Jake felt that Twitter threads and LinkedIn posts were necessary to help his newsletter grow.
He had zero followers on YouTube, under 100 on Twitter, and no presence anywhere else.
So he created polished posts on Reddit promoting his side hustle newsletter.
Result: 3 upvotes, zero subscribers, and one comment calling him a "shill."
Instead of quitting, he switched tactics: find posts where people are already asking for side hustle advice and leave helpful comments with a subtle newsletter mention at the end. In 12 days, he got 1,000 newsletter subscribers without a single promotional post.
📍 What It Is
The Reddit Comment Strategy: Finding high-traffic posts where people are crowdsourcing solutions in your niche, leaving genuinely helpful comments that establish expertise, then subtly mentioning your newsletter as an additional resource—converting engaged Redditors into subscribers without triggering spam filters.
⚙️ How He Got 1,000 Subscribers in 12 Days
Jake launched his side hustle newsletter with zero online presence. No YouTube channel, no Twitter following. He needed to reach people actively looking for side hustle ideas without paying for ads.
The Numbers:
1,000 newsletter subscribers in 12 days
Zero paid ads or sponsorships
100% from Reddit comments (not posts)
Why Posts Failed:
First attempt: Created a promotional post in r/sidehustle. Result: 3 upvotes, immediately buried, called out for self-promotion.
The Pivot: Comments on Viral Posts
He realized dozens of people post daily asking "What are the best side hustles?" These posts get hundreds of upvotes. Instead of creating his own posts, he'd find these early and leave the top comment.
Finding High-Intent Posts:
Keywords he searched daily:
"side hustle recommendations"
"best side hustles 2024"
"how to make extra money"
Target subreddits: r/sidehustle, r/entrepreneur, r/sweatystartup
Sorted by "rising" to catch posts early. Goal: be one of the first 5 comments so his response stayed near the top.
The 80/20 Comment Structure:
Bad comment: "Check out my newsletter! It covers side hustles. [link]" Result: Downvoted, ignored.
Good comment: "I've been testing side hustles for a year. Some solid ones: content writing on Upwork ($50-100/hour once you build reviews), flipping items on eBay (made $2K last month), dividend investing (slower but compounds).
If you want more ideas, I write a weekly newsletter breaking down side hustles with real numbers. Similar to Side Hustle Nation but focused on profit breakdowns. [link]"
The formula: 80% helpful advice, 20% newsletter mention.
The Comparison Tactic:
Instead of saying "sign up for my newsletter," he'd say:
"Think Morning Brew but for side hustles"
"Similar to Side Hustle Nation but with more profit breakdowns"
Why this works: Borrows trust from established brands while clearly differentiating.
Results:
Comments on viral posts: 10-15% click-through rate
His own promotional posts: 0.5% engagement rate
20x better ROI on time spent
Timeline:
Days 1-3: Tried promotional posts, failed
Days 4-6: Switched to comments, refined messaging
Days 7-12: Hit 1,000 subscribers
🎯 How to Write Comments That Convert
Most people fail because their comments scream "I'm here to promote something." Jake succeeded because he helped first.
The Value-First Formula:
Start with genuine advice:
"Three side hustles I've done:
Freelance writing on Upwork - Made $3,200 first month after 10 reviews. Key: specialize in one niche.
Flipping furniture on Facebook Marketplace - Bought dresser for $40, sold for $180. Repeat 15x/month = $2,100.
Dividend investing - $15K portfolio generates $400/year."
Then add: "I break down side hustles like this weekly in my newsletter. [link]"
The Authenticity Rule:
Write like you're making a referral to a friend, not pitching a product.
Red flags:
Corporate jargon ("solutions," "leverage")
Overhyping ("best newsletter ever!")
Leading with the link
Copy-pasting same comment across posts
Green flags:
Specific numbers ("made $2,100 last month")
Personal experience ("I've been doing this")
Casual language ("no BS")
Timing Strategy:
Check target subreddits 2-3 times daily (morning, lunch, evening). Sort by "rising." Comment within first hour. His comment rides the post as it goes viral.
What NOT to Do:
❌ Copy-paste same comment across 10 posts ❌ Lead with your newsletter link ❌ Comment on irrelevant posts
Pro Tips:
Track which subreddits convert subscribers vs. just traffic
Reply to people who respond to your comment
Upvote other helpful comments
Jake's comments from 6 months ago still drive 10-15 subscribers weekly
💡 Your Turn Find one high-traffic post in your niche this week. Leave a genuinely helpful comment (no link yet). See how people respond.