Reddit & Quora Strategy for AI Visibility: The Offsite GEO Playbook

Reddit and Quora have become critical sources for AI training data. When ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity answer questions, they often reference discussions and answers from these platforms. Here's how to build genuine authority on both platforms to maximize your AI visibility.

Why Reddit & Quora Matter More Than Ever

The AI Training Connection

• Reddit's $60M OpenAI Deal: Direct pipeline to ChatGPT training
• Google's Reddit Partnership: Prioritized in search and AI
• Quora's Poe Integration: Direct AI assistant connections
• High Trust Signals: Both platforms viewed as authentic by LLMs

The Numbers That Matter

• Reddit: 500M+ monthly active users
• Quora: 300M+ monthly active users
• 90% of AI responses reference community discussions
• 73% include Reddit/Quora in source citations

Reddit Strategy: Building Authentic Authority

Phase 1: Foundation (Weeks 1-4)

Account Setup & Credibility

## Profile Optimization:
- Professional username (not brand name initially)
- Complete bio with expertise indicators
- Verified email
- Profile picture (professional headshot)
- Banner image (subtle branding okay)

## Initial Karma Building:
- Comment on trending posts (non-promotional)
- Share interesting links (not your own)
- Participate in general subreddits
- Award quality content
- Target: 100+ karma before any brand mentions

Subreddit Research & Mapping

Tier 1 Subreddits (Your Industry)

• Identify top 5 industry subreddits
• Note posting rules and culture
• Identify power users and moderators
• Track common questions and pain points
• Monitor competitor presence

Tier 2 Subreddits (Adjacent Topics)

• Related industry subreddits
• Problem-solving communities
• Professional development subs
• Technology/tool discussions
• General business subreddits

Tier 3 Subreddits (Broad Reach)

• r/AskReddit (for visibility)
• r/IAmA (for expertise)
• r/todayilearned (for facts)
• r/explainlikeimfive (for education)
• r/YouShouldKnow (for tips)

Phase 2: Engagement (Weeks 5-8)

Content Calendar for Reddit

Monday: Industry Insights

Post Type: Text post with data
Subreddits: Industry-specific
Format:
- Compelling headline
- 3-5 key insights
- Supporting data
- Discussion questions
- No links initially

Wednesday: Problem Solving

Post Type: Comment contributions
Focus: Answer questions thoroughly
Strategy:
- Monitor "New" posts
- Provide detailed solutions
- Include examples
- Offer follow-up help
- Build relationships

Friday: Resource Sharing

Post Type: Link or guide
Content: Valuable external resources
Rules:
- 9:1 ratio (9 other's content: 1 yours)
- Always add context
- Explain why it's valuable
- Engage with comments

Comment Strategy Template

## High-Value Comment Structure:

**Opening:**
[Acknowledge OP's situation/question]

**Experience/Credentials:**
"I've worked with [relevant experience]..."

**Main Value:**
- Point 1: [Specific advice]
- Point 2: [Actionable step]
- Point 3: [Resource or tool]

**Example/Case Study:**
"For instance, we saw [specific result]..."

**Closing:**
"Happy to elaborate if you need more details on [specific aspect]"

**Edit (if applicable):**
"Edit: Thanks for the gold! Adding more info based on questions..."

Phase 3: Authority Building (Weeks 9-12)

Creating Viral Reddit Content

The Formula:

1. Controversial but Respectful

   • Challenge common assumptions
   • Back with data
   • Invite discussion

2. Unique Data/Research

   • Original findings
   • Surprising statistics
   • Visual representations

3. Behind-the-Scenes Content

   • Industry secrets
   • Process revelations
   • Failure stories

4. AMAs (Ask Me Anything)

   • Position as expert
   • Provide massive value
   • Follow up thoroughly

Reddit Post Templates That Work

The Data Drop:

Title: [Surprising Finding] After Analyzing [Large Number] of [Subject]

Body:
Hey r/[subreddit],

I just finished analyzing [specific data] and found something interesting...

Key findings:
📊 [Surprising stat 1]
📈 [Surprising stat 2]
🎯 [Surprising stat 3]

[Brief methodology]

What surprised me most was [insight].

Full data in comments if anyone wants to dig deeper.

