Leveraging Reddit for SEO/GEO Success

Published by

Paul Dughi

Reddit threads regularly appear in Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs) because they often provide rich, human-led discussion and answers. Reddit is now the second most visited site via search traffic in the U.S. with more than 600 million queries are resulting in traffic to Reddit threads.

More importantly for GEO (generative engine optimization), the rise of AI search, large language models (LLMs) and “AI Overviews” (chatbot-style results) means content from Reddit is now being used as source material or cited. Reddit threads are being treated as credible content by AI systems.

Shifts in SEO

SEO has always been about more than keywords and backlinks. Today, however, SEO is shifting from traffic-focused to conversion-focused. Google now favors first-hand experience and content that demonstrates expertise. This means: user-intent, conversational queries, community-authority, and engagement are more important than ever.

Good Place for Finding Trending Content

Using Reddit, you can tap into real-world questions, pain points and phrasing your target audience actually uses. Several guides list how you can scour relevant subreddits for content ideas, long-tail terms, and trending topics.

Good guide from the folks at WebFX about unlocking the power of Reddit.

How to Use Reddit for SEO & GEO

Here’s a quick overview of the steps to take.

Set up your Reddit presence (authentically)

Create an account (or accounts) where you will contribute genuinely, not just drop links.
Build a small history: contributions, upvotes, comments, participation in the community. This helps with Reddit’s trust-mechanisms (and helps content perform).
For GEO: consider how your brand/account looks to LLMs and AI systems. Consistent identity and contribution help credibility.

Identify the right subreddits & target queries

Find subreddits where your target audience is (example: if you’re a local business, find regional or niche subreddits).
Use Reddit search (or external tools): Find threads where people ask questions you can answer. For instance, “best electrician in Atlanta”, “how to pick a plumber in Buckhead” etc.
Look for conversational keywords: These mimic how people ask AI/LLM questions. Tip: According to a guide, Reddit’s own search engine rewards titles that mirror how users phrase problems.

Research the language & phrasing

Read threads where your topics appear: note how people phrase concerns, what words they use, what their pain points are.
Use those phrasing ideas to craft Reddit posts AND also to inform your website content for SEO. Reddit becomes a mirror into how you audience talks.

Participate and contribute value

Post: Don’t just be a lurker. Write useful posts (not just link to your blog). Provide a solid answer, embed your site as a helpful resource if relevant.
Comment: respond to threads, ask questions, provide insight. Good engagement triggers Reddit’s internal signals (upvotes, comments) which improves visibility, and tells AI systems that this content is trusted.
Avoid heavy self-promotion. Only about 10% should be promotional; the rest should be informational.

Anchor threads back to your website

When appropriate, include links to your own content (blog posts, resources) as part of a broader answer. But the thread itself must stand alone and for gosh sakes, don’t don’t post “click here” only.
The idea: Reddit thread becomes an entry point + signal for your brand/content; it may boost your visibility both in Reddit search, Google, and AI search.

The GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) layer

Because LLMs and AI search increasingly pull from community content (like Reddit), your presence on Reddit can influence how your brand appears in AI-driven results.

Optimize for GEO by:

Using real-world, conversational queries in your Reddit titles and comments.
Choosing threads with high engagement potential, so they perform in Reddit internal ranking and external search.
Aligning your website and Reddit content strategy so they reinforce each other.
Track over time if Reddit traffic is coming in, whether your brand is mentioned in AI-generated answers/summaries, and if your site’s SEO metrics improve.

Measure and scale

Use analytics (Google Analytics, Reddit metrics if possible) to see which threads bring traffic or engagement.
Look for increases in branded search queries, mentions of your brand in Reddit, backlinks (natural ones) etc.
Scale by repeating the process: join more subreddits, create more threads, test midday vs evening posting times, vary your content style.
Use Reddit Search and external tools to see what threads are ranking and why.

And…

Each subreddit has its own rules about self-promotion, link dropping, formatting, etc. Violating rules can get you banned and harm the brand. So, take the time to understand the rules to avoid hurting your brand.

When you post can also make a difference. When a subreddit is most active and has early engagement, it boosts visibility.

Finally, remember that Reddit is just part of your strategy. Algorithms can change in an instant.

IMAGE: Photo by Brett Jordan from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-smartphone-screen-7568293/

About the Author

Paul Dughi is the CEO at StrongerContent.com with more than 30 years of experience as a journalist, content strategist, and Emmy-award winning writer/producer. Paul has earned more than 30 regional and national awards for journalistic excellence and earned credentials in SEO, content marketing, and AI optimization from Google. HubSpot, Moz, Facebook, LinkedIn, SEMRush, eMarketing Institute, Local Media Association, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), and Vanderbilt University.