Why Reddit is the Best Sales Tool You’re Not Using Yet
If you’re running a business in Brisbane—whether you’re a plumber in Coorparoo, a lawyer in the CBD, or you run a boutique shop in Paddington—you’ve probably felt the frustration of social media.
You spend hours posting photos to Instagram that nobody sees, or you’ve watched your bank account drain because of Facebook ads that don't work. It feels like you’re shouting into a void.
Reddit is different.
Most business owners I talk to think Reddit is just a place for teenagers or tech nerds. That is a massive mistake. In reality, Reddit is a giant collection of "rooms" (called subreddits) where people go specifically to ask for advice, complain about problems, and—most importantly—ask for recommendations on who to hire.
When someone in the r/Brisbane community asks, "Who is the best mechanic on the Northside?", they aren't just browsing. They have a broken car and a credit card in their hand. If you aren't there to answer, your competitor will be.
In this guide, I’m going to show you how to use Reddit to get more phone calls and bookings without spending a cent on ads or getting kicked off the platform. This isn't about "marketing"; it's about being the helpful local expert people want to hire.
The Golden Rule: Don't Be a Salesman
Reddit users have a very high "BS detector." If you jump into a conversation and say, "HI, I’M A PLUMBER, CALL ME AT 0400...", you will be banned within minutes.
Think of Reddit like a local pub. If you walked into the pub, interrupted a conversation, and handed out flyers, people would tell you to get lost. But if you sat down, joined the conversation, and offered some genuine advice when someone mentioned a leaking tap, they’d eventually ask for your business card.
To see results, you need to get real customers by being a person first and a business owner second.
Step 1: Finding Your Customers (Where the Money Is)
You don't need to be everywhere on Reddit. You only need to be where your customers are. For a Brisbane business, there are three types of "rooms" you should watch:
1. The Local Hubs
- r/Brisbane: This is the big one. Everything from traffic complaints to "where can I find a good accountant" happens here. - r/Queensland: Good for broader services or if you travel for work. - Suburb-specific groups: Sometimes smaller pockets exist for specific areas.2. The Problem Hubs
If you are a specialist, look for groups dedicated to what you do. - Are you a landscaper? Look at gardening groups. - Do you fix computers? Look at tech support groups. - Are you a mortgage broker? Look at r/AusFinance.3. The Competitor Hubs
Keep an eye on threads where people are complaining about your competitors. If someone says, "I’ve been waiting three weeks for a quote from [Big Company Name]," that is your cue to step in and offer a 24-hour turnaround.Step 2: Setting Up for Success
Before you start replying to people, you need a profile that looks legitimate.
1. Use a Human Name: Don't call yourself "Brisbane_Plumbing_Direct_LLC". Use something like "Dave_the_BNE_Plumber". It feels more personal. 2. Fill Out Your Bio: Mention what you do and where you are. "Owner of a small electrical firm in Morningside. Happy to help with DIY questions." 3. Don't Link Immediately: Don't put your website link in every post. People can click your profile to find your details if they like what you have to say.
Step 3: The "Help First" Strategy
This is the secret sauce. Most business owners fail because they try to sell. You are going to do the opposite: you are going to give away your knowledge for free.
I worked with a pest control guy in the Western Suburbs who was struggling to get leads. I told him to stop posting ads and start looking for people asking, "What is this bug?" on Reddit.
Every time he saw a photo of a spider or a termite, he would reply with: - Exactly what the bug was. - Whether it was dangerous. - A simple trick to get rid of it using stuff from Bunnings.
He didn't ask for work. But at the end of his helpful advice, he’d say, "If it keeps coming back, feel free to shoot me a message—I do this for a living in Kenmore."
The result? He became the "go-to guy" for bugs in Brisbane. People started tagging him in other posts. He was getting 3-4 high-quality leads a week just from being helpful. That’s how you get your business noticed without spending a dollar.
Step 4: Using the Search Bar to Find "Buy Ready" Customers
You don't have to wait for new posts. You can go hunting right now.
Go to r/Brisbane and search for keywords related to your business: - "Recommendation" - "Looking for" - "Best [Your Industry]" - "Help with [Your Service]"
Filter these by "Past Month." You will find dozens of people who were recently looking for exactly what you sell. Even if they've already found someone, replying to the thread helps the next person who searches for that topic.
Step 5: Dealing with the "Haters"
Reddit can be a grumpy place. Someone might reply to you saying your prices are too high or your advice is wrong.
Do not argue.
If you get into a fight on Reddit, you look unprofessional to everyone else watching. If someone is being a jerk, just ignore them or reply with, "Fair point! Everyone has a different way of doing things. This is just what has worked for my customers over the last 10 years."
Being the adult in the room makes you look like the expert people want to hire.
How Much Time Does This Take?
You don't need to spend all day on your phone.
- 10 minutes in the morning: Check the search results for your keywords. - 10 minutes at lunch: Reply to any messages or comments. - 10 minutes in the evening: Scan r/Brisbane for any local questions you can help with.
That’s 30 minutes a day. If that 30 minutes gets you one $500 job a week, is it worth it? For most Brisbane small businesses, the answer is a resounding yes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Copy-Pasting: Never copy and paste the same reply to multiple people. It looks like spam and will get you banned. 2. Ignoring the Rules: Every "room" (subreddit) has rules on the right-hand side of the page. Read them. Some allow you to post your business link on certain days; some never allow it. 3. Being "Corporate": Use plain English. Talk like you’re talking to a mate over a BBQ. Avoid words like "synergy," "solutions," or "industry-leading."
Summary: Your 3-Step Action Plan
If you want to start getting customers from Reddit this week, do this:
1. Create an account with a human-sounding name and a honest bio. 2. Search r/Brisbane for the last 30 days of people asking for recommendations in your industry. 3. Reply to 3 people with genuine, helpful advice without trying to sell them anything.
Reddit isn't a place to run ads; it's a place to build a reputation. In a city like Brisbane, where word-of-mouth is everything, a good reputation on Reddit is worth more than a billboard on the Story Bridge.
If you’re too busy running your business to manage this yourself, or you want to see how we’ve helped other local tradies and shops dominate their local area, we can help.
At Local Marketing Group, we focus on what actually puts money in your pocket—not just likes and comments.
Ready to grow your business? Contact us at lmgroup.au/contact and let’s chat about getting you more customers.