What's been your experience with [related topic]?

The Problem Solver:

Title: How I Solved [Common Problem] - Full Guide

Body:
Saw a lot of posts about [problem] lately. Here's exactly how I fixed it:

THE PROBLEM:
[Clear description]

THE SOLUTION:
Step 1: [Specific action]
Step 2: [Specific action]
Step 3: [Specific action]

RESULTS:
[Measurable outcomes]

TOOLS USED:
- [Tool 1]
- [Tool 2]

Proof: [Screenshot/data]

Questions? Happy to help troubleshoot.

Quora Strategy: Becoming a Recognized Expert

Phase 1: Profile Optimization (Week 1)

Professional Presence Setup

## Profile Elements:
- Real name (builds trust)
- Professional headline
- Detailed bio (credentials + experience)
- Profile photo (professional)
- Employment/education history
- Topic expertise selection (10-15 topics)
- Linked social profiles

## Credibility Builders:
- "Most Viewed Writer" badges
- Follower count
- Answer views
- Space contributions
- Verified credentials

Phase 2: Strategic Answering (Weeks 2-8)

Answer Selection Criteria

High-Impact Questions:

• 1000+ followers on question
• Recent activity (< 30 days)
• Few quality answers (< 5)
• Trending topics
• Evergreen value

Answer Quality Framework:

## The PERFECT Quora Answer:

**Hook (First 2 Lines):**
[Personal story or surprising fact that grabs attention]

**Direct Answer:**
[Clear, concise response to the question]

**Detailed Explanation:**
[3-5 paragraphs with depth]
- Subheading 1
  - Supporting points
  - Examples
- Subheading 2
  - Data/statistics
  - Case studies

**Visual Elements:**
[Relevant images, charts, or infographics]

**Credibility Statement:**
"Based on my experience [specific credential]..."

**Additional Resources:**
- Related readings
- Tools mentioned
- Further learning

**Call-to-Action:**
"If you found this helpful, [follow/upvote/share]"

**Update Section:**
"Update [Date]: [New information]"

Quora Spaces Strategy

Creating Your Space:

• Industry-specific focus
• Clear value proposition
• Regular content schedule
• Invite industry experts
• Moderate actively

Contributing to Spaces:

• Join 10-15 relevant spaces
• Share your best answers
• Engage with other contributors
• Build relationships with admins
• Cross-promote quality content

Phase 3: Scaling Your Presence (Weeks 9-12)

Content Multiplication Strategy

1. Answer Variations

   • Same topic, different angles
   • Update old answers
   • Seasonal variations
   • Industry-specific versions

2. Cross-Platform Leverage

   • Blog post → Quora answer
   • Quora answer → LinkedIn article
   • Reddit post → Quora question
   • Twitter thread → Quora story

3. Question Creation

   • Ask questions you can answer
   • Create industry discussions
   • Trend-jacking questions
   • Comparison questions

Advanced Tactics for Both Platforms

The Authority Loop Strategy

Reddit Discussion → Quora Answer → Blog Post →
LinkedIn Article → Twitter Thread → Reddit Follow-up

Each piece reinforces your authority across platforms, creating multiple touchpoints for AI systems to recognize your expertise.

Competitive Intelligence Gathering

Reddit Monitoring

## Track Competitors:
1. Username mentions
2. Brand discussions
3. Product comparisons
4. Complaint threads
5. Feature requests

## Tools:
- Reddit search operators
- Google site:reddit.com
- Reddit monitoring tools
- Saved searches
- Multireddit creation

Quora Analysis

## Competitor Research:
1. Topics they follow
2. Questions they answer
3. Spaces they contribute to
4. Answer performance
5. Linking strategies

## Opportunities:
- Unanswered questions
- Better answers possible
- Outdated information
- Missing perspectives

Link Building Without Spam

Reddit Linking Rules

DO:

• Wait until established (500+ karma)
• Link only when genuinely helpful
• Use in context naturally
• Disclose affiliation
• Provide value first

DON'T:

• Drop links without context
• Use URL shorteners
• Link in every post
• Ignore the 9:1 rule
• Delete downvoted posts

Quora Linking Strategy

Best Practices:

