Subreddit rules checklist to keep your posts live every time

You craft a solid Reddit post, hit submit, and it disappears. Most of the time a single missed rule or Automod trigger is to blame. Use this checklist to move fast, dodge removals, and keep your posts live without begging mods for reinstatement.

Find the rules that actually matter

You do not need to read every wiki page. You need the numbers and formats that gatekeep visibility. Do a two-minute scan before you draft.

• Open About > Rules and the sub wiki. Note hard constraints first. Look for posting frequency caps, self-promo limits, title templates, and flair rules. Check stickies for temporary megathreads or off-topic days.
• Capture post frequency and cooldowns. Many communities cap new threads to once every 24 to 72 hours. Write the exact number down. If you posted yesterday, wait out the timer before trying again.
• Record account minimums. Some subs require minimum comment karma or account age. If you are short, invest in genuine comments for a few days. Posting early usually means instant removal.
• List allowed post types and mandatory formats. Examples you will see: weekly showcase threads for launches, [Hiring]/[For Hire] tags, price in title, platform in brackets, or proof images. Treat these as checkboxes, not suggestions.
• Scan for one-off exceptions. During AMAs, contests, or event weeks, normal rules may pause or reroute content to megathreads. Adjust your plan instead of forcing a post that will be removed.

If you want the signal without the dig, SubredditAnalyzer pulls rules and wiki notes into one view. It flags karma and account-age minimums, shows title or flair requirements, and ranks relevant subreddits by recent engagement and removal risk so you start where you are most likely to stick.

Beat Automod and spam filters

Automod is the first bouncer. Humans cannot review what the bot never lets in. Format your post to pass on the first try.

• Search for “Automoderator” in rules and mod comments. Mods often list exact triggers. Watch for title includes, body includes, domain blacklists, link counts, or missing flair conditions.
• Remove or rephrase spammy words. Giveaways, free, discount, promo, referral, and similar terms are frequent triggers. Replace with neutral language like trial, sample, or limited offer, and put pricing context in the body with proof.
• Use a clean, canonical URL. Strip UTM and referral parameters. Avoid shorteners and redirect hubs like Bitly or Linktree. Link directly to the destination and keep it to one link when possible.
• Vary titles if you post in multiple subs. Identical titles and links blasted across several communities in minutes look like spam. Stagger timing and customize the angle for each sub’s focus.
• Add substance before the link. A one-liner plus a link is a removal magnet. Lead with 3 to 5 sentences of context, what you learned, or what feedback you want. Include bullet points and examples so the post stands without the click.

SubredditAnalyzer highlights risky phrases as you write, warns about known-blocked domains, and previews Automod-sensitive elements like link count and title length. It also suggests posting windows for each subreddit based on when similar posts recently earned early upvotes.

Titles, flair, and formats that pass

Mods and readers rely on structure to triage the feed. Treat titles and flair like form fields.

• Set required flair before submit. If a sub shows “flair required,” stop and pick the exact category. Many bots auto-remove unflairable posts.
• Match title templates exactly. If the rules ask for [Platform], [Price], [Region], or [Proof], include them in the order shown. Keep titles clear at 70 to 120 characters. Example: [Showcase] Figma plugin for color tokens, free tier, looking for UI feedback.
• Back claims with sources. If you mention results, revenue, or data, include a short source link or a line of methodology in the body. That keeps titles from reading as clickbait.
• Use community templates when offered. Many subs provide a copy-paste markdown template with headings like Problem, What we built, Screens, and Ask. Paste it in and fill it. You will hit every structural rule without guesswork.
• Pick the right media format. Some subs prefer native images or text posts over link posts. If the wiki suggests text with an inline link, do that. It reduces both bot suspicion and reader friction.

Links, promos, and surveys without getting nuked

Most removals happen here. If you are sharing a product, survey, or content, treat these as non-negotiable.

• Respect self-promo history. Many communities expect a help-to-promo ratio, often around 9:1. Warm up with useful comments, answer questions, and share examples in megathreads before linking your own thing.
• No affiliate or referral codes unless allowed. If permitted, disclose clearly in the body. When in doubt, remove tracking entirely.
• Follow survey rules line by line. Some subs allow academic or product research only with mod approval or within monthly threads. If approval is required, message mods first and include who you are, what data you collect, and how long it takes.
• Route launches to the right threads. Beta invites, discount codes, and release notes often belong in weekly or monthly megathreads. Announce there, then follow up with learnings in a separate discussion post.
• Link to stable, reputable destinations. New or thin landing pages get flagged more often. When you need to explain a tool or category, pointing at a credible overview helps. For example, this breakdown of customer feedback software and Canny alternatives shows how established feedback platforms present value, which tends to look safer to mods and readers than bare promo pages.
• Eliminate popups and blockers. Pages that throw modals or cookie walls before content increase removal risk. Share a clean page that loads fast on mobile.

SubredditAnalyzer warns you when a target subreddit bans surveys, solicits, or link posts for new accounts. It also scores your draft link against historical removal rates per sub so you can pick a safer destination if needed.

Final 60-second pre-post checklist

Run this quick pass before you click submit. It is faster than an appeal and cooler than a modmail apology.

1. Account eligibility: You meet the sub’s karma and account-age minimums.
2. Right place: You validated the subreddit’s focus and current stickies. If there is a megathread that fits, you are using it.
3. Title compliance: Required brackets, price, platform, and region are present. Length is readable and free of hype.
4. Flair set: You selected the exact required flair. No “unflairable” errors.
5. Link hygiene: One clean, canonical URL. No UTM, ref, shorteners, or redirects. Mobile loads quickly.
6. Automod safety: No banned phrases or blacklisted domains. Body has substance before the link.
7. Disclosure: You clearly state any affiliation and what feedback or outcome you want.
8. Timing: You are posting at the sub’s high-velocity window in its primary timezone, not just your own.
9. Cadence: You have not posted a similar link in this sub within its cooldown window, and your recent history shows genuine comments.

SubredditAnalyzer estimates the best time to post on Reddit for each subreddit using recent engagement curves. It also keeps a running log of your posts and crossposts, suggests overlapping windows across your top subs, and nudges you to vary titles so you do not trip spam heuristics.

Pro tip: Map intent to community

• Advice and learning: Target Q&A or case study threads. Share examples and lessons without a link.
• Product research: Find feedback-friendly communities. Ask specific questions and offer to share a summary of results.
• Launch and updates: Use weekly showcase or startup threads. Engage in comments before you drop anything in the main feed.

Key takeaways

• Skim rules, wiki, and stickies for hard blockers like karma, cooldowns, flair, and title templates.
• Beat Automod by removing spammy words, shorteners, and tracking, and by leading with substance.
• Use exact titles, required flair, and provided templates so mods can greenlight fast.
• Respect promo and survey policies, disclose affiliation, and link to stable destinations.
• Run a 60-second check for eligibility, timing, and cadence, then post with confidence.
• Use SubredditAnalyzer to pull rules, flag risks, rank relevant subreddits, and schedule posts for peak engagement.

Mods are not out to get you. They are guarding signal. Follow this checklist, post where your content fits, and let a steady track record keep your posts live. If you want guardrails while you draft, SubredditAnalyzer keeps rules in view and warns you before you trip a filter.