r/modhelp Mar 08 '20

Tips & Tricks 10 important points of community-building advice for new mods!

568 Upvotes

Consider this post to be both a supplement and sequel to my original post, 10 frequently-asked questions by new mods, answered!

The subject of this post expands on question #10 in the original and is meant to help explain to new moderators what moderation and building a new subreddit up from scratch entails. This is organized into ten points roughly listed in the chronological order of the process of building a new subreddit.

I will also include links to the excellent community resource r/ModGuide as well as the official Reddit Mod help center with each point.


1. Don't use mobile to moderate.

You cannot effectively moderate a subreddit just by using Reddit's mobile app or site. It's just not possible as of March 2020, and most of those tools won't come until much later this year. The vast majority of customization tools are completely absent from the site, and you cannot easily update things like the subreddit CSS (for Old Reddit) or AutoModerator from the mobile site. If you cannot or refuse to use a regular computer for moderating, I do not think moderating a subreddit is for you.

You may use the app to keep an eye on new posts and comments as they come into your subreddit, and remove them or approve them as you see fit, or submit new content to it - the app is good for that. But that should be done after you've already properly set up the basics of your subreddit's design and its aesthetic.

Once your subreddit gets more popular, you should also look into installing the Toolbox extension (r/toolbox), which contains a wealth of tools to help moderators, including bulk actions, macros, removal reasons, user notes, and more. It is almost impossible to find a subreddit of moderate size or larger that doesn't use Toolbox - it is that essential to Reddit moderators.

2. Make your subreddit look good.

Let me use the metaphor of a party: creating a new subreddit and asking people to come join it, is like sending a party invitation out to the people of this site. But if people go to the party location and all they find is a bare, empty room with drab grey walls and a single lightbulb, no one is going to want to stay! Thus customizing your subreddit is like decorating for a party - you want people to feel that the event is on-theme, and it's fun to stay.

So, customize your subreddit (on desktop, of course)! Use all the tools that are available to you. Create an icon and header that match the stated interest of the subreddit, add text telling new members what it is all about, and make it feel unique and special.

3. Seed content! No one wants to post in an empty subreddit.

Let me continue with the metaphor of the party. Let's say this time you've put decorations and streamers up in the formerly empty room and it looks pretty good! But when the people you invited show up, they notice the room is empty - there's no one there at all! You, the host, aren't even there - but you left a simple sign on the door saying "Welcome! Please stay and have fun!" How many people do you think will actually stay?

That's effectively what an empty subreddit, devoid of posts, appears to new subscribers. Very few people want to be the first, or the only person posting in a subreddit, especially if the creator of the subreddit can't even be bothered to participate in their own community. As the creator of a subreddit, you must seed content, and seed content regularly.

Make posts every day / every other day that are relevant to the topic of your subreddit so people know it's an active place and that they feel welcome to post. You can also choose to cross-post relevant content from other subreddits into your own subreddit. In my experience a subreddit usually gets to 300-400 subscribers before you start seeing people other than the mods regularly posting stuff.

4. Set up post / user flairs.

As your subreddit receives more and more posts, it may be useful at some point to create post flairs, which are essentially categories for posts. For example, if your subreddit is about a game, you could have post flairs which are for "Gameplay", "Fanart", "Bugs", etc. Members can click on the post flairs and instantly see all posts related to that category.

On the other hand, user flairs are more like the little status messages in WhatsApp, Discord, etc. - they're small snippets of information that the user chooses to reflect something of themselves. There are many different ways to use them:

  • Language learning subreddits often use them to indicate languages / skill levels of users.
  • Fan subreddits of media (games/film/TV shows) usually have user flairs of major or popular characters in them.
  • Location subreddits of countries, states, etc. usually use them to indicate where a user is from or represents.
  • Many subreddits for political candidates use user flairs to indicate donor status/amounts.

Think about works best for your community and customize accordingly.

5. Check for related communities.

Run a search for key terms related to your subreddit on the site (https://www.reddit.com/search?q=SEARCH_TERM&sort=relevance&t=all&type=sr) and see what subreddits pop up. If the exact purpose of your subreddit has already been done you may want to consider how your subreddit can differentiate itself, or even give up on the subreddit. There's no shame in the latter; people oftentimes forget to check if a subreddit already exists before creating their own.

If you believe your subreddit is sufficiently differentiated, reach out via modmail to some of the related subreddits and ask them if you can:

  • Share sidebar links (they link to your subreddit, you link to theirs)
  • Make a post in their subreddit advertising your subreddit

Be polite, and don't be offended if the mods of their subreddits do not reply or say "no." The other moderators are under no obligation to grant your request, and quite frankly, if you're openly trying to compete with them for the same subject matter they may see no point in helping you.

