Reddit Post Writer

Write Reddit posts and comments that earn upvotes by leading with genuine value. The affiliate recommendation comes second — after trust is built. Reddit users have a finely tuned spam detector. This skill helps affiliates write like Redditors, not marketers.

Stage

This skill belongs to Stage S2: Content

When to Use

• User wants to drive affiliate traffic from Reddit
• User wants to recommend a product in a relevant subreddit
• User is active in a community and wants to add a helpful product mention
• User has a genuine experience with a product and wants to share it naturally
• User asks how to participate on Reddit without getting banned for self-promotion

Input Schema

{
  product: {
    name: string              # (required) "Notion"
    description: string       # (optional) What the product does
    url: string               # (optional) Affiliate link — used in disclosure only
    reward_value: string      # (optional) Commission — never revealed in post
  }
  subreddit: string           # (optional) Target subreddit, e.g., "r/productivity"
  post_type: string           # (optional, default: auto) "post" | "comment_reply" | "ama_style"
  trigger_question: string    # (optional) Specific Reddit question or post you're replying to
  personal_experience: string # (optional) Real experience with the product to use as anchor
  audience: string            # (optional) Who reads this subreddit — "students", "developers"
  tone: string                # (optional, default: "genuine") "genuine" | "analytical" | "casual"
  problem_focus: string       # (optional) The specific problem this post addresses
}

Workflow

Step 1: Understand Reddit Culture First

Before writing, confirm the target subreddit context. If subreddit is provided, use web_search "reddit r/[subreddit] rules affiliate" to check:

• Are affiliate links explicitly banned? (many subreddits ban them outright)
• What post formats are most common? (links, text posts, discussions)
• What gets upvoted vs. downvoted in this community?
• Is there a community expectation of neutrality or personal experience?

Subreddits that generally tolerate product mentions: r/productivity, r/entrepreneur, r/Entrepreneur, r/sidehustle, r/personalfinance, r/freelance, r/marketing, r/SEO, r/webdev, r/startups, r/smallbusiness

Subreddits that are extremely ban-happy about promotion: r/frugal, r/cscareerquestions, r/AskReddit, r/personalfinance (strict on direct links)

If subreddit bans affiliate links: do NOT write a post with a link. Instead, write a post that mentions the product by name with a note like "Search for [product] affiliate program if interested." Disclose and redirect.

Step 2: Determine the Post Type

Option A — Original Post (new thread): Best when there's no existing discussion. Write a story, question, or breakdown that organically leads to a product mention.

• "How I went from X to Y — the exact tools I used"
• "Anyone else use [product] for [use case]? Here's my 6-month review"
• "I tested 5 [category] tools so you don't have to — honest breakdown"

Option B — Comment Reply (responding to an existing post): Highest trust format. Someone asks "what tool do you use for X?" and you reply helpfully.

• Write a substantive answer that doesn't mention the product until the 3rd+ paragraph
• Add value even without the product mention — if removed, the comment should still be helpful
• Product mention: "Personally, I use [product] and it's been solid for [specific use case]"

Option C — AMA-Style / Experience Share: "I've been doing [X] for [N] years. Happy to share what's worked."

• Opens conversation, positions creator as authority
• Product naturally comes up when people ask "what tools do you use?"

If trigger_question is provided → use Option B. Otherwise, default to Option A.

Step 3: Research Product and Find Reddit-Specific Angles

Use web_search "reddit [product name] review" to find:

• What real Reddit users are saying about the product (use their language)
• Common objections raised on Reddit (address these proactively)
• How competitors are discussed (context for framing)
• Questions people ask that your post can answer

Also use web_search "reddit [problem space] best tools" to understand:

• What alternatives Redditors currently recommend
• How to frame your recommendation as additive, not replacing their preferences
• What not to say (phrases that get downvoted in this community)

Step 4: Write the Post

Reddit post structure that converts:

1. Title (for new posts): specific, searchable, sounds like a real person's question or story

   • Good: "I tried 4 project management tools over 2 years — here's what I actually use now"
   • Bad: "The BEST productivity tool I've ever used!! (link in post)"
   • Good: "[6 months update] How I finally stopped context-switching between apps"

2. Opening paragraph: establish credibility or relatability. NO product mention here.

   • "I've been freelancing for 3 years and I'm embarrassed by how long I tried to manage everything in spreadsheets."

3. Body: share the actual useful content — your experience, the problem, what you tried. This section should be valuable even without the product mention.

4. Product introduction (70-80% through the post): introduce naturally.

   • "Eventually I landed on [product] and I've stuck with it for [X months]."
   • Specific use case: what exactly you use it for, not vague praise
   • ONE honest con: "It's not perfect — the mobile app is weak — but for desktop work it's exactly what I needed." Cons dramatically increase trust.

5. FTC disclosure (at the bottom):

   • "Full disclosure: the link in my profile leads to an affiliate link. No extra cost to you, and I would recommend this tool regardless."
   • Or if not posting a link: "Not affiliated, just a genuine fan."
   • Per shared/references/ftc-compliance.md — disclosure is required for Reddit too.

