As a marketer, I'm always looking for ways to improve my ad strategies and tap into new platforms. Sometimes, you can get great insights from an account manager. Other times, they are completely useless and seem like they are on a different planet.
Recently, I had the chance to speak with a Reddit Ads salesperson, and I walked away with not many answers, especially none that you couldn’t get from a simple ChatGPT search. That’s why specialists, like The Reddit Ads Agency, are so valuable to any brand or business that actually values results.
Here’s what I learned—or more accurately, didn’t learn—directly from the conversation.
Reddit Goals: Traffic vs. Conversions: Which Should You Optimize For?
One of the first questions I asked was whether I should optimize my campaign for traffic or conversions, especially since I want more people to sign up for a trial aka Lead Generation.
The salesperson explained that both are closely related, but there are notable differences. He told me, “We always recommend starting with a traffic campaign if you don’t have prior data.” The reason? Traffic campaigns tend to be cheaper and help gather data for better optimization later on. This makes it easier to switch to a conversions campaign once Reddit’s algorithm has learned more about your audience.
But here’s the kicker: conversions campaigns are better for targeting people who are more likely to take specific actions, like signing up for a $1 trial. The salesperson put it succinctly: “If it’s really like to bring the people to purchase the $1 Free Trial or the free trial for $1, then we go for conversions.”
The lack of clarity between the two account managers on the call was confusing. One said there was no difference between traffic and conversions. The other said there was a difference but didn’t know what it was.
When I pushed on this subject, the response was, "Not sure I understand the question." Really? This is a simple question that any campaign manager should understand.
I understand that starting with traffic helps me collect data, but how much data is required? The conversation switched from four weeks to six weeks to five weeks—it was all over the place when I was trying to push for clarity. They had no idea but wanted to push for budget. They are salespeople, after all—who can blame them?
In short, they have no idea how much data is required to optimize the Reddit algorithm for results. Their answer? "Just spend money, and then we will tell you what’s working."
You can’t BS a BSer.
Reddit Conversion Events Matters
Setting up conversion events is crucial, yet there was no real insight into what conversions are meaningful apart from the vague "get clicks." When I pressed for guidance on which conversion actions Reddit Ads considers most valuable—whether it be lead form submissions, purchases, or in-app actions—the response was underwhelming. They simply suggested speaking with a measurement specialist, but only after committing to a minimum spend.
This is basic 101 when setting up a campaign for success. One of the first things we do with our clients is understanding the funnel, setting up the correct conversion events, and analyzing business conversion rates. Without this, you're essentially flying blind. Knowing the right conversion events upfront allows you to optimize your campaign for meaningful actions rather than vanity metrics. Yet, their focus seemed to be on getting more ad spend rather than providing a structured approach to measurement.
How Long Should a Reddit Campaign Run?
A crucial part of running ads is knowing how long to give a campaign to gather enough data and optimize. I asked the salesperson about the ideal campaign duration, and he said something that really stood out: “We always recommend running a campaign for at least six weeks.”
He emphasized that this timeframe allows the algorithm to learn from the traffic and optimize toward conversions. The learning period for Reddit Ads is typically between 10 to 14 days, but the full six weeks give the algorithm enough time to fine-tune things. This is a crucial tip for anyone just starting with Reddit Ads—don’t expect results overnight.
The conversation then shifted to budget. We all know that $1,000 in seven days is better than $1 over 1,000 days for collecting enough data. They didn’t quite grasp this concept, and I didn't have time to train them on Reddit ads, so I moved on.
Budget: How Much Should You Spend on Reddit Ads?
Of course, budget is always a key consideration. I wanted to know how much I should allocate for the six-week campaign. The salesperson told me, “We recommend a minimum budget of $1,500 for six weeks. This allows us to gather enough data and provide you with the best support.”
But it wasn’t just about the minimum spend; the salesperson also pointed out that a higher budget gives you better results. “The more you spend, the better the data you collect,” he said. He explained that with a larger budget, you get more qualified traffic, and this helps Reddit’s algorithm work more efficiently. Still no insights into how much data—just spend your hard-earned money.
Interestingly, he also mentioned that different markets have different levels of competitiveness. For instance, if I’m targeting the U.S., I might need a bigger budget due to higher competition. On the other hand, markets like Europe might be less competitive, allowing me to get away with a lower budget.