• Link to resources, not products
• Use after providing value
• Link to multiple sources
• Update broken links
• Track click-through rates

Measurement & Analytics

Reddit Metrics to Track

Engagement:

• Post karma
• Comment karma
• Awards received
• Follower growth
• Subreddit reputation

Visibility:

• Post reach
• Comment visibility
• Cross-posts
• Mentions
• Search appearances

Quora Performance Indicators

Answer Metrics:

• View count
• Upvote ratio
• Share count
• Comment engagement
• Follower conversion

Overall Authority:

• Most Viewed Writer status
• Topic expertise level
• Space contributions
• Direct messages
• External traffic

Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

Reddit Mistakes

1. Over-Promotion

   • Solution: 90% value, 10% promotion

2. Ignoring Culture

   • Solution: Lurk before posting

3. Vote Manipulation

   • Solution: Never buy upvotes

4. Arguing with Trolls

   • Solution: Ignore and move on

5. Deleting Downvoted Content

   • Solution: Learn from feedback

Quora Errors

1. Short, Low-Effort Answers

   • Solution: Minimum 500 words

2. Keyword Stuffing

   • Solution: Natural language only

3. Copy-Pasting Content

   • Solution: Original answers always

4. Ignoring Questions Intent

   • Solution: Answer what's actually asked

5. Neglecting Updates

   • Solution: Refresh top answers quarterly

The AI Visibility Impact

How Platforms Influence AI

Reddit's Weight:

• Direct training data source
• High authenticity signals
• Problem-solution pairs
• Real user language
• Current discussions

Quora's Influence:

• Structured Q&A format
• Expert credentials
• Comprehensive answers
• Topic organization
• Citation potential

Optimizing for AI Extraction

## Content Structure for AI:

1. **Clear Headers**
   - Question restatement
   - Section divisions
   - Logical flow

2. **Factual Statements**
   - Specific data
   - Verifiable claims
   - Source citations

3. **Natural Language**
   - Conversational tone
   - Common phrases
   - User terminology

4. **Comprehensive Coverage**
   - Multiple perspectives
   - Edge cases
   - Related topics

Your 30-Day Action Plan

Week 1: Setup & Research

• [ ] Create/optimize Reddit account
• [ ] Create/optimize Quora profile
• [ ] Research target subreddits
• [ ] Identify Quora topics
• [ ] Analyze competitor presence

Week 2: Initial Engagement

• [ ] Make 20 Reddit comments
• [ ] Answer 5 Quora questions
• [ ] Join 5 relevant subreddits
• [ ] Follow 10 Quora spaces
• [ ] Build initial karma/reputation

Week 3: Content Creation

• [ ] Create first Reddit post
• [ ] Write 3 detailed Quora answers
• [ ] Engage in discussions
• [ ] Share others' content
• [ ] Track initial metrics

Week 4: Optimization

• [ ] Analyze performance
• [ ] Refine approach
• [ ] Identify winning formats
• [ ] Build relationships
• [ ] Plan next month

Tools & Resources

Reddit Tools

• RedditLater - Scheduling posts
• Subreddit Stats - Analytics
• Reddit Enhancement Suite - Browser extension
• IFTTT - Automation
• Trackreddit - Monitoring

Quora Tools

• Quora Analytics - Native analytics
• Google Alerts - Mention tracking
• Buffer - Content scheduling
• Canva - Image creation
• Grammarly - Writing improvement

How Genmark Helps

Our platform enhances your Reddit & Quora strategy:

• Track mentions across both platforms
• Monitor AI citations from community content
• Competitive analysis of rival strategies
• Content recommendations based on trends
• ROI measurement of community efforts

Explore Genmark GEO →

Key Takeaways

1. Authenticity beats promotion every time
2. Value-first approach builds lasting authority
3. Consistency matters more than volume
4. Community respect earns AI recognition
5. Long-term investment yields exponential returns

Next Steps

1. Download our Reddit & Quora Templates →
2. Read: Where LLMs Get Their Information →
3. Start your Genmark trial →

Related Resources

• How to Get Cited by ChatGPT
• Traditional SEO Foundations
• AI Visibility Guide
• What is GEO?

---

Last updated: September 15, 2025 | Part of Genmark's AI Visibility Learning Center