Most Reddit marketers focus on posts. But in this case study, we show how a single comment, posted on an existing thread using a high-trust account, became the highest-voted comment-and silently funneled 1,900+ clicks over 3 days.
TL;DR
- High-karma account left a top-level comment on a popular discussion
- No links included, just value + mention of a brand in natural language
- 1K+ upvotes on the comment
- #1 ranked comment for 72 hours
- Generated 1,900+ outbound clicks tracked via brand name search
- No spam reports, no link bans, no account flags
The Goal
The client in this case was promoting a niche productivity app. But their link had already been banned in multiple subreddits. Even mentions of the domain were being auto-removed.
So the challenge was clear:
– No links allowed
– No obvious promotions
– No new accounts
– No control over the original post
Instead of trying to post something new, we found a popular thread already trending in a mid-sized productivity subreddit (~120K members). The post was a text-based question with over 100 comments in the first 2 hours.
Perfect for sliding in naturally.
The Setup
Instead of posting a link or creating a new thread, we used a 6-year-old Reddit account with over 16,000 karma. The account had activity in productivity, tech, and self-improvement subs.
We replied directly to the original post with a value-rich comment. Here’s what we did:
- Gave genuine advice based on the OP's question
- Mentioned the client's app as something "that helped me personally"
- Did not include a link, just the brand name and short context
- Kept the tone casual, as if written by a helpful user
The key was authenticity. The comment didn't look like marketing, and Reddit users responded positively.
Within 6 hours, it had climbed to the #1 comment, thanks to a combination of organic upvotes and manual upvotes from aged support accounts via RedditUpvote.net.
No link meant no risk of removal. But users still searched for the product.
Results
Here's a breakdown oThe Results: 1,000+ Upvotes, 1,900+ Clicks, 72 Hours in Top Spot
The comment hit #1 in just a few hours and stayed there for three full days.
Here's the breakdown:
- Upvotes: 1,000+ total (280 initial, boosted over 3 days)
- Position: #1 comment on the thread
- Clicks: Estimated 1,900+ based on spike in brand name search + landing page hits
- Downvotes or reports: None
- Removals or flags: Zero
Reddit users responded with real engagement too:
- 40+ replies to the comment
- 12 follow-up mentions of the app by other users
- 3 people asked, "Is there a link?" in replies (proof of genuine interest)
All this happened without ever posting a URL. the communities, exactly what the client wanted. Users upvoted, commented, and in some cases asked follow-up questions. That's engagement money can't usually buy.
Key Takeaways
- Use aged, karma-rich accounts. Reddit's algorithm and community both favor trusted users.
- Avoid direct links in sensitive subs. Mention the brand naturally and let curiosity do the work.
- Target threads, not just subreddits. A well-timed comment on the right post can outperform your own submissions.
- Drip upvotes manually. We used RedditUpvote.net to gradually boost the comment into visibility without raising flags.
- Engage like a user, not a marketer. The comment felt real-and that's why users engaged with it.