Cold Reach via Reddit
Most indie hackers spray DMs like it’s free advertising. That’s why 99% of “cold outreach” on Reddit gets ignored—or worse, banned.
The trick isn’t to sell. It’s to join the conversation where the fire already burns. Reddit is a collection of micro-town squares. Each sub has its own vibe, language, and unspoken rules. Walk in shouting about your tool, you’re out. Walk in adding value, you’re in.
The best cold reach starts inside the thread. Find a real pain point post (“I’ve been trying X for months, still stuck…”) and comment something useful. No pitch. Just solve a micro-problem. Then, a day later, DM with a short follow-up:
“Hey, noticed your comment about X. I wrote a guide / built a small thing that might help. Want the link?”
Two important rules:
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Keep your DM under 3 lines.
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Always ask permission before dropping links.
You’re not selling, you’re offering rescue. Big difference.
Rep
This week, find 3 threads in your niche where people are struggling. Leave a genuinely helpful comment. Then DM one poster with a short permission-based offer. Track replies.
Tricks
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Comment first, DM second — builds trust.
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Ask before linking — avoids spam vibes.
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Keep DMs short — 2–3 sentences max.
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Mirror the subreddit’s language — don’t sound like an outsider.
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Use the word help instead of promote.
ChatGPT Prompt:
`You are my outreach coach.
Write 5 variations of a Reddit cold DM.
Context:
[Describe the subreddit, the user’s pain point, and the solution/resource you want to share]
Constraints: - Max 3 sentences each - Always ask permission before sharing a link - Tone: casual, helpful, zero-salesy`