Reddit Tracking: Pick the Right Keywords, Competitors & Subreddits

Best Practices for Choosing Keywords, Competitors, and Subreddits to Track on Reddit

Reddit is where conversations begin — unfiltered, authentic, and often ahead of the curve. From early product feedback to emerging industry shifts, Reddit threads are treasure troves of insight for any brand that wants to stay ahead.

But to extract real value from Reddit, you need to know what to track and where to look.

That’s where tools like Social UpReach come in. But even the smartest Reddit intelligence platform is only as good as the inputs you give it — particularly when it comes to the keywords, competitors, and subreddits you choose to monitor.

In this article, we’ll break down how to make those choices effectively, so you’re not just watching Reddit — you’re reading between the lines.

1. Choosing the Right Keywords: Think Broad, Deep & Emerging

Keywords are the foundation of any trend tracking strategy. These terms tell Social UpReach what kind of conversations matter to you.

Here’s how to build a strong keyword list:

Include Broad Industry Terms

These help you catch general discussions that signal macro-level trends or widespread interest.

Examples:

• email marketing tools
  

• CRM software
  

• generative AI
  

Why it matters:
You’ll capture mentions that aren’t just about your brand but about the space you operate in.

Add Specific Product or Feature Terms

These are the terms your customers (and potential users) might use when discussing what you offer.

Examples:

• cold email automation
  

• AI writing assistant for LinkedIn
  

• SEO content planner
  

Why it matters:
They help you monitor direct use cases and how your tools are perceived.

Watch for Emerging Buzzwords

Track rising concepts that may impact your space. These could be early indicators of shifts in user behavior or upcoming opportunities.

Examples:

• zero-party data
  

• AI agents
  

• autonomous workflows
  

• creator economy
  

Why it matters:
These help you spot trend inflection points before they become mainstream.

Pro Tip: Use a balanced mix of broad and specific terms — this ensures you capture both trend signals and sharp mentions.

2. Picking Competitors to Benchmark: Think Direct, Indirect & Up-and-Coming

Reddit users love to compare products. If you’re not tracking your competitors, you’re missing context for what customers really care about.

Here’s how to build your competitor list in Social UpReach:

Add Direct Competitors

These are brands offering similar products or targeting the same customer.

Why it matters:
You’ll see head-to-head comparisons and what users prefer about their offering — or yours.

Add Indirect or Adjacent Tools

Think beyond your category. Track tools your audience uses alongside yours or alternatives they mention in the same breath.

Examples:
If you’re a video hosting platform, also track:

• Loom (for async video)
  

• Notion (for doc + video workflows)
  

• Slack (where videos may be shared)
  

Track Challenger Brands

Reddit often surfaces new or rising tools that haven’t hit mainstream media yet.

How to find them:
Look at Reddit threads asking “What’s the best tool for X?” or “Alternatives to [Big Brand]”. Then add those mentions to your list.

Pro Tip: Start with at least 3–5 competitors and expand over time as new names appear in threads you're tracking.

3. Selecting Subreddits to Monitor: Go Niche, Not Just Popular

Choosing subreddits is one of the most underrated steps. It shapes where your mentions come from — and not all subreddits are created equal.

Here’s how to choose wisely:

Pick High-Signal Industry Subreddits

These are places where experts, power users, or buyers hang out and discuss real problems.

Examples:

• r/SaaS
  

• r/SEO
  

• r/Marketing
  

• r/Entrepreneur
  

• r/Productivity
  

• r/AItools

Add Community-Driven Groups with Conversations Around Use Cases

Even if they’re not industry-specific, these subs often reveal customer behavior and tool preferences.

Examples:

• r/freelance
  

• r/startups
  

• r/smallbusiness
  

• r/digitalnomad

Monitor Feedback-Heavy Subs

These are subreddits where users go to ask questions, vent frustrations, or request tool recommendations — ideal for spotting unmet needs or sentiment shifts.

Examples:

• r/InternetIsBeautiful
  

• r/TrueReddit
  

• r/SideProject
  

• r/AskMarketing
  

Pro Tip: Don’t chase vanity — smaller subreddits can often produce better signals than larger ones with low relevance.

Reviewing and Refining: It’s Not “Set and Forget”

One of the biggest mistakes brands make is setting up tracking once and never revisiting it.

Make it a habit to:

• Audit your keyword list every 2–4 weeks
  

• Swap in newly discovered competitors
  

• Add subreddit groups as you learn more about your audience’s Reddit behavior
  

Social UpReach makes this easy by letting you adjust these settings any time from the Settings Panel on the dashboard.

Wrapping Up: It’s About Precision, Not Just Volume

Reddit isn’t noisy if you’re listening the right way.

By carefully choosing your keywords, competitors, and subreddits, you ensure that Social UpReach delivers trend signals, brand insights, and engagement opportunities that actually move the needle.

In a platform full of real voices and honest feedback, that kind of precision gives your brand a competitive edge — and your team the confidence to act fast, smart, and authentically.

Ready to track what really matters on Reddit?

Set up your Social UpReach insights engine the right way — and start turning threads into strategy.