How to Work with Reddit Moderators: Building Trust and Long-Term Relationships
Working with Reddit Moderators
Most brands get Reddit moderators completely wrong. They either avoid them entirely, or worse, they treat them like gatekeepers to be charmed or bypassed. But here is the truth: moderators are the single most important relationship you can build on Reddit. Get it right, and you unlock authentic access to engaged communities. Get it wrong, and you are permanently banned before your campaign even starts.
Why moderators actually matter
Reddit moderators are volunteers who spend hours every day protecting their communities from spam, bad actors, and yes, marketers who do not belong there. They have seen every trick in the book. They know when you are faking authenticity. And they remember brands that burned them before.
But here is what most people miss: moderators want good content in their subreddits. They want interesting discussions, valuable resources, and yes, even brands, if those brands actually add something real to the conversation. The problem is not that you are a brand. The problem is how you show up.
The foundation: participation before promotion
You cannot start a Reddit strategy by reaching out to moderators. That is backwards. The brands that succeed spend weeks, sometimes months, building genuine participation history first. They comment thoughtfully. They answer questions. They contribute without asking for anything in return.
Why? Because when you eventually do reach out to moderators, they are going to check your history. If all they see is promotional posts and zero community engagement, your message goes straight to spam. But if they see a real person who has been adding value? That changes everything.
"Moderators can tell within seconds whether you understand their community or whether you are just another marketer with a quota to hit."
How to actually reach out
Once you have built that participation history, reaching out to moderators is surprisingly straightforward. The key is transparency. Use modmail, not DMs. State clearly who you are, what you want to do, and why you think it would benefit the community, not your brand, the community.
Most moderators will appreciate the honesty. Some will say yes. Some will say no. Some will give you feedback on how to adjust your approach. All of those responses are valuable. What you want to avoid is silence, and silence usually means you came across as just another spammer who did not bother to understand the culture first.
What happens when you get it wrong
I have seen brands try to shortcut this process. They create throwaway accounts, they post promotional content without asking, they ignore subreddit rules, or they argue with moderators when posts get removed. Every single one of those approaches leads to the same outcome: a permanent ban and a community that now associates your brand with spam. If you are wondering why your Reddit strategy is failing, ignoring moderator relationships is usually the root cause.
And here is the thing, Reddit moderators talk to each other. Burn your reputation in one subreddit, and word spreads. Suddenly you are not just banned from one community, you are radioactive across multiple subreddits in your industry. That is not a marketing problem. That is a brand crisis.
Building relationships that last
The brands that thrive on Reddit treat moderator relationships like any other important business partnership. They stay consistent, they follow through on commitments, and they continue participating in the community long after their initial post goes live.
This is not a one-time transaction. It is an ongoing relationship. And the payoff? Access to some of the most engaged, high-intent audiences on the internet, without the skepticism that comes with traditional advertising. When authentic Reddit marketing works, it is because brands have earned their place in the conversation.
The reality check
Let me be clear: this approach takes time, effort, and patience. You cannot automate it. You cannot fake it. You cannot outsource it to someone who does not understand your brand or the community you are trying to reach. That is why most brands fail on Reddit. They want the results without putting in the work.
But for the brands that commit to doing it right? The ROI is unlike anything else. You are not just getting clicks or impressions. You are building genuine trust with people who become advocates, customers, and long-term community members.
At RECHO, we have spent years building relationships with Reddit moderators across dozens of subreddits. We know which communities are open to brand participation, how to approach moderators the right way, and how to maintain those relationships long-term. Because when you show up on Reddit correctly, the results speak for themselves.
Talk to Our TeamFrequently Asked Questions
How long should I participate before reaching out to moderators?
At minimum, several weeks of authentic participation. Ideally, a few months. You need enough comment history that moderators can see you are a real community member, not a throwaway marketing account.
What if a subreddit has a blanket ban on promotional content?
Respect it. Some communities simply are not appropriate for brand participation. Focus your energy on subreddits where your presence can add genuine value.
Can I recover from making mistakes with moderators?
Sometimes. A sincere apology, clear explanation of what you have learned, and demonstrated changed behavior can occasionally earn a second chance. But it is much better to get it right the first time.