Reddit's ban hammer is real. And once you're shadowbanned, your marketing efforts are worthless because nobody sees your posts. New accounts promoting immediately have a 90% ban rate within 30 days.
90%
Ban Rate (New Account + Promo)
12-14%
Appeal Success Rate
90/10
Required Contribution Ratio
2-3 mo
Safe Warm-Up Period
The 90/10 Rule: Reddit's Core Principle#
The most critical rule: 90% genuine contribution, 10% self-promotion. This isn't just a best practice—it's based on Reddit's official guidelines.
It's perfectly fine to be a Redditor with a website. It's not okay to be a website with a Reddit account.
What Counts as What#
| The 10% (Promotional) | The 90% (Contribution) |
|---|---|
| Posts linking to your product | Thoughtful comments on others' posts |
| Comments mentioning your startup | Sharing expertise without product mentions |
| Any promoting vs. helping | Answering questions with no agenda |
| Links to your website | Upvoting, engaging genuinely |
Per-Subreddit Tracking
Reddit tracks karma globally AND per subreddit. Little karma in a specific subreddit = higher spam detection when you promote there. Build karma within each target subreddit before any promotion.
Types of Reddit Bans#
| Ban Type | Applied By | Scope | Notification | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadowban | Admins | Sitewide | None | Appeal at reddit.com/appeal |
| Account Suspension | Admins | Sitewide | Yes | Appeal available |
| Subreddit Ban | Moderators | Single sub | Yes (PM) | Message mods |
| AutoMod Ban | AutoMod | Single sub | None | Message mods |
| IP/Device Ban | All accounts | None | Very difficult |
Shadowban: The Silent Killer#
A shadowban is the most insidious type. You can post and comment, but nobody sees your content. Reddit gives no notification—you won't know unless you check. Usually permanent unless appealed.
Account Suspension (Strike System)#
- First offense: Warning
- Second: 3-day ban
- Third: 7-day ban
- Fourth: Permanent suspension
Detecting Shadowbans#
3 Detection Methods#
1
Incognito Browser Test
- Log out or use incognito window
- Navigate to: reddit.com/user/YourUsername
- "Page not found" or "user does not exist" = shadowbanned
2
r/ShadowBan Test (Most Reliable)
- Make a post in r/ShadowBan
- MarkdownShadowBot auto-replies within seconds
- Analyzes your last 100 submissions/comments
- Only third-party checker you should trust
3
Online Checker Tools
- cable.ayra.ch/reddit/
- redplus.ai/en/reddit-shadowban-tester
Warning Signs You're Shadowbanned#
- Sudden, complete engagement drop (no votes/replies)
- Posts don't appear in "new" sort
- No chat invites
- Comments instantly removed
Check Monthly
Check your shadowban status monthly, especially if you notice engagement drops. The sooner you catch it, the better your appeal chances.
What Triggers Spam Filters#
Primary Triggers#
| Trigger | Risk Level | Why It Flags |
|---|---|---|
| New account + low karma + promo | Highest | Classic spam bot pattern |
| Posting too often | High | Immediate red flag |
| Same domain repeatedly | High | Link spam detection |
| Only posting, never commenting | High | Promotional account signal |
| >10% promotional activity | Medium | 90/10 violation |
| URL shorteners (bit.ly) | Highest | Huge red flag |
Instant Red Flags#
- URL shorteners: bit.ly, t.co, etc. = huge red flag
- Direct links from new accounts: Especially promotional
- Repetitive posts: Same content across multiple subs
- Banned keywords/domains: Site-wide blacklist
- Multiple accounts from shared IP: Easy detection
CQS Score (Content Quality Score)#
Reddit assigns a Content Quality Score that heavily influences spam filtering. Check yours at r/WhatIsMyCQS. Low score = more scrutiny on all posts.
