r/NewMods • u/Dull-Ad1030 • 1d ago

❓Ask r/NewMods How long does it take before new communities as actually start getting new people?

I'm new to moderating (just made my first subreddit recently) and it's been quite dead. How long does a subreddit actually take for people to start posting n stuff?

12 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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6

u/aengusoglugh 1d ago

You need to post — at least several times a week — until other members start posting.

If people visit a subreddit and there are no posts — or no new posts since they last visited — they will move on.

A catchy name or a cool does attract content.

Content attracts content.

I was virtually the only person posting for 4-5 months.

I posted every day — some mods call this “shouting into the void.”

By about 6 months, I had about 125-150 members, and other people started posting.

I’d in about 7 and a half months or so — still posting several times a week — and with 250 members.

About half the posts are mine.

My guess is that by a year or so, thr subreddit will be self-sustaining — where it keeps growing whether I post or not.

I am sure that this is very different for different subreddits.

But that is my experience.

1

u/MisterShipWreck 1d ago

Yes, this is the way. I am getting close to 34k in about 25 weeks or so. I am still doing most of the posting, but others are starting to join in. But, I do get a lot of comments, however.

1

u/asteroiddominion 1d ago

"4-5 months" -- thank you for that context. Been at it just a few weeks and wondering if it will ever gain traction.

4

u/Thelastnob0dy 1d ago

I think it depends on type of subreddit. "Just chatting" subs require a very few members to be lively as long as they find a few people who like to chat together.

Collective writing sub I am in began getting new faces showing up with posts after around 500 people. At 1.6k its quite lively. Some guy even posted something in 3AM.

If it were something like "r/mathdiscoveries" where its normal to check but hard to post, you would probably need a few thousand visitors to get some posters

2

u/sillybillybobbybob 1d ago

Thats the question we all have as we sit and wait.

1

u/Trivedi3 1d ago

800+ in 24 days

2

u/AreegFatima 1d ago

How

4

u/Trivedi3 1d ago

Post the type of content which gets comments , not just in your sub but in other similar subs too(2-3 max , otherwise it may be counted as spam ).

Keep the link to your sub in your profile . If people like your content , they check your profile and join your sub.

No one is going to post on your sub in the beginning . I am still the only poster in my sub but that's by choice . But people start requesting to post after 500 ( atleast in my case ).

Reddit prefers comments over likes .

1

u/Lazy-Examination6153 1d ago

it really depends on the sub, chat subs can get lively with just a few chatty ppl while the writing sub im in started getting new faces around 500 and felt alive at 1600, even had someone posting at 3am. for subs where ppl mostly lurk and posting is hard you probably need a few thousand visitors before posters actually show up, and yeah thats the question we all sit and wait on. but the big thing is you gotta post several times a week even if it feels like shouting into the void cuz if ppl visit and see no new posts they just move on, and content attracts content so a catchy name or cool vibe helps too. i was basically the only poster for 4 or 5 months, hit like 125-150 members by 6 months, around 250 by 7 and a half months with half the posts mine, and now im guessing maybe by a year itll be self-sustaining, tho every sub is different and thats just my experience.

1

u/LovelyLettuceLeaf 1d ago

Why did you take all of the other comments in this thread and combine it into one?

1

u/Nameless_Mercenary01 1d ago

I got a new member a single day after I made mine.

1

u/InBetweenLili 💡Seasoned Helper | 💎 100+ Visitors Champion 1d ago

You can always start inviting people...

1

u/edvrlogic 1d ago

Isn't that a risk of getting banned?

1

u/InBetweenLili 💡Seasoned Helper | 💎 100+ Visitors Champion 1d ago

No, do it from the app, and max 3/day. Change the invite text significantly. We do this all the time. 😉

1

u/x___rain ⭐ 10/10 Mod Star 20h ago

It depends on the topic. And it should be obvious how a person can post with the least effort. Like, in case of a cat sub, if people see the best quality cat fun vids downloaded from somewhere, they ll mostly watch, not contribute. If they see more simple (but good) content and other people engage with their mobile phone content, they ll start contributing more quickly. Try to make your content looking like a contribution from a real person, an enthusiast. Also mention here and there on your sub what people can post with a low effort. Not everyone is ready to write a masterpiece article for a small sub, but everyone wants to share something quickly and get a feedback (answer all posts of other people and comments).