6. Closing: invite discussion, not clicks.

   • "Happy to answer questions about my workflow in the comments."
   • Ask a question back: "What does your current setup look like?"

Step 5: Anti-Spam Checklist

Before finalizing, run through this checklist:

• Post adds value even if the product mention is removed
• No exclamation marks in praise ("This tool is AMAZING!!")
• No superlatives without evidence ("best tool I've ever used" → needs qualifier)
• Affiliate link goes in comments or profile bio, NOT the main post body (most subreddits)
• FTC disclosure is present and clear
• Post doesn't read like a press release
• Includes at least one real limitation or caveat about the product
• Tone matches the subreddit (match voice to community)
• Username context matters — new accounts posting affiliate content get instant downvotes

Step 6: Add Engagement Strategy

Reddit rewards participation, not broadcasting. Include:

1. Reply strategy: when commenters respond, how to keep conversation going naturally
2. Upvote path: what type of engagement to solicit (awards, saves, discussion)
3. Subreddit timing: best day/time to post in this subreddit
4. Cross-post candidates: which other subreddits this post could work in

Output Schema

{
  post: {
    type: string              # "post" | "comment_reply" | "ama_style"
    subreddit: string         # "r/productivity"
    title: string | null      # For new posts only
    body: string              # Full post/comment body
    link_placement: string    # Where to put the affiliate link
    disclosure: string        # The disclosure text used
    char_count: number
  }
  subreddit_notes: {
    allows_affiliate_links: boolean
    community_tone: string
    best_post_time: string
    cross_post_subreddits: string[]
  }
  engagement_tips: string[]
  product_name: string
  content_angle: string
}

Output Format

## Reddit Post: [Product Name]

**Type:** [New Post / Comment Reply / AMA-style]
**Target Subreddit:** [r/subreddit]
**Subreddit allows affiliate links:** [Yes / No / Link in comments only]

---

### Post Title (for new posts)

[Post title here]

---

### Post Body

[Full post text, formatted with Reddit markdown — use **bold**, *italic*, > quotes
as appropriate. Paragraphs separated by blank lines.]

---

### Link Placement

[Where to put the affiliate link — in post, in comment, or profile bio — and why]

---

### Subreddit Notes

- **Community tone:** [What vibe this subreddit has]
- **Best time to post:** [Day and time]
- **Watch out for:** [Specific rules or sensitivities]

---

### Cross-Post Opportunities

This post could also work in:
1. [r/subreddit2] — [why]
2. [r/subreddit3] — [why]

---

### Engagement Tips

1. [How to respond to likely comments]
2. [How to handle skeptics or downvotes]
3. [When to resurface this content]

---

### Alternative Angles

- **[Alternative 1]:** [Different framing for the same product]
- **[Alternative 2]:** [...]

Error Handling

• Subreddit bans affiliate links outright: Flag this clearly. Rewrite without a direct link — mention the product by name only, disclosure becomes "not affiliated, genuine rec." Suggest building karma in the subreddit first with unrelated helpful posts.
• No personal experience provided: Write from a researched perspective but clearly label it as such ("Based on what I've seen from other users..."). Recommend the user add their own experience before posting — fabricated personal experience on Reddit gets called out.
• Product is controversial on Reddit: Acknowledge the controversy directly in the post. "I know [product] gets mixed reviews here. Here's my honest take after [X months]..." This signals authenticity and pre-empts downvote brigading.
• User asks to mass-post the same content: Refuse this pattern. It's spam and will result in account bans. Write unique versions for each subreddit.
• New Reddit account: Add warning: "New accounts posting affiliate content are immediately suspect. Build 3-6 months of genuine participation first."
• Product has no free tier / high price: Don't hide this. State the price early. "It's not cheap — $X/mo — but here's why it's been worth it for me."

Examples

Example 1: User: "Write a Reddit post for r/productivity recommending Notion" → No trigger question → write original post → Title: "Finally stopped fighting my productivity system — 18 months with Notion" → Body: relatable struggle with scattered notes → what I tried → landed on Notion → specific workflows I use → honest con (learning curve) → disclosure at bottom → Affiliate link in first comment, not the post body

Example 2: User: "Someone on r/freelance asked 'what tools do you use to manage clients?' — write a reply" → Comment reply format, responding to that specific question → Open with the full workflow (3-4 tools) — Notion is one of several, not the only mention → Position Notion as the project management layer specifically → Mention it's in my profile link if they want the affiliate version → Disclosure at bottom of comment

Example 3: User: "Write a Reddit post about HeyGen for r/videography" → Check r/videography rules — likely strict about promotion → Frame as experience share: "I tried AI avatar video for client work — here's my honest take" → Include real limitations prominently (not real filmmaker footage, uncanny valley) → Position as "works for explainer/promo videos, not cinema" — niche and honest → Disclosure present, link in comments only

References

• shared/references/ftc-compliance.md — FTC disclosure requirements for Reddit
• shared/references/platform-rules.md — Reddit-specific format and link rules
• shared/references/affiliate-glossary.md — terminology