# Reddit Comment Templates

**SUBREDDIT:**
r/Entrepreneur

**POST BEING REPLIED TO:**
"I just quit my job to start a business. Any advice?"

**YOUR EXPERTISE:**
Started 2 businesses, one failed, one successful

---

## COMMENT TYPE 1: DETAILED HELPFUL ANSWER

```
Congrats on taking the leap. I did this 4 years ago and learned a lot the hard way. Here is what I wish someone told me:

**On money:**
- Whatever runway you think you need, add 50%. Things take longer than expected.
- Keep your personal expenses as low as possible for the first year. I cut everything non-essential.
- Do not hire until it hurts. I hired too fast on my first business and it killed us.

**On focus:**
- Pick ONE thing to focus on for the first 90 days. For me it was getting 10 paying customers. Nothing else mattered.
- Say no to every opportunity that does not directly help that one goal. Shiny object syndrome kills more startups than competition.

**On mental health:**
- Tell someone (partner, friend, therapist) that you might be a mess for a while. The emotional rollercoaster is real.
- Exercise. I know it sounds cliche but the days I skipped the gym were always my worst decision-making days.
- Build a routine. Without a boss or office, structure disappears fast.

**Biggest mistake I made:**
Building for 6 months before talking to customers. By the time I launched, I had built something nobody wanted. Second time around, I sold before I built. Game changer.

Feel free to DM if you have specific questions. Happy to help where I can.
```

**Character Count:** 1,289

**Why This Works:**
- Establishes credibility (did this 4 years ago)
- Organized with headers (easy to read)
- Specific, actionable advice
- Admits mistakes (authentic)
- Offers further help (generous)
- No links, no promotion

**Expected Karma:** High (detailed, helpful answers perform best)

---

## COMMENT TYPE 2: PERSONAL EXPERIENCE SHARE

```
Did this 3 years ago. Best and worst decision of my life depending on the day.

The thing nobody prepared me for: the loneliness. I went from an office with people to just me and my laptop. First month I talked to my houseplants more than humans.

What helped:
- Coworking space 2x per week (even a coffee shop works)
- Scheduled calls with other founder friends
- Actually leaving the house every day, even just for a walk

The work stuff you will figure out. The mental stuff catches people off guard.

Good luck. The first year is wild but worth it if you push through.
```

**Character Count:** 573

**Why This Works:**
- Personal, not generic
- Addresses unexpected angle (loneliness)
- Specific solutions shared
- Honest about difficulty
- Encouraging but realistic

**Expected Karma:** Medium-high (relatable personal experience)

---

## COMMENT TYPE 3: ADDING NUANCE/DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

```
Not to be a downer, but I want to offer a different perspective since most comments are very encouraging.

I also quit to start a business. First one failed after 18 months. Lost my savings. Took me 2 years to recover financially.

I am not saying do not do it - I started another business that is doing well now. But some things I would do differently:

1. **Have a longer runway than you think.** I had 6 months of savings. Should have had 12+.

2. **Validate harder before going all-in.** I was so excited I convinced myself there was demand. There was not.

3. **Keep a part-time income if possible.** Second time I did consulting 2 days/week while building. Way less stressful.

Not trying to scare you. Just wish someone had given me the realistic version instead of just the cheerleading.

What type of business are you starting? Happy to share more specific thoughts if relevant.
```

**Character Count:** 892

**Why This Works:**
- Contrarian but respectful
- Based on real experience (failed business)
- Specific lessons, not just negativity
- Offers constructive alternative
- Asks question to continue conversation

**Expected Karma:** High (nuanced takes get appreciated)

---

## COMMENT TYPE 4: ASKING CLARIFYING QUESTION

```
Congrats on the leap!

Curious about a few things that would help give better advice:

- What industry/type of business?
- How much runway do you have?
- Do you already have customers/revenue or starting from zero?
- Are you going solo or have a cofounder?

The advice for someone with 6 months runway launching a SaaS is very different from someone with 2 years runway opening a local service business.

Happy to share more specific thoughts once I know more about your situation.
```

**Character Count:** 461

**Why This Works:**
- Shows you want to give relevant advice
- Specific questions demonstrate expertise
- Positions for follow-up value
- Not generic one-size-fits-all

**Expected Karma:** Medium (helpful but not standalone value)

---

## COMMENT TYPE 5: RESOURCE/RECOMMENDATION

```
One thing that helped me during the early days:

I kept a simple spreadsheet tracking three things daily:
1. What I worked on
2. How I felt (1-10)
3. One win, no matter how small

After a few months, patterns emerged. I could see which activities actually moved the needle vs which just felt productive. And on bad days, I could look back at the wins column and remember progress was happening even when it did not feel like it.

Simple, free, surprisingly effective.

Also, if you have not read The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick, highly recommend. It is about how to talk to customers without getting BS feedback. Short read, would have saved me from my first business failure if I had read it earlier.
```

**Character Count:** 701

**Why This Works:**
- Shares specific tool/system (not a product, just a method)
- Explains WHY it helps
- Book recommendation is genuinely useful (not your book)
- Personal context for why it mattered

**Expected Karma:** Medium-high (practical recommendations)

---

## COMMENT TYPE 6: SHORT AGREEMENT + ADDITION

```
This. So much this.

I would add one thing: whatever timeline you have in your head, double it. Everything takes longer than expected.

I thought I would be profitable in 6 months. Took 14. If I had planned for 6 and run out of money at month 8, game over.

Plan for the long version.
```