I asked specifically for benchmarks in key regions—U.S., U.K., Germany (DE), and Australia (AUS)—but they had no concrete answers. Instead of providing any useful historical data or insights on average CPC, CPM, or CPA in these markets, they defaulted to their sales training, steering the conversation back to spending more money to "see what works."
I pressed further, explaining that many ad platforms provide at least ballpark figures for different regions, especially for major markets like the U.S. and U.K. I wanted to understand how much competition affects costs in these areas and whether some regions perform significantly better than others. Their response? More vague recommendations about testing different budgets with no tangible benchmarks.
This lack of data made me question whether they truly understand Reddit’s ad ecosystem or if their role is simply to push more spending without a deeper strategy. Without clear performance indicators for different regions, it becomes difficult for advertisers to make informed decisions. It also makes me wonder—do their high-performing clients actually receive meaningful insights, or are they just left to figure it out themselves after pouring in money?
I threw out a number—I wanted to spend $10K a month. To start with brand awareness would be a waste of money; I wanted results. They seemed very excited about the budget. I could see them licking their lips and becoming more active in their chairs. After which, they offered more support from a senior account manager (aka, someone who knows more than them). Money talks, I suppose, one must play the game.
Reddit Ad Targeting: Keywords or Communities?
Targeting is where Reddit Ads really shine, so I asked the salesperson about the difference between keyword targeting and community targeting. He said, “If you want to get people from specific topics like Shopify or eCommerce, you can target those communities directly.”
When it comes to keywords, he explained, “You go very niche. If you have a very niche product, keyword targeting could be a good option.” However, he also warned that you need a lot of keywords because Reddit uses exact match, unlike Google’s broad match.
Here’s the recommended strategy: combine both. “I like to combine keywords and interest groups because you can be more specific with the keywords while also reaching a wider audience through interest groups.”
One of the things I love most about Reddit Ads is niche targeting. It doesn’t have to be a huge audience but can focus on those with high intent—what us marketers love to call the money audience.
I asked about targeting specific subreddits and whether there is a minimum audience size required. Their response? There is no minimum audience size. But knowing myself—even if they didn’t—I realize that Reddit campaigns, like any AI-driven system, need data. If the audience size is too small, you won’t get the data you need to optimize and scale.
Having said that, nothing beats Reddit targeting in the ad world. If you are in fitness, target fitness subreddits. These communities are filled with engaged users who are actively discussing fitness-related topics, making them more likely to interact with your ad and convert. You can tailor your messaging to address common fitness concerns, trends, or workout routines, ensuring high relevance.
If you are in beauty, target beauty-related subreddits. Beauty enthusiasts frequently share product recommendations, skincare routines, and makeup tutorials. Ads that feel native to the conversation, such as those highlighting product benefits with user testimonials or influencer collaborations, tend to perform best. Furthermore, many users turn to Reddit for authentic reviews before making a purchase, making beauty subreddits a goldmine for building brand credibility and trust.
By targeting niche subreddits, you ensure that your ad appears in a highly relevant environment, where users are already primed for engagement. This minimizes ad waste, enhances conversion rates, and allows for precise messaging that speaks directly to user interests and pain points. Unlike broad targeting methods, niche subreddit targeting ensures that you are reaching an audience that is actively looking for solutions related to your offering, rather than passively scrolling through unrelated content.
However, avoid Automated Audience unless you don’t know your audience or have a mass-market product like water, air, or toothpaste.
Final Thought on My Conversion with Reddit Campaign Manager.
My conversation with the Reddit Ads salesperson was eye-opening—but not in the way I expected. I learned that traffic campaigns are a great starting point, but conversions campaigns are the way to go once enough data has been gathered.
Yet, there was no discussion about LTV (lifetime value) or target CAC (customer acquisition cost)—the very first questions that should be asked when determining ad spend.
Moving forward, I won’t follow their advice blindly. Instead, I’ll take what little value they provided and optimize my clients' campaigns based on real data, not vague sales pitches.
If you’re new to Reddit Ads, take the time to speak with a Reddit Ads representative—then call us when you want to drive real business results.
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