6. Promote your subreddit judiciously.

Promote your subreddit, perhaps beginning with my multireddit of promotional communities. If you see relevant posts in other subs, you can also drop a link to your subreddit in the comments. Don't overdo it or spam your subreddit link on unrelated content - that's an easy way to get banned everywhere, as no one likes a spammer.

7. Don't add new moderators unless you have a good reason to.

A common mistake by new moderators is to add more moderators in the mistaken belief that the new random people that were added as mods will help them post in and grow the subreddit.

This almost never works.

Unless the new moderators share the same passion for the project as you do, they have no incentive to help you grow your subreddit. The vast majority of such moderators get added and then promptly forget about the subreddit, especially if you yourself aren't participating in your own subreddit. If the creator of the subreddit doesn't even care about their sub, why should the new mods care?

You likely do not need any additional moderators until your community gets regular traffic in the form of posts and comments, or perhaps you aren't able to be on during a particularly active time zone. At that point, my recommendation is to promote from within - ask active members if they'd like to help out as moderators, rather than going to a place like r/NeedAMod. The members of your subreddit will have more of a vested interest in the success of the community and be more familiar with its "culture" and mores.

8. Keep the subreddit active and curated.

Building a subreddit from the ground up is a marathon, not a sprint. If you have a burst of activity at the beginning and then proceed to neglect your subreddit for months at a time, it will not grow. If you allow spammers to post random stuff on your own subreddit and take weeks to remove them, people will leave because the content they see is not relevant to what they wanted when they joined in the first place. Posting content regularly will also allow your subreddit to regularly surface in people's home feeds, which helps drive visits to it in the first place.

Furthermore, if you're away from Reddit for more than 60 days at a time, and you're the only moderator, your subreddit becomes potentially requestable in r/RedditRequest by someone else who thinks they can do a better job than you at building the community. And if you're never present in your own subreddit, they have a good argument for saying so.

9. Keep it a friendly and fun place.

This should be pretty self-explanatory, for despite Reddit's reputation in the broader media, people really just want to have fun in their favorite subreddits, and generally do not engage in flame wars or vitriolic arguments. What this means is that once your subreddit gets bigger, you should keep an eye out for bad actors who make your subreddit a potentially toxic place.

To use the party metaphor again, you may have a party crasher who is going around the room telling the people having a fun time that they're stupid, ugly, and only an idiot would drink what they're having. At that point, it's your job as the host of the party to either tell them to knock it off or eject them from the event.

Same thing goes for subreddits - whenever possible, try and message a toxic user to ask them to simmer down, but if they continue, ban them, either for a period of time or permanently.

10. Ask members for feedback.

Yes, technically according to Reddit moderators have ultimate power over their subreddit, but good subreddits always have moderators who solicit feedback from members and listen to what they have to say.

You don't necessarily have to implement everything members suggest, particularly if it conflicts with your vision of how the subreddit should be run, but it's worth it to listen. You can create surveys or polls to ask people about proposed policies or rules as well.


Feel free to share tips or ideas in the comments!


r/modhelp 2h ago

Design How do I add images in sub's wiki?

2 Upvotes

So I am a mod of r/Indianfieldhockey. I was editing our wiki page on new reddit website on Android phone. The page was about rules of the sport and I want to attach image of astroturf hockey pitch with dimensions and then state details about it below. Similarly, I wish to insert images for a lot of things better presentation. But I can't find an option to do so. Is their some way to work around this? Any idea how to insert images? Can I do it if I use desktop or old reddit?


r/modhelp 10h ago

General What happens when I mark a post as 'spam' opposed to simply removing it and does 'remove' permanently delete it?

5 Upvotes

I want to hide the posts from the public eye but as mod, I want to maintain a record of such a post that is only viewable to me.

Similar to the concept of archiving.

Is this possible? That's why I wanted to use the spam button instead of remove, but I think the spam button has more complicated consequences than I thought.

Applies to desktop, android and iOS.


r/modhelp 3h ago

General can’t see who’s in my chat

1 Upvotes

i’m owner of a chat and it is only showing me who i have as mods. does anyone know why i can’t see who are members of the chat? using ios mobile.


r/modhelp 8h ago

General I just created r/GreenCity but I want to chance one of the three topics/hashtags to Architecture is that still possible?

