Purpose and Solved
Problems
Reddit, self-proclaims itself as “the
front page of the internet”, which is quite the title to live up to. However, I think it does do just that, and
quite more. I’m rather excited to write
this post as I’ve been an avid Reddit user for about 5 years now, and I’m excited
to view it through the eyes of a business, with it, so, without further ado, let’s
get started! As defined by social media
examiner, Reddit, “allows users to discuss and vote on content that other users
have submitted” (Beck, 1).
So, what can Reddit do for a
business? The most popular trend is
customer service or support. For many
video games, their respective subreddit (more on these later) act as a place to
interact with developers and express concerns or pains. This allows the company to interact directly
and promptly with their customers, while also providing helpful links in the
information section. Meanwhile, hype and
speculation about an upcoming product or game can be talked about. Reddit solves a problem that many businesses
and companies have had in the past. It
provides users with very niche and specific likes a place to discuss with other
people who are just as excited about something as they are. While for businesses, it allows targeted responses
to concerns with a product or claim, allowing for more direct contact with its
target audience.
Attempting to use Reddit
As I’ve had a lot of experience
with Reddit, everything is intuitive from the get go. The only downside I still consistently hear
from the community/people I know in real life is that, the site has a rather
dated appearance about it. However, as a
user becomes more familiar with the website, it becomes clear that this “old”
design, is so that users can more effectively navigate the website once they
overcome the learning curve. After
making an account and subscribing to several subreddits (communities created by
fans focused on a subject or topic) your front page is populated with your
interests, and is completely customized.
I prefer to use Reddit on desktop,
so investigation into the many apps, was rather interesting. The best app I’ve found for free is
Redditisfun, as it provides customization options for users, and has consistent
updates and high ratings. Its ads are non-intrusive,
and it is easy to post, edit, and revise everything on the website, perfect for
a business user!
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| A Typical Reddit Front Page, Credit to: https://all-venturelabdoovat.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Reddit-Front-page-layout.jpg |
Reddit Features
Explaining Reddit is a bit
difficult, due to the simplicity of the site, but once one subscribes to a
subreddit, a user can create posts or comment on other posts. However, the beauty of Reddit is that
relevant posts are shown via a karma system, where users can “upvote” interesting
posts for good karma or “downvote” uninteresting/poor posts for bad karma. Posts and comments work in the same way,
allowing irrelevant or poor posts/comments to be completely ignored, while only
quality is seen by most users. Reddit
jargon is a bit hard to pick up at first, but here’s a link if you’re
interested in brushing up on Reddit Lingo: https://mashable.com/2014/03/10/reddit-lingo-guide/#JU.Sp8o__mqt
From a business stand point, subreddit
moderators can deem certain users as employees of a company. For example, the Xbox subreddit can highlight
the users that work for Microsoft, so that users can differentiate between real
and fake employees. Links can also be
promoted through Reddit, so that a post may be seen by more users. Once one gets started on Reddit, it’s easy to
pick up all the nuances, this is just a brief overview and what I consider to
be a good starting point for diving deeper.
My Experience
When utilized for leisure,
Reddit is a great entertainment platform that almost anyone with any hobby or
interest can enjoy. It truly acts as the
front page of the internet, connecting users from all over, and allowing them
to discuss assorted topics relating to their interests. Furthermore, when utilized
in a business setting, Reddit acts as an excellent choice for any company
looking to more personally interact with its users. For example, the Iama subreddit (a customer
or user can ask questions of a business, or individual in a business) may act
as an excellent platform for expanding the brand or customer loyalty far beyond
the normal bounds of a business. Any
company with any sort of a following (whether it may be a product they produce
or a service they provide) can interact with users in the various subreddits as
a customer service platform, while also keeping their users informed on what is
to come.
Sources
Beck, Ben. “6 Ways to Use Reddit to Grow Your Business.” Social Media Examiner Main Page, 21 Sept. 2012, www.socialmediaexaminer.com/reddit/.
“Reddit.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 May 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reddit.
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