Monitoring Your Own Brand on Reddit
Monitoring your brand on Reddit might be the scariest thing you do all week. Because one of three things usually happens: someone’s recommending your tool (nice), no one’s talking about you (hmm), or someone’s saying something you really wish you hadn’t seen (ouch).
Two of those can knock the wind out of you, but they’re also signals that tell you how your brand is showing up in spaces you don’t control. Plus, even if it stings a little, it also builds founder muscle you didn’t know you needed.
This article will walk you through some of the best ways to monitor your brand on Reddit. From which tools to use to responding thoughtfully, and the common mistakes founders wish they’d avoided.
Let’s dive in.
Use Reddit Itself
When it comes to monitoring your brand on Reddit, sometimes the best tool is… Reddit. It’s free, direct, and surprisingly effective if you know how to look.
The simplest way is to just hop into Reddit’s search bar and look up your brand name. Use filters like “new” or “relevance” to catch the most recent discussions.
As Swayam Doshi, founder of Suspire, shared, he checks Reddit weekly for mentions of his brand. That habit has helped him catch early questions and feedback before they snowball.
If you want to refine your search, wrap your brand name in quotes – like “Your Brand” – to catch exact mentions. You can also use subreddit filters to hone in on where the conversation’s happening. Huang Xiong of BELTBUY recommends combining both:
“Use quotes for exact matches in Reddit’s search bar. Then filter with subreddit:[subreddit] + ‘Your Brand’ to get more focused results.”
Outside of Reddit itself, Google works just as well. Both Cody Jensen (Searchbloom) and Prerak Mehta (NetMafia) suggest the good old site:reddit.com “Your Brand” search trick. It’s a quick way to spot anything Reddit’s native search might miss, and a solid backup if you’re doing a wider sweep.
If you’re monitoring specific communities or working in a niche, bookmarking key subreddits and searching daily can be a great strategy.
“I bookmark a few relevant subreddits and run keyword searches like our brand name, product name, and even common misspellings,” said Nirmal Gyanwali, founder of WP Creative. “It takes 10 minutes a day, and it’s worth it.”
And for power users, RES (Reddit Enhancement Suite) can be a free and helpful companion. Josiah Lipsmeyer of Plasthetix Plastic Surgery Marketing says it’s a great way to track mentions across very specific subreddits in the medical space without getting overwhelmed.
Bottom line? You don’t need to pay for anything to start. You just need a few minutes a week, a handful of search tricks, and the willingness to look.
Use Google Alerts
If you’re not ready to venture into paid tools just yet, Google Alerts can still be your low-effort partner for catching Reddit mentions, especially when paired with a few clever search operators.
Peter Wootton, SEO Consultant at The SEO Consultant Agency, calls it “the easiest and most efficient way” to stay on top of brand conversations across the web, Reddit included. Just plug in your brand name and relevant keywords, and you’ll get pinged when someone’s talking.
Xiong takes it a step further with the site:reddit.com “[Your Brand Name]”.Set it up as a Google Alert, and it’ll keep you updated when your brand shows up in new Reddit threads.
This is also part of Doshi and Jensen’s regular workflow – combining Alerts with a bit of purposeful lurking and manual search for a scrappy but effective system.
But not everyone’s sold. Tim Hanson, Chief Marketing Officer at Penfriend, calls it “amateur hour,” preferring a more custom setup:
“What actually works is creating a custom RSS feed using Reddit’s search function – just add .rss to the end of any Reddit search URL.”
That way, you’re not only catching brand mentions in near-real time, but also tracking competitor names, misspellings, and even product-adjacent conversations.
Tim also reminds us not to obsess over just your brand name:
“I’ve seen founders miss crucial conversations because they only looked for exact brand matches. Track industry terms and the problem statements your product solves too.”
Sometimes the most valuable feedback isn’t directed at you, but hidden in the frustrations your product was made to fix. 😉
Have a Budget but Don’t Want to Spend $800 a Month? Use GummySearch.
Tools like GummySearch might not be 100% free, but it gives you direct access to what real people are saying about your brand, in their own words, on the world’s most honest platform. That’s all you need for now.
Pricing starts at $0/month, and even the Mega Plan, which includes high-volume search and data, caps at $199/month. That’s a fraction of what bigger names charge, and still gets you the insights you need to make the right decisions.
How to Use GummySearch to Monitor Your Brand on Reddit
GummySearch is what I use when I don’t want to check Reddit every single day. If I’d rather carve out one or two 30-minute blocks a week to see what’s going on (and act on it), this is how I do it.
Note: If you’ve got posts to reply to or active mentions rolling in, you might want to check in more often. But the goal here is to make the most of your time while still getting the best signal from your audience.
So let’s say I’m running HubSpot, and I want to know what startup founders are saying about us on Reddit. I’d start by opening up my Startup Founders audience inside GummySearch.
This audience includes 18 subreddits, all highly relevant, like r/startups, r/entrepreneur, r/marketing, r/business, and r/crm. Basically, the exact mix you’d want when your tool sits at the intersection of growth, sales, and early-stage building.
