Reddit marketing for local businesses: city subreddits done right
City subs are where locals ask 'where should I go for X'. They're also fiercely protective. What a local member can honestly recommend, what gets a business banned, and how to find the right local Redditor.
Where the decisions happen
Your city's main sub (r/nyc, r/Austin, r/london), its neighbourhood and 'ask' spin-offs (r/AskNYC), and the local interest subs (r/[city]food, r/[city]fitness).
How these communities treat brands
Locals police these subs against businesses harder than almost anywhere — a new account praising a restaurant is spotted and mocked in minutes. But 'best X in town' threads are constant, and a known local's recommendation in one is the single most valuable review a business can get.
Briefs that work here
- A genuine recommendation in a 'where should I go for X' thread from a member with real history in the city sub — disclosed if the sub requires it.
- A 'we tried five [category] places' comparison from a local, with yours honestly placed.
- Never: fake customer posts, event spam, or anything from a business account outside the sub's promo thread if one exists.
Who to ask for
Tenure in the specific city sub is everything; category Local plus your business type; one sub. Budgets are small; the right person is rare.
What to measure
Foot traffic and 'saw you on Reddit'; the thread ranking for '[category] [city] reddit'. The measurement guide covers the method.
Start this week
- See who's listed: Local, Food, Home & DIY, Real Estate.
- Post a job using the brief template — free, anonymous until a creator expresses interest.
- Verify the applicants' Reddit accounts, pick one or two, talk on X, hire.
Questions people ask
- Can I post about my product in these subreddits myself?
- Read each sub's rules. Some have a promo thread or a flair for makers; most niche communities remove vendor posts on sight. The durable recommendations come from members, which is why you brief a creator with standing there instead.
- How much does this cost?
- Creators set their own rates per post, per comment or per month, and BidPanda takes 0% of the deal. Post a job with a budget range and see who's interested; posting is free.
- How do I know the creator is really active in these subs?
- Their profile lists the subreddits they post in and links their public Reddit account. Open it in incognito, confirm the BidPanda link in their bio, read their recent posts there. Two minutes.