How Reddit is Shaping AI Search & How Your Brand Can Leverage It | Conquer AI Search with AI Podcast

EP#10 Why AI Loves Reddit More Than Anything (And How to Use It)

Conquer AI Search With AI

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Hey there! My name is Avinash, or Avi for short, and I am your friendly neighborhood GEO Guru. If you’re new around here, let me welcome you to our podcast!

You might want to hit that follow button on LinkedIn or X so you can keep up with all our juicy updates on AI search tools like ChatGPT, Google AI, and Microsoft Copilot, or if you are remotely interested in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) or Large Language Model Search Engine Optimization (LLM SEO). (Sorry for all the abbreviations!).

I’m truly grateful to our amazing listeners; you all are fantastic! I never anticipated that our podcast would reach such incredible milestones so quickly after just ten episodes.

Now, I can’t wait to jump into the main topic of our latest episode! This marks the second installment in our thrilling 11-part series where we’ll explore our top eleven generative optimization techniques.

Before I proceed further, let me put this bluntly: 🔥 Reddit Is Stealing Your Google Traffic (And Google’s Paying Them For It). Why? Because:

- Google pays Reddit $60M/year to train Gemini
- Your “expert” content gets 2.9x LESS weight than a viral meme
- AI Overviews now quote Reddit rants as facts

Harsh Truths:

1. Reddit = AI’s favorite teacher (your white papers? Not even substitute teachers)
2. Your brand reputation is being decided in subreddits you’ve never heard of
3. Traditional SEO is becoming glorified digital janitor work

Now, let me share a little backstory about how we discovered this technique. So, I was scrolling through Reddit one day—pretty much my second home these days—when I carelessly tossed out a tidbit about AI Monitor to some pals. Fast forward a couple of months, and I see that very detail referenced in a completely unrelated discussion about AI Monitor.

That was the moment when my team and I went, “Hmm, maybe we should try this with other clients?” And guess what? It worked like a charm. After a couple of manual adjustments, it worked better than anything we knew back then. Slowly, this technique became our secret sauce for influencing AI search results. And I kid you not, we have generated at least $10 million in additional revenue for our client just because of this technique.

Later, we conducted our research and discovered why content on Reddit is particularly good at influencing AI search, which was quite a revelation for us. However, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me first explain why you should care about Reddit, even if you’re not particularly concerned with Search Engine Optimization (SEO), GEO, or LLM SEO.

Why You Should Care about Reddit?

AI search tools are increasingly analyzing how people discuss your brand, products, and industry in Reddit conversations. If you’re not participating in these discussions, you risk allowing others (or, as happened with one of our clients, even blatant misinformation) to shape your narrative.

1. Reddit’s Data is Highly Valued by AI Companies

Tech giants aren’t just watching Reddit—they’re investing in it.

- Google signed a ~$60M/year deal for Reddit API access.
- OpenAI inked a ~$70M/year agreement for the same.

That’s not charity—it’s because Reddit’s unfiltered, community-driven data gives AI models a more authentic understanding of human behavior and conversation.

🔍 Fun Fact

AI Monitor’s research show Reddit data can be weighted up to 2.9x more than other sources in AI training datasets.

2. Reddit Offers Authentic, Human Conversations

Unlike polished blogs or corporate press releases, Reddit is full of raw, real, and relatable content:

- Honest reviews and critiques
- Unfiltered feedback and troubleshooting
- Community debates and first-hand experiences

For AI, this is linguistic gold. It helps models learn how real people talk about problems, preferences, and products—including yours.

3. Ignoring Reddit = Losing Control of Your AI Narrative

Here’s the danger: If your brand is discussed negatively on Reddit and you’re not paying attention, AI may pick up and amplify that sentiment in search results.

Worse? If misinformation spreads unchecked, it could influence what AI-generated answers say about you.

✅ Smart brands engage proactively to make sure AI reflects accurate, balanced, and positive representations.

Story Time!

