Getting your first karma on Reddit can seem daunting for new users. Karma is the system Reddit uses to track user engagement and contribution. It’s represented by karma points that are gained when your posts and comments get upvoted, and lost when they get downvoted. While karma has no monetary value, gaining karma gives you more credibility on Reddit and allows you to do things like post more frequently. Here are some tips to quickly and easily get your first karma points.
Post interesting, helpful, and engaging content
The best way to get your first karma is by posting content that redditors find interesting, helpful, or entertaining. Make posts that contribute value to the Reddit community and encourage participation. Share an interesting article, a funny meme, or a thoughtful opinion. Engage in discussions and share your perspective. If your posts get upvotes, you’ll gain karma. But low-effort posts like spam and self-promotion are likely to get downvoted.
Before posting, read the rules of any subreddit you want to post in. Follow the posting guidelines, as going against the rules can get your post removed and lose you karma. Pay attention to the subreddit culture and try to match the tone and content. For example, posting serious content in a humor-focused subreddit won’t go over well. But sharing a meme to a meme subreddit will be better received.
Comment regularly in an engaging way
Commenting in Reddit discussions is another easy way to gain karma. Look for active subreddits related to your interests and start replying to posts. Share your thoughts, give your opinion, make jokes, and engage with the community. Thoughtful, funny, and insightful comments tend to get upvoted.
Before commenting, lurk in the subreddit for a while to get a feel for the culture. Understand what types of comments are well-received. Make sure your comments stay on topic and actually contribute to the discussion. Long thread sidetracks and pointless comments are often downvoted.
Be respectful and follow basic reddiquette when commenting. Don’t be hostile, insulting, or condescending. Stick to thoughtful discussion and debate rather than inflammatory attacks. Rude and inappropriate comments will lose you karma.
Join the conversation in niche communities
Participate in smaller niche subreddits related to your unique interests or areas of expertise. These communities are often more tight-knit, so becoming a regular member who engages can quickly earn you karma. Even making posts and comments that only get a couple upvotes adds up in smaller subreddits. Just be sure to follow the rules and fit into the existing culture.
Some examples of niche subreddits to check out include:
- /r/ObscureInterests – For rare and uncommon hobbies
- /r/ObscureMedia – For little known music, TV, film, etc.
- /r/ForgottenBookmarks – For old things found in used books
- /r/OddlySpecific – For amusingly hyper-specific content
Find a niche related to your work, education, hometown, ethnicity, or identity. Leverage your specialized knowledge and experience to provide unique value.
Help other users
Being helpful is one of the fastest ways to gain Reddit karma. Look for posts where you can provide assistance, expertise, or guidance. Answer questions, give recommendations, and share useful resources. If your help gets an appreciative response, you’ll earn good karma.
Some subreddits focused on helping include:
- /r/TechSupport – Providing technical troubleshooting
- /r/HomeworkHelp – Assisting with tricky schoolwork
- /r/WhatIsThisThing – Identifying mysterious objects
- /r/FindAReddit – Helping users find new subreddits
Sort these subreddits by new posts and provide useful answers to people seeking help. Be thoughtful and patient. Going above and beyond to really help someone out can result in karma gold.
Post interesting content across multiple subreddits
You can maximize your karma gains by posting to multiple relevant subreddits. If you post something to just one subreddit, you limit its potential reach. But if you share it across 5-10 appropriate subreddits, you expose it to vastly more users who can upvote it.
When crossposting, tailor the title and post details to fit each subreddit. Make sure it’s on topic and follows all subreddit rules. Space out your posts over a period of time rather than flooding all the subreddits at once.
Some types of content that work well for crossposting include:
- News articles and current events
- Funny images, GIFs, and videos
- Interesting studies and research
- Cool projects and DIY builds
Posting across subreddits takes more effort than a single post, but exposes your content to a bigger audience and potential karma gains.
Participate in Reddit events like Gift Exchanges
Participating in Reddit’s annual Gift Exchanges is a fun way to gain karma. Here’s how the exchanges work:
- Sign up for an exchange by the registration deadline
- Get matched to another Reddit user somewhere in the world
- Mail a thoughtful gift to your match based on their likes/dislikes
- Receive a gift from your own match
- Post about your experience to the Gift Exchange subreddit
The most popular exchanges include Secret Santa, where over 100,000 Redditors exchange gifts before Christmas. Completing a thoughtful gift exchange earns you good karma on Reddit.
Submit content during peak Reddit traffic times
When you post or comment can impact how much karma you get. In general, peak Reddit traffic occurs on weekdays from late morning to early afternoon Eastern Time. More users online means more potential upvotes.
Here is a breakdown of Reddit’s traffic patterns:
| Time | Traffic Level |
|---|---|
| Early morning (12 AM – 9 AM ET) | Low |
| Late morning (9 AM – 12 PM ET) | High |
| Afternoon (12 PM – 5 PM ET) | High |
| Evening (5 PM – 12 AM ET) | Moderate |
Aim to post and comment during late morning and afternoon Eastern Time for the best chance of exposure. The weekend also sees dips in traffic levels compared to weekdays.
Don’t beg for karma
It may be tempting to outright ask for karma, especially when you’re just starting out. But begging for upvotes and karma leads to just the opposite—downvotes and losing karma. It goes against reddiquette and comes across as low effort. Other users will recognize desperate karma grabs right away.
Instead of begging, focus your energy on contributing value as described in the other tips. Karma should come organically from sharing your thoughts, helping others, and engaging in respectful discussions.
Be patient!
Gaining your first karma takes patience and persistence. Don’t expect to receive thousands of karma overnight. Regularly post, comment, and engage with communities over a period of weeks and months. Karma gains snowball over time as you become a recognized contributor. Stay patient, keep redditing, and your karma will grow.
Conclusion
Gaining your first Reddit karma is achievable for any new user who puts in some effort. Stick to high-value posts, thoughtful comments, and being helpful. Engage communities you genuinely care about. With persistence, you’ll be racking up karma points and Reddit street cred in no time.