Spencer thought Reddit would be easy traffic.
He posted links to his blog articles five times in one day across different subreddits.
By morning, he was banned from three communities and shadowbanned site-wide. Instead of quitting, he rebuilt his account with a completely different approach: posting 16 times per week, but only 3 linked to his site.
The other 13?
CNN articles, competitor blogs, and community resources.
Reddit's algorithm saw an engaged community member, not a spammer.
Result: 23,000 visitors in 30 days, including one spike of 11,000 visitors in a single day.
📍 What It Is
The Reddit 1:5 System: Building community credibility through massive non-promotional activity, then strategically inserting your own content at a 1:5 ratio—one self-promotional post for every five helpful contributions—earning consistent traffic without triggering spam filters.
⚙️ How He Built to 23K Monthly Visitors
Spencer runs an experiment website testing different traffic sources. Two months ago, he started testing Reddit systematically. The results shocked him—Reddit became his fastest-growing channel.
The Numbers:
23,000+ visitors from Reddit in 30 days
Peak day: 11,000 visitors in a single day
Started from zero 2 months ago
All organic (no Reddit ads)
His Weekly Activity:
60 comments across 24 different subreddits
16 posts across 7 different subreddits
Only 3 of those 16 posts linked to his own website
Rest were links to major news sites and other blogs
The formula: For every 1 self-promotional post, make 5+ helpful contributions.
Step 1: Build 1,000 Karma First
He spent his first 2-3 weeks building trust before any self-promotion:
Commented on posts in relevant subreddits (answering questions, adding insights)
Joined 20-30 subreddits—broad communities (r/technology, r/business), niche subreddits, and adjacent interest areas
Upvoted generously (Reddit tracks engagement)
Why: Reddit's spam filters use karma as a trust signal. New accounts posting links = instant ban. Accounts with 1,000+ karma and diverse participation = approved by moderators and algorithms.
Step 2: Post Links to Other Websites
Every week, he posts 10-13 links to OTHER people's content:
CNN, TechCrunch articles
Well-known blogs in his space
Competitor content (yes, really)
Industry reports
This builds the pattern: "This person curates valuable content from everywhere, not just their own site."
Step 3: The Viral Replication Method
This tactic drove his 11,000-visitor spike day:
Monitor for viral posts - Watch for posts getting 500+ upvotes. Track what topics are resonating and why.
Write your own unique angle - Don't copy. Add original research, personal experience, or contrarian perspective. You're validating demand while creating original value.
Post in a DIFFERENT subreddit - Find another relevant community where your angle fits. You're not competing; you're riding topic momentum in a new venue.
Example: Viral post in r/smallbusiness about "AI tools replacing marketing teams" → Spencer writes "We tested 12 AI tools for 90 days—here's what actually worked" → Posts in r/entrepreneur.
What He Tracks:
Which subreddits send engaged visitors (time on site, pages per session) versus vanity traffic
Which post types work best
Ratio of promotional vs. non-promotional posts (maintains 1:5 religiously)
Comment engagement (more comments = more visibility)
Discovery: Some subreddits sent high traffic but terrible engagement. Others sent less traffic but visitors read multiple articles—those became his focus.
Timeline:
Month 1: Build karma, minimal traffic
Month 2: Start strategic posting, initial spikes
Ongoing: Consistent 20K+ monthly visitors
🎯 How to Maintain the 1:5 Ratio Without Getting Banned
Most people fail because they're obviously self-promotional. Spencer succeeds because he contributes value first.
The 1:5 Ratio Discipline
For every post linking to your site, make 5+ contributions:
Comment on someone's question
Share a news article from a major site
Post a competitor's blog that's genuinely helpful
Participate in discussions
Reddit sees: "This person shares good content and occasionally their own stuff" not "This spammer only promotes themselves."
Why Posting Competitor Content Works
It signals you care about quality information, not just traffic. When you share a competitor's article because it's genuinely good, Reddit trusts you more.
Later, when you post your own article, moderators think: "They usually share great stuff—their content is probably good too."
The Multi-Subreddit Strategy
By being active in 24 different subreddits (not just 1-2):
No single community sees you as spam
You build broader account credibility
Multiple traffic sources reduce dependency
Never post in same subreddit multiple times daily
Pro Tips:
Use laterforreddit.com to identify peak activity times
First hour is critical—if a post gets 10+ upvotes in 60 minutes, it has viral potential
Reply to every comment on your posts within first 2 hours
Never delete failed posts—Reddit tracks this and flags suspicious behavior
Timeline: 2 months of consistent 1:5 ratio before major traffic spikes
Warning Signs You're Crossing The Line:
Posting your own links more than 3 times weekly
Same subreddit sees your links multiple times per week
Your karma stops growing despite activity
Your posts consistently get 0 upvotes
💡 Your Turn Join 5 new subreddits this week. Leave 10 helpful comments and post 3 links to OTHER people's content (not yours). Build the pattern before you promote.