Reddit monitoring should be part of a holistic social media listening approach that every brand needs to add to its marketing strategy.
Whether you’re a brand looking to track mentions, a marketer gathering customer feedback, or just someone curious about Reddit monitoring, knowing how to do it effectively is key.
In this post, I’ll tell you how to monitor Reddit for mentions, keywords, and trends, list the tools and methods for that, and show you how to set up automated alerts for Reddit conversations to gain valuable insights.
In this tutorial:
Why monitor Reddit?
Reddit has over 430 million monthly active users talking about niche topics in thousands of subreddits. By monitoring Reddit, you can:
- Track mentions of your brand.
- Get product feedback from real customers.
- Find trends in your industry.
- Respond to negative comments to protect your brand’s reputation.
- Engage with potential customers in relevant discussions.
- Monitor subreddits where your target audience is most active.
- Gain valuable insights by staying up to date with the latest trends.
How to monitor Reddit?
1. Manual keyword tracking with Reddit search
Reddit has a built-in search function where you can manually search for specific keywords or phrases. Simply type in your brand name, product, or keyword in the search bar and use filters to narrow down results by:
- Timeframe (e.g., last week, last year).
- Subreddit (e.g., relevant subreddits for your industry).
However, this is time-consuming and not automated.
2. Automate Reddit monitoring with tools
To save time and monitor efficiently, use tools that monitor Reddit. Here are some options:
- IFTTT: Automates alerts for specific Reddit keywords and sends notifications via email or other integrations.
- Google Alerts: Set up alerts for mentions of your brand, product, or keywords on Reddit. Free and easy to use but may miss some posts.
- Zapier: Create workflows to track Reddit posts about your brand and send updates to Slack or Gmail.
- Brand Monitoring Tools (e.g., Brand24, Mention): Advanced tools that monitor across Reddit and other platforms, offering sentiment analysis, competitive insights, and real-time alerts.
How to monitor Reddit keywords?
Step 1: Define your keywords
Start by identifying what you want to track. This could be:
- Product names.
- Competitors.
- Relevant keywords for your industry.
Step 2: Choose a tool or method
- For simple setups, use IFTTT or Google Alerts.
- For full monitoring, use Zapier workflows or dedicated tools like Brand24.
Step 3: Set up alerts
For this example we will show the steps of monitoring Reddit with Google Alerts. In case you use a tool like IFTTT, use the Reddit applet to trigger notifications on keyword matches.
Here are the steps on how to set Google alerts for specific keywords mentioned in Reddit subreddits:
- Go to google.com/alerts.
- Add “site:reddit.com [keyword]” to your alert.
- Check the list that will appear below the search field for examples.
- Click Save alert to start receiving this alert in your email.
Furthemore, you can add the content in tools with analytics to see trends, sentiment, and engagement in the conversations. Receiving alerts in real time ensures you stay updated.
10 ideas on what to monitor on Reddit
Reddit is a very flexible platform, and there’s so much to monitor. Here are some examples:
1. Brand’s reputation and mentions
- Look for mentions of your brand or product name in threads and comments.
- See how Reddit users feel about your brand, positively or negatively.
- Ensure your brand presence is maintained in important conversations.
2. Customer feedback and reviews
- Monitor Reddit posts about your product or service.
- Find common user pain points, feature requests, and feedback.
3. Industry trends and topics
- Join relevant subreddits to be seen as an expert.
4. Competitor Reddit account mentions
- Monitor conversations about competitors.
- Use collected data to measure your performance and find market gaps.
5. Product or service recommendations
- Monitor threads where Reddit users ask for recommendations and mention your brand.
- Engage with potential customers with non-promotional advice.
6. Crisis or reputation management
- Catch negative conversations early to prevent PR issues.
- Respond to customer concerns in real-time to stop the bleeding.
7. Sentiment analysis
- See the general sentiment in your industry or around a specific topic.
- Use sentiment analysis tools to inform your marketing or product strategy.
8. Events and campaigns
- See how Reddit users are responding to specific campaigns, promotions, or product launches.
- Adjust your strategy based on feedback.
9. Tracked keywords and collected data
- Analyze trends using tracked keywords to spot emerging opportunities.
- Use collected data from subreddits to refine your strategy.
10. Monitor mentions across platforms
- Monitor mentions of your brand or competitors to stay ahead of relevant conversations.
Reddit monitoring tools comparison
| Tool | Features | Best For | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFTTT | Basic keyword alerts, email notifications | Simple automation | Free/Paid |
| Google Alerts | Reddit mentions via email | Basic tracking | Free |
| Brand24 | Sentiment analysis, real-time alerts | Comprehensive monitoring | Paid |
| Zapier | Multi-tool integrations for workflows | Advanced automation | Paid |
Monitoring other platforms
While Reddit is a valuable source for tracking conversations, monitoring other social platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube is important.
These platforms allow you to track hashtags, mentions, and branded content to gain even deeper insights into your audience and trends.
EmbedSocial is an excellent tool for monitoring and embedding user-generated content from platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and X.
You can use it to track mentions and hashtags for large brands and even create social media widgets to display curated content directly on your website.
With EmbedSocial, you can streamline your social listening across platforms and generate actionable insights to engage your audience.
Conclusion: Reddit monitoring helps your brand grow!
Reddit is a goldmine for brands and marketers looking to boost their SEO strategies and reach more customers, but you can get lost in the mess without the right strategy.
Whether you’re a marketer, business owner, or just curious, Reddit monitoring can change the way you interact with important conversations in online communities.
For automatic monitoring of brand mentions on Instagram, X, and YouTube, use tools like EmebdSocial to start social media monitoring at scale.
FAQs about Reddit monitoring
How can I monitor Reddit for free?
You can use tools like Google Alerts or the built-in Reddit search to manually track mentions and keywords. However, these methods require more effort compared to automated tools.
Can I track brand mentions across multiple platforms?
What should I monitor on Reddit?
Focus on tracking brand mentions, customer feedback, industry trends, competitor activity, and sentiment around relevant topics or campaigns.
How do I set up real-time alerts for Reddit mentions?
Using tools like IFTTT or Zapier, you can automate real-time notifications for specific keywords or mentions on Reddit.
Is sentiment analysis worth using?
Absolutely. Sentiment analysis helps you gauge public opinion about your brand or industry, allowing you to respond appropriately and refine your strategies.