(And yeah, if I’m building something new – maybe a smaller CRM or a more focused tool – this audience would work just as well.)
There are a few ways I like to do this.
The Products Tab
Inside the Startup Founders audience, I’ll find the Products tab. With over 1,600 tools listed and plenty of reviews per category, it’s one of the easiest ways to see what real founders are saying about different tools.
There are 277 products listed under the CRM category alone, with more than 740 Reddit-sourced reviews to dig into.
Hubspot, for instance, shows up as the number one CRM in the list, and when I click into it, I’m greeted with a mix of reviews, all scraped from genuine Reddit conversations instead of incentivized testimonials from G2 or other review sites.
This kind of sentiment snapshot gives me an honest and detailed look at what users love and hate about the tool. And when you’re monitoring your own brand on Reddit, don’t worry if the reviews aren’t from last week. Unless your product’s had a major overhaul, the insights are still valid.
I can also search for any product or category using the Search Product Categories field. I just type in the name of the product or category I’d like to search, whether that’s within the SaaS Startup Founders audience or across all subreddits. Switching to all subreddits is especially helpful if your tool isn’t widely known yet.
Even if your product hasn’t been mentioned much, this is still valuable. You can research similar tools or competitors to see what your ideal users are saying about those.
And if your product fits into multiple categories, you can browse those too for a broader sense of where you fit in and how people are talking about the space.
Keyword Search: Ask, Patterns, and Sentiment Tabs
Inside my audience view, the Keyword Search field is front and center. It doesn’t just pull up relevant Reddit posts—it also unlocks a deeper layer of insight. Every keyword you search can be explored across the Patterns, Sentiment, and Ask tabs, helping you go beyond surface-level mentions and actually understand what your audience cares about.
Look for Patterns on a Single Tool
When I head over to the Patterns ✨ tab, GummySearch shows me the most recurring themes people mention alongside any keyword.
In HubSpot’s case, I’m seeing a lot of conversation around integrations, customization, and even the specific tools people are building around it. That alone could inspire new feature ideas, content topics, or even entire products.
I also spotted some solid competitive intelligence: threads comparing HubSpot to other CRMs like Salesforce and Pipedrive. One post asked which CRM is best for a small team, and the replies were full of honest experiences from people who’ve tried all three. That kind of trial-by-fire feedback is exactly the kind of thing I want when I’m trying to understand how my product stacks up.
Ask Your Audience Questions
Straight from the patterns, I can click over to the Ask✨ tab and type in a quick question like:
“What have people been saying about Hubspot?”
Simple as that. GummySearch will scan up to 100 relevant Reddit posts that match (and possibly answer) my question.
So based on those relevant discussions, GummySearch surfaces a mix of opinions around HubSpot. For Example, in this case: users mention that HubSpot gets expensive quickly and that many features sit behind a paywall.
For each of those insights, GummySearch links directly to the original Reddit posts so I can read the full thread, see how others respond, and gauge whether people are agreeing, disagreeing, or adding more context. It’s a great way to spot whether it’s worth joining the conversation. Either as the brand, or more casually using a personal Reddit account.
People are Talking About Your Tool. Now, How Do They Feel About It?
Another thing I like to check (this might be just as important as any mention itself) is sentiment. It’s one thing to know when people are talking about your product. It’s another thing to know how they feel when they do.
So, once I’ve done a quick keyword search for my brand name, I’ll head to the Sentiment✨ tab. That’s where GummySearch gives me a full analysis of how this audience is feeling about HubSpot across all 18 subreddits in the Startup Founders audience.
I’ll get:
- A timeline of sentiment (stretching back almost a full year)
- A breakdown of positive and negative themes
- And a quick summary of the top pros and cons people mention most often…
…complete with a list of real posts reflecting those opinions
(Ouch?)
I don’t need a post to say “I hate HubSpot” in bold text to catch a red flag. Sometimes the most useful insights are tucked inside a frustrated question or a backhanded compliment.
As founders, one of the most valuable skills we can build is learning to read between the lines and listen not just for praise or complaints, but for signals.
Tracking Keywords
And by the way…even if I don’t find any mentions this week, that’s completely fine.
Because I can also track a keyword in GummySearch. That could be my brand name, a competitor, “CRMs,” or any other term I want the platform to monitor. All I have to do is go to Keyword Search, type in the keyword I want to track, and click the track icon🔔.
Depending on what I’m looking for, I’ll sometimes use the AI match criteria field to describe the kinds of posts I want to surface (or what to filter out). But in this case, I just wanted GummySearch to show me any mention of HubSpot, so I tracked the keyword without adding criteria.
Once I’ve done that, I can manage everything from the Conversations 💬 page:
- See all my tracked searches
- Review any new mentions
- View bookmarks I’ve saved
- Send updates to Slack or Discord to keep the team in the loop
- Get basic reports so I always have a snapshot of what’s happening
- And even choose how I want to receive alerts: email, daily, weekly, monthly, whatever works best
It’s quick to set up, easy to monitor, and keeps me updated without needing to check Reddit every day.
