300% more followers. 1,000% jump in engagement.
One-third of all brand mentions now happening on Reddit.
Emporia Energy's subreddit numbers sound impressive—until you realize it took 18 months of showing up every single day.
Most brands won't commit to that.
They'll create a subreddit, post three times, then wonder why it's a ghost town.
Here's what Emporia did during those 18 months that compounds long after you stop posting.
📍 What It Is
Own your subreddit. Show up daily. Answer every question like your reputation depends on it—because on Reddit, it does.
⚙️ How They Built 300% More Followers in 18 Months
Emporia Energy sells smart home energy management solutions. Their PR agency GreenRoom discovered something: the conversations that mattered weren't happening on Twitter or Facebook. They were buried in Reddit threads and EV charger forums.
Numbers:
300% increase in subreddit followers
1,000% increase in engagement
Over 1/3 of brand mentions came from forums
18 months of daily participation
What Failed First:
GreenRoom set up 34 Google Alerts to track every Emporia mention on Reddit. Gmail filters, Outlook rules, manual checks—the whole apparatus. Comments still slipped through. By the time they responded, conversations had moved on. They couldn't even tell which platforms mattered.
Their Pivot:
Stop chasing mentions across dozens of subreddits. Create r/EmporiaEnergy and make it valuable enough that customers come to you.
18-Month Routine:
Answered technical questions within hours
Customer posts: "What wire specs do I need for NACS EV charger?"
Emporia responds same day: Wire gauge recommendations, circuit breaker requirements, link to full installation guide.
Google indexes these threads. Future customers searching "Emporia wiring specs" land on Reddit discussions with official answers.
Announced products on Reddit first
Launched EV charger with NACS connector? Posted in r/EmporiaEnergy before anywhere else. Subreddit members felt like insiders. Loyalty follows naturally.
Showed up during consideration phase
Search "Emporia Energy review" on Google. Reddit threads rank on page 1. Real users discussing pros and cons, with Emporia staff openly participating.
Being there when customers compare options matters more than any ad.
Growth Timeline:
Months 1-3: Slow. Answered every question, few subscribers
Month 6: Existing customers started assisting newcomers
Month 12: Subreddit ranking in Google for product searches
Month 18: Hit the 300% and 1,000% marks
Questions answered 6 months ago still reach customers via search today. Compounding in action.
🎯 How to Build Your Community on Reddit
Most brands launch subreddits then abandon them. Emporia succeeded by never leaving.
Daily Discipline:
Check subreddit 2-3 times per day
Respond within hours, not days
Answer simple questions as thoroughly as complex ones
Upvote helpful community answers
A response 2 days later finds a dead conversation. Speed determines visibility.
Content That Drove Engagement:
Product launches: "We just launched [new product]. Here's why we built it. AMA."
Technical breakdowns: "How our energy monitoring works behind the scenes"
Honest updates: "You asked for [feature]. Here's what we're changing."
Practical guides: "Common installation mistakes and fixes"
Two Response Styles:
✅ What works: "V2 has better WiFi because we upgraded the antenna. Still having V1 connectivity issues? DM me, I'll troubleshoot with you."
❌ What fails: "Thank you for your interest in Emporia products. Please visit our support page for assistance."
Building Initial Momentum:
Seed 10-15 posts covering common questions, guides, tips
Mention subreddit in customer emails
Add link to website footer and product packaging
Cross-post blog content to subreddit
Invite engaged customers to join
Search Advantage:
Reddit threads rank exceptionally well in Google. When buyers research competitors or search product comparisons, these threads surface on page 1.
Participating openly shapes what potential customers read when researching you. That's earned media you control.
Trade-offs:
1-2 hours per day managing community. Needs someone technical enough to answer product questions in depth. Can't hide behind corporate speak.
What you gain: An asset that compounds. Lower support costs. Better search visibility. Customers who trust you before they buy.
💡 Your Turn Search Reddit for one existing discussion about your product or industry. Find a thread where you can add real value. Comment with helpful information (openly as your brand). Track what happens.