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To be on top of SEO, you need to always keep your finger on the pulse. Google regularly updates its algorithms to make the Internet more comfortable for users. Therefore, media buyers and SEOs constantly have to adjust their tactics in order not to lose their positions in the search and keep the flow of visitors.
When Google rolled out an update in September 2023 called the Helpful Content Update (HCU), prioritizing content from real people over corporations, it was a real shock to many in the industry. Many webmasters began to notice a decline in traffic to their sites and frantically tried to figure out how to fix it.
But there were those who saw this as a chance. Cool SEO specialists and media buyers developed an ingenious strategy to circumvent the system. Using Reddit, they were able to drive tons of free traffic while others were panicking and trying to figure out what to do with the new algorithms. This move helped them to lure millions of new visitors to their sites, taking advantage of Google’s changes in their favor.
The recent Google HCU update was a real turning point for SEO. Now the search engine pays much more attention to the content created by ordinary people than to standard websites. This came as a surprise to many SEOs – there were even discussions on Reddit that the era of SEO had come to an end.
But when the excitement died down, it became clear that it was a game changer. Platforms where people can publish their content without editorial approval, such as Reddit, LinkedIn Pulse, Medium, and Quora, began to take center stage in SEO strategies.
Google’s algorithms now favor user-generated content (UGC), and this has significantly increased traffic on such platforms. This is especially noticeable on Reddit, where people have started to add the word “reddit” to their queries to find the most relevant and reliable answers. The change in user behavior has created new opportunities for media buyers who have not missed the chance to take advantage of the situation.
One of the most popular tactics of media buyers is to first leave a reply to an already popular comment in an ongoing discussion on Reddit. Later, they come back and change their response by adding an affiliate link to it. Thus, due to the already received likes and trust in the comment, users are more likely to follow the link.
Another interesting tactic is to write a comment that can potentially become the most discussed in a post that is gaining momentum. Then, such comments are artificially promoted by faking upvotes so that they appear in the most prominent place. As a result, the affiliate link receives more clicks due to more views.
The most complex and well-thought-out strategy is to create your own post on Reddit, optimized for certain keywords. When the post starts to gain popularity, it is edited by inserting affiliate links. Thus, it is possible to attract a significant amount of traffic without getting caught by spam filters.
Don’t forget, these tricks are based on a deep understanding of Reddit algorithms and the behavior of its users. This is how specialists place advertising materials in the most visible places. This is one of the ways that media buyers get free traffic in large volumes by bypassing the system.
Media buyers can easily use Reddit thanks to the ability to quickly create multiple accounts. Anonymity reigns supreme on the platform, and verification requirements are minimal, making it easy for marketers to create multiple profiles to promote affiliate links.
To register a new account, it is enough to verify through Google using phone verification services and have a SIM card. If media buyers have access to various proxy services and browser anti-detection, they can easily create and maintain multiple accounts without being detected by Reddit’s anti-spam algorithms.
To further disguise their affiliate links and make them less visible, some marketers resort to using intermediary sites. These sites redirect users to affiliate pages, adding another layer of secrecy. This approach makes it harder for Reddit moderators and users to detect spam, which allows these methods to remain effective for a long time.
The way media buyers have learned to beat Reddit’s algorithms has shaken up the entire SEO industry. Previously, many SEO specialists were quietly promoting websites using the usual methods, but after the next changes in Google’s algorithms, their traffic and revenues plummeted. Many of them had to change the direction of their work and even look for new areas of activity after many years in SEO.
However, those who quickly adapted to the new wave associated with user-generated content (UGC) were able to benefit from it. By focusing on platforms such as Reddit, LinkedIn, Medium, and Quora, media buyers have learned how to generate a huge traffic flow and earn decent money without relying on classic SEO tools and sites.
It’s hard to ignore the influence of social media on SEO nowadays. Take Reddit as an example: a strong presence on social media can seriously boost visibility and drive a lot of traffic to a website. Google starts to highlight content that is actively discussed and shared on social networks. Therefore, it is important for marketers to constantly keep their finger on the pulse and be in touch with the audience on different platforms.
Google is constantly improving its algorithms and fighting against tricky promotion tactics. The future of SEO lies in high-quality, live and authentic content that people really like. With the development of AI, it is becoming more and more difficult for search engines to understand whether a human or a machine created the text. Google likes content that is popular on social media, so it is important for marketers to use different channels to interact with the audience.