content-reddit

# Reddit Post Generation ## Before You Start 1. **Identify the target subreddit**: Different subreddits have radically different cultures, rules, and expectations. You must tailor content to the specific community. 2. **Check for subreddit profile**: Look in `subreddit-profiles/` for a profile of the target subreddit. If one exists, follow its guidance. If not, research the subreddit's rules and culture before writing. 3. **Check for brand voice**: Read `brand/VOICE.md` if it exists. Reddit requires the most aggressive voice adaptation of any platform -- brand voice must be subordinated to subreddit culture. If the brand voice conflicts with subreddit norms, subreddit norms win. 4. **Gather inputs**: Topic, target subreddit, post type (discussion, resource share, question, Show-style), any links or projects to share. --- ## Reddit's Anti-Marketing Culture Reddit's users are among the most marketing-averse audiences on the internet. Understanding this is non-negotiable. **Core principles:** - Reddit communities exist for their members, not for brands - Redditors can detect promotional content instantly and will punish it - Value must come first; any mention of a product, service, or project must be secondary to the value the post provides - Authenticity is the only currency that works on Reddit - Being upfront about affiliations earns respect; hiding them destroys credibility **Consequence of getting it wrong:** - Post gets downvoted to zero - Comments call out the promotional intent - Account gets flagged or banned from the subreddit - Brand reputation takes a hit with the most vocal tech community on the internet --- ## Subreddit Research Protocol Before writing for any subreddit, understand: ### 1. Rules - Read the sidebar rules completely - Check for required post formats (flair, title format, content requirements) - Note any banned content types (self-promotion, link posts, memes) ### 2. Culture - What tone do top posts use? (Technical? Casual? Meme-heavy? Serious?) - How long are successful posts? (One paragraph? Multi-section?) - What kind of content gets upvoted vs. downvoted? - How do community members talk to each other? ### 3. Self-Promotion Rules - Most subreddits follow the "10% rule": no more than 10% of your activity should be self-promotional - Some subreddits have specific self-promotion threads or days - Some ban self-promotion entirely - "Show" posts (sharing your own project) are usually acceptable if they follow the community's norms for transparency ### 4. Existing Conversations - Has this topic been discussed recently? If so, consider commenting on the existing thread instead of creating a new one - What questions or complaints come up repeatedly? Address those proactively in your post --- ## Post Types ### Discussion Post - Opens with an observation, question, or thesis - Invites genuine debate (not "Agree?") - Shows the poster has thought about the topic before posting - Includes the poster's own perspective as a starting point ### Resource Share / Link Post - The title should describe what the resource is and why it's valuable - If sharing your own work, say so explicitly - Add a comment explaining context: what it is, why you built/wrote it, what feedback you are looking for ### Question Post - Show you have already done basic research (Reddit hates "let me Google that for you" situations) - Be specific about your setup, what you have tried, and where you are stuck - Format code or technical details clearly ### Show-Style Post (Sharing Your Own Work) - Be transparent: "I built this" not "Check out this cool tool" (which hides your affiliation) - Lead with what the project does and why it exists - Include technical details the community cares about - Acknowledge limitations and what is not finished - Ask for specific feedback, not just "thoughts?" - See `anti-shill.md` for the full anti-promotional playbook --- ## Anti-Shill Rules Read `anti-shill.md` before writing any post that mentions a product, project, or service. The core rules: 1. **Lead with value.** The post must be genuinely useful even if the reader never clicks a link or tries the product. 2. **Be transparent.** If you built it, say you built it. If you work for the company, say so. 3. **Engage genuinely.** Respond to criticism honestly. Do not get defensive. Do not astroturf. 4. **Never fake grassroots enthusiasm.** No "I just discovered this amazing tool" when you are the founder. 5. **Respect the subreddit's self-promotion rules.** If the subreddit says no self-promotion, do not self-promote. --- ## Subreddit Profiles Pre-built culture guides for common subreddits are available in `subreddit-profiles/`: | Profile | Subreddit | |---|---| | `r-programming.md` | r/programming | | `r-python.md` | r/python | | `r-devops.md` | r/devops | | `r-selfhosted.md` | r/selfhosted | For subreddits without a profile, follow the subreddit research protocol above. --- ## Reddit Voice Adaptation Regardless of brand voice, Reddit content must: - Sound like a real person, not a brand - Use the subreddit's vocabulary and tone - Match the community's level of formality (r/programming is different from r/ProgrammerHumor) - Never use marketing language, superlatives, or corporate framing - Be direct. Reddit rewards brevity and clarity. - Admit what you do not know. Reddit respects intellectual honesty. --- ## Formatting for Reddit Reddit uses Markdown. Key formatting tips: - Use headers sparingly (one or two per post, not a header for every paragraph) - Use bullet lists for technical specs, features, or comparisons - Use code blocks for code (triple backticks or 4-space indent) - Bold key terms if the post is long, to aid scanning - Keep paragraphs short -- Reddit is often read on mobile - TL;DR at the top or bottom for longer posts --- ## Output Checklist Before delivering a Reddit post: - [ ] Target subreddit is identified and its rules are followed - [ ] Post type matches the content and the subreddit's norms - [ ] Tone matches the subreddit's culture (not generic internet voice) - [ ] Zero marketing language or promotional framing - [ ] If self-promotional: transparency is explicit and anti-shill rules are followed - [ ] Post adds genuine value to the community - [ ] Formatting uses Reddit Markdown correctly - [ ] Title is descriptive (not clickbait, not vague) - [ ] If the post is long, a TL;DR is included - [ ] The poster sounds like a community member, not a brand ambassador