**Character Count:** 286

**Why This Works:**
- Builds on existing comment (community feel)
- Adds specific new point
- Personal data point (6 vs 14 months)
- Short but valuable

**Expected Karma:** Medium (good addition without being too long)

---

## COMMENT TYPE 7: RESPECTFUL DISAGREEMENT

```
Going to respectfully push back on this a bit.

> Do not worry about revenue early, focus on building the product.

This advice almost killed my first startup. I built for 8 months, launched to crickets, and realized I should have been selling from day one.

Second business, I did the opposite: sold before I built anything. Got 5 paying customers with just a landing page and a promise. Then built exactly what they needed.

Not saying your way is wrong - it depends on the business. But for most first-time founders, I think talking to customers and getting revenue signals early is lower risk than building in isolation.

Different approaches work for different situations though. What type of product are you building, OP?
```

**Character Count:** 692

**Why This Works:**
- Respectful framing (not attacking)
- Quotes what you disagree with (specific)
- Shares counter-experience
- Acknowledges both views have merit
- Redirects to OP to continue discussion

**Expected Karma:** High (thoughtful disagreement adds value)

---

## COMMENT TYPE 8: QUICK ENCOURAGEMENT + ONE TIP

```
Congrats! Scary but exciting.

One small tip: start documenting everything from day one. Wins, losses, lessons, numbers.

Future you will thank present you. It helps with decision making, motivation on hard days, and you will have great content if you ever want to share your journey.

Good luck!
```

**Character Count:** 290

**Why This Works:**
- Brief but not empty
- Single actionable tip
- Explains the benefit
- Warm tone
- Good when you do not have time for long response

**Expected Karma:** Low-medium (nice but not substantial)

---

## WHAT MAKES A GOOD REDDIT COMMENT

| Element | Why It Matters |
|---------|---------------|
| Personal experience | Reddit values real stories over theory |
| Specific details | Vague = ignored, specific = credible |
| Formatting | Use paragraphs, bullets, headers |
| Helpful intent | Genuinely trying to help, not show off |
| Appropriate length | Match the question complexity |
| No self-promotion | Unless directly relevant AND asked for |
| Conversational tone | Not corporate, not academic |

---

## COMMENT LENGTH GUIDE

| Situation | Length | Example |
|-----------|--------|--------|
| Simple question | 2-4 sentences | Quick tip or confirmation |
| Advice request | 200-500 characters | Solid answer with context |
| Complex topic | 500-1500 characters | Detailed response with structure |
| Very specific expertise | 1000+ characters | Thorough explanation |

**Rule:** Match your length to the question complexity. Do not write essays for simple questions.

---

## KARMA-BUILDING STRATEGIES

| Strategy | How It Works |
|----------|-------------|
| Sort by New | Comment early on rising posts for visibility |
| Answer questions | r/AskReddit, niche Q&A subreddits |
| Share expertise | Subreddits where you have real knowledge |
| Add to discussions | Thoughtful replies to existing comments |
| Be helpful | Answer what is asked, not what you want to say |
| Stay active | Consistent commenting > occasional posting |

---

## COMMENTS TO AVOID

| Bad Comment | Why It Fails |
|-------------|-------------|
| "This" or "Same" | Zero value added |
| "Check out my [link]" | Spam, will be downvoted |
| "Just Google it" | Unhelpful and rude |
| Generic advice | Could apply to anyone = no value |
| Arguing aggressively | Reddit will pile on |
| Humble bragging | Transparent and annoying |
| Off-topic | Derails discussion |
| One word responses | Not worth posting |

---

## SUBREDDIT COMMENT CULTURE

Different subreddits have different comment styles:

| Subreddit Type | Expected Tone |
|----------------|---------------|
| Professional (r/Entrepreneur) | Helpful, experienced, detailed |
| Casual (r/AskReddit) | Conversational, story-driven |
| Technical (r/learnprogramming) | Precise, educational |
| Support (r/personalfinance) | Empathetic, non-judgmental |
| Hobby (r/photography) | Enthusiastic, encouraging |

Always lurk and read before commenting in a new subreddit.

---

## TIMING YOUR COMMENTS

| Timing | Strategy |
|--------|----------|
| First hour | Sort by New, comment on rising posts |
| Top comments | Reply to add nuance (visibility boost) |
| Old posts | Usually not worth it (low visibility) |
| Hot posts | High competition, harder to be seen |

**Best strategy:** Sort by Rising or New in active subreddits. Early quality comments get seen.

---

## BUILDING CREDIBILITY OVER TIME

### Week 1-2: Karma Building
- Focus on helpful comments in familiar subreddits
- Answer questions where you have genuine expertise
- Aim for 5-10 quality comments per day
- Do not post yet (build karma first)

### Week 3-4: Establishing Presence
- Start recognizing regular community members
- Reply to same users when relevant
- Build recognition in 2-3 main subreddits
- Consider your first post if karma is sufficient

### Month 2+: Trusted Contributor
- Known in your subreddits
- Can post without suspicion
- Can occasionally mention relevant work (carefully)
- Invited to discussions, tagged by others

---

## COMMON COMMENT MISTAKES

| Mistake | Consequence | Fix |
|---------|-------------|-----|
| Too promotional | Downvotes, possible ban | Give value, no links |
| Too short | Ignored, no karma | Add substance or do not comment |
| Too long for simple question | TL;DR, skipped | Match length to need |
| Defensive when challenged | More downvotes | Accept gracefully or disengage |
| Copying others | Called out, embarrassed | Always original |
| Being first but unhelpful | Downvoted despite timing | Quality over speed |