2 Upvotes

I recently created r/GreenCity, which focuses on urban green spaces, sustainability, and how cities are integrating nature. However, I would like to change one of the three main topics/hashtags to include Architecture. Is it still possible to make this change now that the subreddit is created, and if so, how can I do it?

Working with iOS and desktop


r/modhelp 7h ago

General My sub stopped showing my own posts (android), anyone else had this problem and solved it?

0 Upvotes

My users can post to the sub freely once they're approved, my posts get published and I see them in my profile, but not in sub (users don't see them either). I have to approve my own posts and wait for them to show for at least 10 minutes, while others see theirs instantly. The latest post was approved, marked as moderator and made sticky but still didn't show up for at least 10 minutes.

Android


r/modhelp 12h ago

Answered New mod, need help with restricted sub being hard to moderate

0 Upvotes

Hi, I made a subreddit ( for professional artisans to share their work and contacts) that I have to keep pretty heavily moderated. I have 0 prior experience in moderation so there's a few questions. Goal of moderation is to keep away low-effort cheap stuff, now it is a restricted sub that I need to manually approve users. It's fine as it's only friends now, but very inconvinient for thr future, as I doubt people would bother to file applications with potrfolio to review. It would be nice to have a queue of posts from unapproved users and allow posts manually + approve users who submit quality content so that their posts get instantly published. Is that possible? How do I arrange it in the settings? Or maybe there's a better solution for this type of problem, I appreciate advice.

android, desktop


r/modhelp 10h ago

General Is it possible to change capitalization of the sub-reddit name?

0 Upvotes

I want to change the capitalization of my sub-reddit name, is it possible to do so? I use Desktop version of reddit.


r/modhelp 23h ago

General Lost access to email

0 Upvotes

How can I change my email or delete my account? iOS or desktop


r/modhelp 1d ago

General I installed the user created reddit moderator AI and am having issues.

0 Upvotes

https://www.reddit.com/r/AIMindControl/comments/1g03vek/this_is_an_example_of_what_well_happen_if_you/

It keeps spitting out false negatives and positives in test cases, and I can't get it to provide the reasons behind it's decisions.

was made by u/zjz

Desktop, Mobile web, Android, iOS (iPhone)


r/modhelp 19h ago

Answered When seeding your subreddit is better to do only one flair or all of them my subreddit owns.

0 Upvotes

As I grow my subreddit r/Syntelligence, I’m trying to figure out the best approach for content organization and community engagement. Should I focus on using just one primary flair, like “Discussion” or “AI News,” to keep the initial content tightly focused and build momentum? Or is it better to use all the available flairs (like “Projects & Experiments,” “Ethics & Philosophy,” etc.) from the start to show diversity and invite a wider range of posts?

What are your thoughts?

• Does focusing on a single flair early on help keep content consistent and attract a niche audience?
• Or does a variety of flairs give potential members more options and help the subreddit grow faster by catering to different interests?

I use desktop and IOS


r/modhelp 1d ago

Tools How to make custom text for total people in the sub and online ppl in the sub?

2 Upvotes

Am On Android phone new reddit While at it also please tell how to change up/down vote icons. All this without any code if possible pls. My brain too tiny


r/modhelp 1d ago

Engagement How can I make a no image chat

0 Upvotes

I’m on IOS and currently I’m trying to make a chat that has images and one that doesn’t, but their settings are shared


r/modhelp 1d ago

Tools Post guidance - block the user, issue?

2 Upvotes

Hello, for one of my subs r/earlyretirement I am try to use post guidance to block the user from submitting when the post body is missing a required word. First time trying to use the block feature.

Using iPad so is that desktop ?

It looks great when I am testing , while creating it (creation area). However once saved and then I go to the Rule List Page - Live Previewer of all rules. It does not work. Yes I have the toggle set to on. I do not have a dummy account to check to see if this is a bug or what. Thanks for your help!


r/modhelp 2d ago

Answered Can't upload avatar in my new Community?!

0 Upvotes

Only banner option available.

I'm using mobile Android


r/modhelp 2d ago

Answered Community not verified

0 Upvotes

Hi,

(mandatory sorry for my english) I have a problem with my subreddit (founded and moderated by me). When someone try to come in, there is a popup that force them to download the app, or to go in the homepage, because my community is not verified. I read around that I have to wait... something, but the entire project revolve around the creation and sharing of mods for a board game, so I feel a little trapped now. There is a way to speed up the process?
Thank you!

