When I first joined Reddit, I had no idea what I was doing. I saw people talking about “karma” like it was this magical currency and I thought, Alright, cool… but what is it? And how do I get some?
So I started experimenting, messing around with posts and comments until I figured out what actually works.
Now I’m gonna break it all down for you. If you’re totally new to Reddit, or just kinda confused, don’t worry. I got you.
Let’s go!
What Even Is Reddit Karma?
So, karma on Reddit is kinda like your score. You earn it when people upvote your posts and comments. Think of it like internet points.
The more you have, the more Reddit thinks, “Hey, this person knows what they’re doing.”
There are two kinds:
- Post Karma – when people upvote stuff you post
- Comment Karma – when people upvote things you say in the comments
That’s it. You don’t spend karma, it’s not money—but it helps you unlock stuff and makes you look more trustworthy.
How I Actually Got Karma
Alright, now here’s where things get real. I tried a bunch of things, failed a lot, and slowly figured out what works. Here’s what helped me get my first 1,000 karma:
I Posted Fun, Cool Stuff People Actually Liked
Not just anything. I looked at what people were already upvoting in subreddits I liked. If I saw a bunch of memes doing well, I made my own.
If someone shared a funny story, I thought, hey, I’ve got one of those too.
Some ideas that worked:
- Funny memes I made myself
- Cool pictures I took
- Personal stories that made people laugh or say “same”
Tip: Every subreddit has a vibe. If you post something random, it won’t do well. Match the vibe.
I Left Helpful or Funny Comments
This is where I got most of my comment karma. I wasn’t trying to be a genius or anything—I just tried to either help someone out or make people laugh.
If someone had a question, I gave an answer. If I had a funny reaction, I shared it.
Worked like magic.
Examples:
- Someone asked for tips on school anxiety → I gave a real, honest answer. Got 200+ upvotes.
- Someone made a joke → I added a funnier one underneath. Boom. More upvotes.
I Hung Out in Big, Active Subreddits
Let me say this straight: posting in small subreddits won’t get you much karma (unless you’re already super popular there).
I spent time in places like:
- r/funny
- r/AskReddit
- r/memes
- r/pics
- r/todayilearned
These subs have millions of people, which means way more chances for your stuff to get seen and upvoted.
I Didn’t Beg or Spam
Begging for upvotes = downvotes. Spamming links or promoting myself too much = banned.
So I kept it real. I posted stuff because I wanted to share it, not just to farm karma. People can tell the difference.
Stuff That Helped Me Get Karma Faster
Here’s some quick tips that made a big difference for me:
| What I Did | Why It Worked |
|---|---|
| Posted in the morning or evening | That’s when most people are online |
| Replied fast to comments | Early replies get seen more |
| Used catchy titles | A good title = more clicks = more upvotes |
| Followed subreddit rules | Got me noticed, not banned |
How Karma Grows (A Simple Visual)
Fun Posts + Helpful Comments + Consistency
↑
|
People Upvote
↑
+-----------------+
| |
Post Karma Comment Karma
What I Avoided
If you’re trying to grow karma, there are traps to stay away from:
- Posting low-effort junk – I tried, and it flopped. No one upvotes blurry screenshots or random nonsense.
- Being rude – Even if you’re right, being a jerk will get you downvoted.
- Breaking subreddit rules – Easy way to get banned and lose karma opportunities.
- Begging – “Please upvote” = automatic downvotes.
My Simple Reddit Karma Checklist
Here’s the formula I followed:
- ✅ Post cool, funny, or helpful stuff
- ✅ Leave thoughtful or funny comments
- ✅ Join big subreddits with lots of people
- ✅ Stay active and keep posting regularly
- ❌ Don’t beg or spam
- ❌ Don’t be rude or annoying
Final Thoughts: Just Be Chill and Keep Posting
Getting karma on Reddit doesn’t mean being the smartest or funniest person alive. I’m definitely not. I just stuck with it, paid attention to what people liked, and didn’t try to force it.
Some days I got zero upvotes. Other days, I’d wake up to 300+.
If you’re just starting out, don’t stress it. Focus on being real, having fun, and helping people—and the karma will come.
If I can do it, so can you.
Karma’s cool, but being real is better.
—Sahadat.
