a different approach:

• Provide standalone value first: Share insights from your newsletter as text posts without linking back. Start conversations, answer questions, and establish yourself as a thoughtful community member.

• Use case studies and success stories: Reddit loves specific examples and results. Share real-world stories that demonstrate your expertise without feeling like marketing.

• Create educational content: Break down complex topics into actionable advice. The best Reddit posts teach readers something valuable in the post itself, with the newsletter as an optional next step.

• Start meaningful discussions: Ask thought-provoking questions related to your expertise. Genuinely engage with responses and build relationships.

When you do eventually share your newsletter, frame it as an extension of the value you're already providing, not as your primary goal.

1. The 90/10 formula for Reddit growth

The publishers seeing the best results follow a simple ratio: 90% pure contribution, 10% subtle promotion.

For every post that mentions your newsletter, make at least nine valuable contributions with no self-promotion. This approach builds credibility and goodwill before you ask for anything in return.

Even in that 10%, focus on showcasing specific content rather than just saying “subscribe to my newsletter.” A post titled “I analyzed 50 SaaS pricing pages and found these 5 patterns” will outperform “Check out my SaaS newsletter” every time.

Remember that Reddit is a long-term channel. 

The publishers seeing the best results have been consistently engaging for months, building their reputation comment by comment.

The beauty of this approach is that it transforms what most see as just another marketing channel into something much more valuable: a two-way conversation with your most engaged potential readers. 

And those readers who find you through your genuine contributions often become your most loyal subscribers.

See you next week, 

Craig

P.S. Once you start growing your audience through Reddit, you'll want to make sure you're monetizing effectively. That's why we built Wellput – to help publishers keep their premium inventory filled with quality sponsors. 

Turn your growing audience into sustainable revenue. Try Wellput today.