Reddit Marketing Without Getting Banned: 9 AI Prompts for Community-First Growth
AI prompts to turn Reddit into your strategy partner
These 9 prompts turn AI into your Reddit strategy partner without triggering the community’s BS detector.
Hey there!
The Problem (And Your Solution)
You’ve tried posting on Reddit. Maybe you got banned. Maybe your posts got zero traction. Maybe someone called you a “shill” and your karma tanked.
Reddit has 430 million monthly users who spend an average of 34 minutes per session. That’s longer than Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. But the platform destroys marketers who show up with a sales pitch.
What you need: prompts that help you contribute value first, build credibility second, and market third. These 9 prompts turn AI into your Reddit strategy partner without triggering the community’s BS detector.
You’ll get prompts for researching communities, crafting helpful responses, positioning your expertise naturally, and scaling your presence across multiple subreddits. No spam. No bans. Just genuine engagement that builds your brand.
Why This Works Right Now
Reddit’s algorithm changed in 2024 to prioritize accounts with established karma and community participation history. Cold posting links to your stuff is dead on arrival.
These prompts help you build genuine community credibility while positioning your expertise. They’re designed around Reddit’s actual rules and community expectations, not generic social media tactics that get you flagged.
Prompt #1: Subreddit Deep Dive Analysis
What it does: Maps out a subreddit’s culture, rules, hot topics, and engagement patterns so you know exactly how to participate without looking like an outsider.
When to use it: Before making your first post or comment in any new subreddit.
The Prompt:
Analyze r/[SUBREDDIT NAME] for me. I want to participate authentically without breaking community norms.
Give me:
1. Top 3 content types that get the most engagement (with examples from the last 30 days)
2. Unwritten rules I need to follow (tone, formatting, what’s considered spam)
3. Common questions or problems the community discusses repeatedly
4. Best times to post based on when top posts were published
5. Red flags that would identify me as a marketer trying to sell something
Format this as a quick reference guide I can check before posting.How to use it:
Run this for every subreddit you want to target
Save the output as a reference doc
Review it before each posting session to stay aligned with community norms
Example input:
Analyze r/smallbusiness for me. I want to participate authentically without breaking community norms.What you’ll get: A breakdown of what works in that specific community, including posting patterns, tone expectations, and topics that get traction.
Pro tip: Run this analysis again every 3 months. Subreddit cultures shift, and what worked in January might annoy people by April.
Prompt #2: Value-First Comment Generator
What it does: Creates genuinely helpful comments that showcase your expertise without being promotional.
When to use it: When you find a post where you can actually help someone with their problem.
The Prompt:
I’m commenting on this Reddit post: [PASTE POST TITLE AND DESCRIPTION]
My expertise is in: [YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE]
Write a helpful comment that:
- Directly answers their question or addresses their problem
- Includes 2-3 specific, actionable steps they can take
- Shows I understand their situation
- Does NOT mention my business, product or service
- Ends with an open-ended question that continues the conversation
Keep it conversational and avoid corporate language. Make it sound like I’m just another Redditor who happens to know this stuff.How to use it:
Find posts where you can genuinely help
Copy the post content
Run the prompt with your expertise area
Customize the output to match your natural voice
Example input:
I’m commenting on this Reddit post: “How do I get my first 100 email subscribers without spending money on ads?”
My expertise is in: Email marketing and lead generation
[Rest of prompt...]What you’ll get: A helpful, non-promotional comment that establishes you as someone knowledgeable without triggering spam sensors.
Pro tip: Wait for OP to respond to your comment before adding any follow-up that might reference your own resources. Let them ask you for more info.
Prompt #3: Post Idea Generator (Non-Promotional)
What it does: Creates post ideas that provide massive value to the community while naturally positioning your expertise.
When to use it: When you want to create original posts that get upvoted and generate discussion.
The Prompt:
Generate 5 post ideas for r/[SUBREDDIT NAME] related to [YOUR TOPIC/EXPERTISE].
Each idea should:
- Solve a common problem or answer a frequent question in this community
- Be formatted as [List/Guide/Case Study/Analysis/Story] that I can create
- Take 5-10 minutes for someone to read and implement
- Provide value even if they never visit my website or buy anything
- NOT directly promote my business
For each idea give me:
- Post title (Reddit-friendly, not clickbait)
- 3-4 key points to cover
- Why this would resonate with this specific communityHow to use it:
Run for your target subreddits
Pick the idea that you can execute best
Create the actual content before posting
Example input:
Generate 5 post ideas for r/freelance related to client management and avoiding scope creep.
[Rest of prompt...]What you’ll get: Five genuine post concepts that help the community while showcasing what you know.
Pro tip: Test your best idea in a smaller, related subreddit first to see how it performs before posting in the larger community.
Prompt #4: Discussion Starter That Builds Authority
What it does: Creates engaging discussion posts that get lots of comments and establish you as a thoughtful community member.
When to use it: When you want to build karma and visibility without being self-promotional.
The Prompt:
Create a discussion post for r/[SUBREDDIT NAME] about [TOPIC].
Frame it as me asking the community for their experiences with [SPECIFIC ASPECT OF TOPIC].
Include:
- A brief (2-3 sentence) personal anecdote that shows I have real experience with this
- 3-4 specific questions that encourage detailed responses
- A note that I’ll respond to everyone who comments
- Casual language that matches Reddit’s tone
Make it clear I’m genuinely curious about others’ approaches, not positioning myself as an expert.How to use it:
Choose a topic where you have experience but want to learn from others
Actually commit to responding to every comment
Use those responses to build relationships
Example input:
Create a discussion post for r/marketing about cold email strategies.
Frame it as me asking the community for their experiences with getting responses without annoying people.
[Rest of prompt...]What you’ll get: A discussion prompt that feels authentic and generates real conversation.
Pro tip: Save the best responses you get and reference them in future comments (with credit). This builds goodwill and shows you value the community’s knowledge.
Prompt #5: Objection Handler for Skeptical Communities
What it does: Helps you address common objections or skepticism about your industry/approach in a way that doesn’t sound defensive.
When to use it: When someone challenges your comment or post, or when you’re discussing a controversial topic in your field.
The Prompt:
Someone on Reddit said: [PASTE THEIR COMMENT OR OBJECTION]
This is about [CONTEXT OF DISCUSSION].
Help me respond in a way that:
- Acknowledges their valid concerns
- Shares my different perspective without being defensive
- Backs up my point with specific examples or data
- Stays friendly and conversational
- Invites further discussion rather than shutting it down
I want to sound like someone who’s open to being wrong, not a marketer defending my turf.How to use it:
Use when you get pushback on your comments or posts
Customize the output to match your voice
Add your own experience if relevant
Example input:
Someone on Reddit said: “All email marketing is spam. Nobody wants more emails.”
This is about a discussion on r/entrepreneur about building an email list.
[Rest of prompt...]What you’ll get: A measured response that respects their viewpoint while sharing yours, without coming across as defensive or salesy.
Pro tip: Sometimes the best response is to simply upvote their comment and not argue. Pick your battles.
The Next Level
You just got 5 prompts that help you research communities, add value through comments, and create genuine discussion posts. Those will keep you from getting banned.
But there’s a gap between “not getting banned” and “actually growing your business through Reddit.”
The next 4 prompts handle the advanced stuff:
Turning Reddit engagement into actual business results without being promotional
Scaling your presence across multiple subreddits efficiently
Plus: A Reddit posting calendar template