In these days of AI search bots, you want your content to be cited. Thus, your content needs to be on the platforms that the AI bots look for information. Where? Communities, forums, and social media! Yes, social media has become one of the main sources for AISEO. Here, we look into the top resources and domains where you can compete with the big guys. It’s called Omni-Channel Marketing.
Welcome to the Omni-Channel World!
For years, I’ve told small business owners to focus on the social media networks that their target audience frequents the most. Basically, that was 2 or 3 primary networks and then 2 or 3 secondary ones.
Throw that strategy out the window! Now, you have to be EVERYWHERE!
Over the last 12 months, ChatGPT’s U.S. referral traffic to websites jumped by +3,496% (UK: +5,950%), from 14 to 516 million.
Search Engine Journal
In other words, AI tool search use is growing. Citing is rich in context. Referral traffic is increasing, as are CONVERSIONS. More on that in a future blog post. Get on my newsletter list so you miss out!
If you’re in healthcare or wellness, look at who you’re competing with.
Here’s another with slightly different results…
The Top Online Communities are:
- Reddit – See below
- Quora – See below
- Facebook – Update coming soon! Get on my newsletter list so you miss out!
- LinkedIn – only 1% of LinkedIn users post content! I can help you optimize your LinkedIn profiles! Book a 1:1 training session ($75/hr)!
- YouTube
- X – Grok picks up everything from X. Update coming soon! Get on my newsletter list so you miss out!
How Does Reddit Work?
Reddit is a collection of forums (“subreddits”) where users can share content, discuss topics, and upvote or downvote posts. Here are some key points:
- Subreddits: These are specialized forums focused on specific topics (e.g., r/technology, r/movies, r/camping, r/health). You can find a subreddit for nearly any interest or industry.
- Posts and Comments: Users can post content like text, links, images, and videos. Other users can comment on these posts to create discussions.
- Voting System: Upvotes and downvotes determine the visibility of a post. Popular posts rise to the top, while less popular ones sink.
- Karma: Users earn karma points through upvotes on their posts and comments, which can add credibility to their account.
Tips for Companies to Get Started
- Understand Reddit Culture: Redditors value authenticity and community involvement. It’s essential to participate genuinely rather than appearing as a corporate entity.
- Choose the Right Subreddits: Identify subreddits relevant to your industry. Follow and engage in these communities to understand their norms and interests.
- Read the Rules: Each subreddit has its own rules. Make sure you understand them to avoid being banned or flagged as spam.
- Create Valuable Content: Share useful insights, resources, or engaging content. Avoid blatant self-promotion. For instance, provide tips, answer questions, or share relevant news.
- Engage with the Community: Respond to comments on your posts, participate in discussions, and upvote interesting content.
- Use Reddit Ads Sparingly: To promote your products or services, consider using Reddit’s ad platform. However, don’t rely solely on ads; genuine interaction is crucial.
- Monitor and Adjust: Regularly monitor the performance of your posts and adjust your strategy based on what resonates with the community.
Common Mistakes on Reddit
- Skipping Subreddit Rules
- Every subreddit has its own culture and posting guidelines.
- Ignoring them can quickly get your post removed or your account banned.
- Always check the “Rules” section in the sidebar or About tab before posting.
- Overt Self‑Promotion
- Redditors are quick to spot marketing disguised as “helpful” content.
- If most of your activity is linking to your own site, you’ll be flagged as a spammer.
- Follow the 90/10 rule: 90% genuine engagement, 10% self‑promotion.
- Disregarding Community Culture
- Each subreddit has its own tone, inside jokes, and posting style.
- Dropping in without observing first can make you look out of touch.
- Lurk for a while to understand what resonates.
- Low‑Effort Posts or Comments
- One‑liners, vague questions, or link‑only posts rarely do well.
- Reddit rewards thoughtful, well‑formatted contributions.
- Not Engaging Beyond Your Own Posts
- Only posting your own threads without commenting elsewhere limits visibility.
- Upvote, comment, and join discussions to build rapport.
- Ignoring Feedback – Downvotes and critical comments are signals — not just noise. Use them to refine your approach rather than getting defensive.
- Cross‑Posting Without Context
- Dumping the same link into multiple subreddits without tailoring it to each audience feels spammy.
- Customize your title and intro for each community.
- Chasing Karma Over Value
- Posting just for upvotes can lead to shallow content.
- Focus on adding genuine insight or entertainment.
By understanding Reddit’s structure and engaging authentically, companies can effectively connect with their audience and build a positive reputation on the platform.
How Does Quora Work?
Quora is a Q&A platform. It’s a global knowledge-sharing site where anyone can ask questions and provide answers. It has a massive reach. With over 400 million monthly visitors, your content can be seen by a huge, diverse, global audience. Here are some key points:
- Evergreen Content – Answers remain searchable and can rank high on Google for years, continuing to bring traffic long after you post.
- Topic & User Following – You can follow topics relevant to your industry and connect with people who are interested in them.
- Built-in Distribution – Quora’s feed, email digests, and topic notifications push your answers to interested readers — even if you have no personal following.
- Advertising Options – Quora Ads allow precise targeting by topic, keyword, or audience intent.
Tips for Small Business Owners to Get Started
- Craft a Strong, Optimized Profile
- Use a clear, friendly headshot.
- Add your role, business name, and a short, credibility-building bio.
- Include links to your website or key resources.
- Identify Relevant Topics
- Search for topics your customers care about.
- Follow them to get notified of new questions.
- Focus on your niche expertise.
- Answer with Value First
- Provide detailed, helpful, and non-promotional answers.
- Use examples, short paragraphs, and bullet points for readability.
- Subtly weave in your expertise and link to resources only when relevant.
- Be Consistent
- Aim for a few high-quality answers per week.
- Over time, this builds authority and trust.
- Don’t disappear and then come back.
- Leverage Evergreen Potential
- Focus on questions that will still be relevant months or years from now.
- These can keep driving traffic long after you post.
- Engage with the Community
- Upvote good answers, comment thoughtfully, and follow other experts. (You can also downvote stupid questions or bad answers.)
- This increases your visibility and credibility.
- Repurpose Your Content – Adapt your Quora answers into blog posts, LinkedIn articles, or email newsletters to maximize ROI.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overt Self-Promotion
- Dropping links to your site in every answer without adding real value.
- Readers (and Quora’s moderation) will see this as spam, which can hurt your credibility.
- Neglecting Engagement
- Failing to upvote, comment, or follow other experts.
- Interaction boosts visibility and helps you learn what resonates with your audience.
- Expanding Too Soon – Don’t jump into paid ads or multiple topic areas before you’ve built a solid base of quality answers and followers.
When used properly, a small business owner can turn Quora into a steady stream of visibility, credibility, and leads. Personally, I used Quora regularly, and I got more traffic to my website from Quora than the other social media networks. I stopped using it for a while because I got busy. Now, going back, they’ve changed their “moderation rules,” and I have to be more careful on how I post.
Should You Share the Same Content on all the Social Networks?
YES! You may think it’s redundant, but the more places your content shows up, the better the chances the AI bots like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini will cite you. I can show you how to use time-saving tools like Dlvr.it and Sendible (affiliate link) to automate and schedule out your posts.
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