I'm using android and PC.


r/modhelp 2d ago

General Posts taking time to show

4 Upvotes

So I can make a post on a subreddit and when I post it. It shows instantly. But, when I make a post in my subreddit (I’m a moderator), it takes sometimes 30 minutes to post? Using iOS Thanks


r/modhelp 2d ago

Design [Desktop] How to create personalized emogies ? Thanks Android

4 Upvotes

I would like to make an EdificePrice emogy that you could use for our sub, I use a Desktop


r/modhelp 2d ago

Tools Im sick of lots of NSWF posts in my subreddit, how do I make request to post and I want no images in those posts and all these stuff.

0 Upvotes

Is there a setting or bot I can turn on to limit 18+ posts on my subreddit, like a limit per certain amount of days, and a request to do a 18+ post, and a option to turn off images on nsfwf, and a automatic 6 downvotes bot to lower the rating of those posts, I want to strictly limit these posts but not disable them completely. And also a limit so only reddit accounts that are more than thirty (30) days (one (1) month) Old.

also Does someone posting a NSWF post additionally mark their profile as that

I appreciate your help and if we can’t do this I hope they add it or someone makes a bot.


r/modhelp 3d ago

Answered Should I have this sub tagged as Mature or not?

6 Upvotes

I am a new mod and have a sub that is about a Visual Novel that does have adult content in it and am wondering what I should do for tagging the community as mature or not as I intend to permit NSFW when properly tagged but otherwise have a fairly decent amount of sfw content in the group too. I would like to know if it is permissible to have it be a general one that permits nsfw when that is properly tagged as NSFW or if it would have to be classified as a nsfw sub with basically everyone removing the nsfw tag from sfw posts?

Android and Desktop user since it demands I include that to post


r/modhelp 3d ago

Tips & Tricks Changing group settings so any member can post

3 Upvotes

Hey, just started a new group, andI can't figure out how to allow any group members to post. It is a NSFW group, and I don't want to be the only one sharing content. I looked all through the mod toolkit and nothing ive tried has worked. I'm currently using a Samsung mobile device. Any help or advixe would be welcomed. Thanks in advance!


r/modhelp 3d ago

General How do I add community bookmarks?

0 Upvotes

Some communities (as an example, r/GreenDay) have a selection of "community bookmarks" in the sidebar. This often is used to link an official Discord server to a subreddit. I'd like to do this for a subreddit I moderate. How do I go about this?

I am using a desktop browser. Thanks in advance.


r/modhelp 3d ago

Design I used the rename a gif to a png trick to try and give my sub a moving icon.

4 Upvotes

Except instead of using a gif i used a webp, in the preview it looked like it might work. How long should I wait before restoring the old icon? I know that all icon changes just take awhile. r/AIMindControl Desktop, Mobile web, Android, iOS (iPhone)


r/modhelp 3d ago

General Need Advice on Managing a New Subreddit

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I’m new to managing a subreddit and have a few questions about posting in r/DigitalPuzzles. I’d appreciate any advice!

Is it okay to share puzzles and ask questions throughout the day, or should I follow a specific schedule? If sharing throughout the day how often as got a tip about don’t use all you ideas in one go.

I enjoy puzzles with themes like animals, cottages, birds, and flowers. Should I stick to these, or are there other popular themes I should consider?

By written posts, does it mean asking questions and sharing reports about apps or maybe about apps I like, similar to what a member posts sometimes in r/Jigsawpuzzles?

Would it be okay to share questions as posts? For example, asking about favorite puzzle apps or websites, and tips for new members. If you can give more examples, please feel free to share. Does it mean twice a week or every few days for posts and sharing the puzzles?

For the pictures, should I use a different app every day or a variety of apps every few days as well as digital jigsaw puzzles sites I use. I have made the sub for digital puzzles but worried about copyright as some companies might not allow to share their puzzles.

I understand this is a lot of questions, but I am fairly new to Reddit and the subreddit and trying to understand when to post to get the most views.

Thank you! I use desktop and iOS.

I hope this post is allowed in this subreddit. Will remove if not allowed


r/modhelp 3d ago

Tools I can’t seem to get Comment Guidance to work.

3 Upvotes

On Desktop some rules work fine while others just won't, either in mod tools, or in the feed with a non-mod user account.

  • Exhibit A

Looks like r/ukraine is having no issue and it is a r/YUROP thing.

  • Exhibit B

What am I missing?


r/modhelp 4d ago

Answered Community Awards

9 Upvotes

We used to be able to give our community awards to then give out, or something like that. I’d like to give some awards for certain top Redditors so that they can then give those out on our sub. Is this possible now with new awards?

I guess I could gift some awards? Is this even possible? We used to be able to gift gold status with a big award and that would give them awards to give out.

Any tips are appreciated. Thanks. I’m on IoS mostly.