Do's:

Follow the 90/10 (or 80/20) participation rule rigorously: Spend the vast majority of your activity (90%+) as a normal community member—answering questions, sharing useful third-party resources, commenting helpfully on others' posts, and contributing to discussions unrelated to your tool. Only a small fraction should involve your product. This builds trust and karma while avoiding spam flags. Always disclose your affiliation transparently: When your tool comes up (or you mention it), say something like "Full disclosure: I'm a community ambassador for [Tool Name]" right away. Hiding it is a fast track to bans. Provide genuine value first, mention the tool second (and sparingly): Answer questions thoroughly with general advice or multiple options. Only reference your tool if it genuinely solves the exact problem—and frame it as one possible solution among others. Focus on comments over top-level posts; helpful comments get far more traction and scrutiny. Read and strictly follow every subreddit's specific rules before posting: Check the sidebar/wiki for every sub (rules vary wildly). Many allow self-promo only in designated threads (e.g., "Show & Tell" or weekend megathreads), require flair, minimum karma/account age, or ban it entirely. Respect mods—politely message them if unsure. Build your account reputation first: Participate actively for 2–4 weeks (or longer) as a regular user before any promotion. Engage across 10–15 related subs to look natural, not targeted. Create and share truly helpful, non-salesy content: Post tutorials, benchmarks, open-source tips, or "lessons learned" that educate the community. Natural mentions of your tool can emerge organically if relevant. Engage two-way and listen: Reply to feedback (positive or negative), report bugs honestly, and relay user suggestions to your product team. This turns you into a trusted community member rather than a marketer. Be active long-term and consistent: Comment regularly in relevant threads. Real relationships compound over time.

Don't:

Don't spam links, posts, or comments about your tool: No drive-by promotions, no posting your product in unrelated threads, and no repetitive mentions. Even one overly salesy comment can get you banned in strict subs like r/programming or r/webdev. Don't hide or downplay your affiliation: Never pose as an impartial user or "just a fan." Reddit detects and punishes deception harshly. Don't treat Reddit like an ad platform: No "Check out our new feature