How to Intently Engage in Reddit Discussions About Your Brand (and Mistakes to Avoid)
Reddit has its own rhythm, tone, and expectations.
That’s why Huang Xiong’s guide to brand engagement on Reddit feels like required reading. Below, we’ve expanded on his core points using real advice and stories from other founders who’ve had their fair share of wins and missteps in the unpredictable front lines of Reddit.
1. Add Value First
Xiong suggests opening with context, not a pitch:
“If someone asks for alternatives to your product, say: ‘Hey, I’m (Name) from (Brand). Our tool does (X), but if you need (specific feature), (Competitor A) might be a better fit. Happy to answer questions!’”
Cody Jensen echoes this with a reminder to “show up like a regular”:
“If you find a thread talking about your brand, don’t crash the party with a megaphone. Show up like a regular, maybe even with a throwaway account, and join the convo like you’re not trying to sell anything… Reddit’s not an audience but a room full of smart, skeptical people.”
2. Be Transparent
Trying to hide who you are never ends well. “You need to always disclose your affiliation: ‘Full disclosure: I work at (Brand)’ in your response,” Xiong suggests.
Tim Hanson agrees, adding:
“Most importantly, never bullshit Redditors… Admit mistakes, explain what you’re doing to fix them, and follow up.”
3. Respond to Criticism Gracefully
“Bad Response: ‘You’re wrong – our product works fine.’
Good Response: ‘Sorry to hear this! Can you share details via DM so we can fix it?’” – Xiong
Swayam Doshi puts it this way:
“Treat it like feedback from a friend. Show you’re listening, explain transparently, and say thanks.”
And Josiah Lipsmeyer shares how he learned this the hard way:
“I made the mistake once of jumping into a thread about surgical procedures with a promotional angle, but now I focus on providing educational value first.”
4. Engage Beyond Self-Interest
Founders agree: lurking first, engaging naturally, and being helpful even outside of brand mentions builds trust:
“Participate in discussions unrelated to your brand to build trust (e.g., answer industry questions),” says Xiong.
Tim Hanson echoes,
“The cardinal rule: Be a genuine community member first and a brand representative second.”
Common Mistakes (and What to Do Instead)
Xiong has also laid out four of the most common missteps brands make, and how to fix them. Other founders chime in with their own takes and tweaks.
Mistake #1: Defensive or Corporate Replies
“You argue with users or use jargon like ‘As per our policy…’ You need to apologize, take responsibility, and offer solutions.”
This is a major one Xiong swears by. Gyanwali also notes that tone makes all the difference:
“The biggest mistake I see is brands replying with a corporate tone or dropping links out of nowhere. It kills trust instantly.”
Mistake #2: Stealth Promotion
Dropping your link into a Reddit thread just because it feels sort of related? That’s how you get flagged and/or ignored. As Xiong puts it:
“Only share links when directly relevant, and ask moderators for permission first.”
Mistake #3: Ignoring Reddit Culture
Skipping “Reddit 101” is an easy way to get buried. Xiong warns:
“Avoid using emojis, hashtags, or overly formal language. Lurk in subreddits to learn local norms (e.g., humor, inside jokes).”
And he’s not the only one calling this out. Hanson has seen it firsthand:
“I’ve seen brands copy-paste their LinkedIn responses to Reddit and get absolutely destroyed.”
Jensen adds another sharp reminder:
“Reddit can smell (marketing) from miles away… If you’re not listening first, you’re just noise.”
Mistake #4: Over-Engaging
It’s tempting to jump into every thread where your brand is mentioned, but that can backfire.
“Replying to every mention can seem desperate. Prioritize impactful threads (e.g., viral posts, critical feedback).” – Xiong
Hanson cautions against only showing up when something’s gone wrong, and then trying to take the conversation behind closed doors.
“Other common failures: Responding only to negative mentions while ignoring neutral discussions… Asking people to DM instead of resolving issues publicly.”
When you handle things out in the open, you’re showing the whole subreddit how you respond, which builds credibility far more effectively than a private exchange ever could.
Bonus Mistake: Sounding Like a Bot
Reddit isn’t a place to “manage brand reputation.” It’s a place to show up honestly, talk like a human, and listen. If you do that, Reddit might forgive you for being a business. It might even welcome you thanks to your transparency. Mehta opens up:
“Biggest mistake? Sounding like a bot. I’ve been guilty of copy-pasting AI-generated replies before… Now, I feed my own thoughts into AI tools for structure, but the voice is mine.”
The Results Speak for Themselves
“When a user questioned the pricing of our compostable packaging,” said Doshi, “I replied honestly, sharing our production process and cost structure – without pushing products.” That thread got over 50 upvotes and drove an 18% increase in website traffic the following week.
Mehta shared a different but equally intentional tactic. He said, “I provide thoughtful answers before subtly suggesting the videos for additional content to viewers who show interest. This approach now drives 40% of my external YouTube traffic from Reddit alone.”
Some Final Tough Love from a Founder
Reddit’s not always comfortable. Sometimes you’ll find praise. Sometimes silence. Sometimes criticism. But if you’re building something worth talking about, someone’s talking about it. Better to be in the room than in the dark.