So, grab a cup of coffee and settle in because I’ve got a little story that might make you believe in the power of Reddit. One of our clients is a highly successful ed-tech company specializing in support for medical professionals. Also at the helm is a founder who is not just an average businessperson but a doctor-turned-entrepreneur with a heart of gold.

I still remember a time when I found myself in a financial crunch and didn’t have the cash to secure a new lease on the office where I was running my startup. The founder of this startup, when I came to know about his, offered us to use their office space for free. I’ll tell you that kindness was a lifesaver!

Now, back to the story, as part of their app, they sometimes provide in-app video consultations to users on both mobile and web platforms. One time, a user noticed that their webcam light was still glowing like a lighthouse after they closed the video chat “tab.” And, as you might have guessed by now, this user shared their story on “Reddit” which was subsequently backed by a few other isolated cases and snowballed into a minor uproar

As someone who has built in-app video conferencing solutions, this can happen in about 1 in 10,000 cases. If the user had closed the browser along with the tab, the webcam light would have turned off.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Despite the statistical anomaly, this incident managed to rattle some cages regarding privacy concerns and heavily influenced public perception. Now, whenever prospective students search for reviews related to their service on ChatGPT and Google AI Overview, they are almost always cautioned about privacy concerns raised by some users.

It took concentrated efforts for at least a year and a lot of hard work to resolve the issue. Who knew that a little tech glitch and a random post on Reddit could teach us so much about GEO, AEO, and LLM SEO and the advantages of being proactive? Life is funny that way, isn’t it?

How to Optimize for AI Search Using Reddit (GEO/AEO Strategies)

Ready to step in? Here’s how to influence your brand’s visibility in the age of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO).

1. Participate Authentically in Relevant Subreddits

- 🔍 Find your niche: Identify subreddits where your audience hangs out (r/marketing, r/health, r/fintech, etc.).
- 👀 Lurk first: Get a feel for the tone and culture before engaging.
- 💬 Add value: Share genuinely helpful insights, answer questions, and don’t push products.

❌ Avoid spam at all costs —Reddit users will call you out, and mods might ban you.

2. Host AMAs (Ask Me Anything)

An AMA is your brand’s chance to shine without selling.

- Invite your CEO, head of R&D, or product team.
- Answer tough questions transparently.
- Build trust while creating high-quality, structured data that AI loves to learn from.

🧠 Even academics and researchers use AMAs to boost authority and visibility in AI-indexed content.

3. Create Shareable, High-Engagement Content

High-performing Reddit content = high AI visibility.

What Redditors love

✅ Infographics that explain complex topics
✅ Behind-the-scenes product stories
✅ Actionable guides or tips

Upvotes and comments are engagement signals that AI models consider when determining content relevance.

4. Monitor Brand Mentions & Industry Trends

Use tools like:

- AI Brand Monitor
- Google Alerts
- BuzzSumo
- Mention

Track what people are saying about your brand or industry on Reddit, and jump in when needed to clarify, thank users, or correct misinformation.

5. Avoid Common Reddit Mistakes

❌ Don’t:

- Spam posts or drop links without context
- Open a branded subreddit unless you’re Marvel-tier
- Use Reddit only for one-off PR drops

✅ Do:

- Be patient and spend time within the community before your first post.
- Build presence over time
- Be transparent about who you are and for you work.
- Always, prioritize genuine contributions over marketing.

Key Takeaway

The future of search is conversation-first, and Reddit is where those conversations happen.

By strategically engaging on Reddit, your brand can:

✅ Shape how AI perceives your products and voice
✅ Influence AI-generated search answers
✅ Stay ahead in a landscape dominated by generative engines

Final Thought:

Are you actively shaping your AI search presence, or are you letting the internet decide it for you?

In this new era of geographic engagement (GEO), Reddit has evolved from just a forum to an essential tool for building your AI reputation.

Do You Know What ChatGPT is Saying about Your Brand?

Don’t wait for a crisis. Proactively manage your brand’s reputation in the age of AI. To learn what AI is saying about you, book 1:1 Meeting with the #1 GEO Expert in the world.