Rate Limiting Best Practices#
Official Rate Limits#
- New users: 1 post every 15 minutes (or longer)
- High reputation: More frequent posting allowed
- Accounts with frequent mod removals = stricter limits
Safe Posting Frequency#
| Activity | Safe Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Comments per day | 3-5 substantive | Quality over quantity |
| Posts per subreddit | 1 per week max | Preferably every 2 weeks |
| Time between posts | 2-3 hours minimum | Avoid rapid-fire |
| DMs | Avoid unsolicited | High ban risk |
| Posts across subs | 2-3 per day max | Customize for each |
Account Warm-Up (Critical)#
- First 2-4 weeks: Organic engagement only
- Zero promotional content during warm-up
- Build credibility through genuine interactions
- Vary posting times (avoid robotic scheduling)
- Never post identical content
The 9:1 Ratio
For every 1 promotional post, make 9 helpful posts. This demonstrates community contribution and prevents spam flags.
Recovery Strategies#
The Appeal Process#
- Timing: File within 6 months of ban
- Method: support.reddit.com/contact → "Appeal an account suspension"
- Limit: ~250 characters to make your case
- Success rate: 12-14% of appeals succeed
- Wait: 24 hours before appealing
Appeal Template Structure#
- Acknowledge violation: State what you did wrong
- Show understanding: Demonstrate you know the rules
- Provide context: Explain (don't excuse)
- Commit to improvement: Specific steps you'll take
Good Example
"I acknowledge posting promotional content too frequently in r/[subreddit] without sufficient community contribution. I understand this violated the 90/10 guideline. Going forward, I commit to focusing on helpful comments and limiting promotional content to designated threads only."
Never Create Ban Evasion Accounts
Creating new accounts to bypass a ban leads to IP/device bans affecting all future accounts. This is one of the worst things you can do.
If You've Been Too Promotional#
- Stop all promotional activity immediately
- Spend 2-4 weeks contributing genuinely
- Build karma through helpful comments
- Diversify activity across subreddits
- Never mention your product/service
- Re-establish trust gradually
Safe vs Risky Automation#
Safe Automation#
- Official API channels (PRAW - Python Reddit API Wrapper)
- Keyword monitoring tools (F5bot, Brand24)
- Workflow triggers (Zapier, IFTTT)
- Analytics and listening tools
- Human-like delays between actions
Risky/Banned Automation#
- Auto-posting content
- Automated commenting
- Unsolicited DM automation
- Fast posting patterns
- Vote manipulation tools
- Identical content posting
Key Takeaway
Choose tools that enhance human behavior rather than replace it. Automate discovery and monitoring. Never automate actual engagement.
Safety Checklist#
Before You Post#
- Account is 30+ days old (60+ preferred)
- Karma is 100+ (500+ for promotional content)
- Read the specific subreddit rules
- Checked for shadowban recently
- Using personal username (not brand)
- Email verified on account
Every Post#
- Maintaining 90/10 ratio
- Content is customized for this subreddit
- Not posting identical content elsewhere
- No URL shorteners
- Disclosed any affiliation
- Available to engage with comments
Ongoing#
- Check shadowban status monthly
- Track engagement for sudden drops
- 9:1 helpful posts to promotional ratio
- No more than 1 promotional post per subreddit per week
- Responding to comments on your posts
- Not arguing with critics (professional responses)
Real Examples of What Gets Banned#
Epic Fails#
Woody Harrelson AMA (2012): Repeatedly steered conversation to movie "Rampart." Focused on selling, not helping. Became legendary example of what NOT to do.
r/startups Book Link Ban: User gave advice, included book link. Permanent ban, no warning. Moderator called it self-promotion.
New Account Promotion: 90% ban rate within 30 days. Creating account + promoting immediately triggers all spam flags.
What Triggers Instant Scrutiny#
- Same link posted across multiple subs
- No customization per community
- Corporate language/tone
- Only posting, never commenting
- Account <30 days old with promotional content
- Karma <100 trying to self-promote
Key Takeaway
Reddit rewards patience. Build your reputation first—2-3 months of genuine participation— and promotion becomes much easier. The accounts that succeed treat Reddit as a community first and a marketing channel second.