Subreddit Marketing Guide

How to Market on r/automation

A community for automation enthusiasts: home automation, industrial automation, workflow automation, and everything in between. Discussions on making life easier through automated systems.

95Ksubscribers
300active now
Moderate Self-Promo Policy
Subscribers
95K
Total community members
Active Now
300
Users currently online
Post Lifespan
24-48 hours
How long posts stay relevant
Peak Times
weekend morning-est
Best time to post

r/automation Rules & Self-Promotion Policy

Understanding the rules is critical for successful marketing. Here's what you need to know about r/automation.

Moderate Self-Promotion Policy

Self-promotion is allowed in context. Lead with value, not your product. Promotional posts may be removed.

Community Rules

  • 1Be helpful and constructive
  • 2No spam or self-promotion without context
  • 3Include details when asking for help
  • 4Stay on topic for automation
  • 5Share your solutions when you solve problems

How to Write for r/automation

Practical and enthusiastic. The community loves seeing automation in action. Share time saved, problems solved, and lessons learned. Diagrams and workflow screenshots help explain complex automations.

Best Practices for r/automation

Maximize your impact by understanding when, what, and how to post.

Best Times to Post

  • Weekend Morning Est
  • Weekday Evening Est
  • Saturday Afternoon Est

Posts stay relevant for about 24-48 hours

Content That Works

  • Workflow automation showcases
  • Home automation project breakdowns
  • Tool integrations and how-tos
  • Time savings case studies

Common Flairs

QuestionShowcaseDiscussionHelpProject

Who's Here

Hobbyists, developers, and professionals interested in automation. Mix of home automation enthusiasts (Home Assistant, smart home) and workflow automation users (Zapier, n8n, Make). Values practical solutions and time savings.

Common Mistakes on r/automation

Avoid these pitfalls that get marketers banned or ignored.

Overcomplicating simple tasks

Automation should save time, not create complexity. Rube Goldberg machines aren't impressive here.

Instead

Show the ROI: "This took 2 hours to set up and saves 5 hours weekly." Simplicity is valued.

Not explaining the "why"

Automation without context is just technology for its own sake. What problem does it solve?

Instead

Lead with the problem: "I was manually [task] every day. Now it runs automatically at 9am."

Ignoring reliability and failure modes

Automations that break are worse than manual processes. The community values robust solutions.

Instead

Address reliability: "Error handling via [method]. Alerts if anything fails. Running 6 months with 99% uptime."

Tool tribalism

Different tools fit different needs. Dismissing alternatives without understanding them gets pushback.

Instead

Acknowledge trade-offs: "I chose [tool] because [reason]. [Alternative] works better for [other use case]."

Assuming everyone has the same context

The subreddit spans home automation, industrial automation, and software. Context matters.

Instead

Be specific: "Home Assistant automation for..." or "Zapier workflow for marketing..."

Post Formats That Work on r/automation

These content formats consistently perform well in this community.

Workflow Showcase

Example Format

""Automated [task] using [tools]. Before: [time/effort]. After: [time/effort]. Here's the workflow and what I learned.""

Why It Works

Clear before/after. Specific tools. Lessons help others replicate.

Home Automation Project

Example Format

""Built [system] with [hardware/software]. The setup, challenges, and how it's been running for [timeframe].""

Why It Works

Complete project context. Honest about challenges. Time-tested reliability.

Tool Comparison

Example Format

""[Tool A] vs [Tool B] for [use case]. My experience with both, when I'd choose each.""

Why It Works

Practical comparison from experience. Use-case focused. Helps others decide.

Related Communities & Use Cases

Expand your reach with similar subreddits and see who uses r/automation for marketing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about marketing on r/automation

If you show real use cases and time savings, yes. The community wants to see automations in action. Workflow screenshots, before/after comparisons, and practical tutorials work better than feature lists.
Everything from home automation (smart homes, Home Assistant) to workflow automation (Zapier, n8n, Make) to industrial automation. Be specific about which type your content addresses.
If your tool automates workflows, yes. Show the automation in action with specific examples. The community values practical demonstrations over abstract benefits.
Yes, sharing implementation details is valued. Workflow diagrams, code snippets, or tool configurations help others learn and build similar automations.
Varies by topic. Home automation posts can be hobbyist-friendly. Workflow automation for business might be more technical. Match the depth to your audience.
Absolutely. Many members use Zapier, Make, or n8n without traditional coding. The community values outcomes over technical sophistication.

Ready to Market on r/automation?

Reddit Radar helps you find the perfect opportunities in r/automationand craft replies that convert—without getting banned.

Find relevant posts automatically

AI-crafted replies that fit the culture

Save hours of manual searching

No credit card required • 3-day free trial • Cancel anytime