Reddit Launches Tools for Publishers

Reddit Introduces Tools for Publisher Performance Tracking

On Wednesday, Reddit unveiled a new collection of complimentary tools designed for publishers. These tools enable them to monitor the performance of their articles and receive recommendations for optimal sharing locations within the platform's diverse communities.

The rollout of these features is occurring as part of Reddit Pro, a comprehensive suite of business tools that was initially launched last year. Its purpose is to facilitate organizational growth and enhance their presence on Reddit.

Key Features within Reddit Pro

Three primary tools are being integrated under the 'Links' tab within Reddit Pro. These additions include article insights, providing visibility into where stories have been shared and associated statistics.

These statistics encompass metrics such as views, upvotes, and clicks, offering publishers a detailed understanding of article engagement.

Publishers now have the capability to synchronize their RSS feeds with Reddit Pro. This allows for streamlined article sharing directly through the platform’s dashboards.

For distribution purposes, Reddit is leveraging AI to suggest relevant communities where articles are likely to resonate with users.

Beta Testing and Initial Feedback

Reddit has been conducting alpha testing of this publisher product with several prominent publications. These include The Atlantic, The Hill, NBC News, and the Associated Press.

Currently, Reddit is extending an invitation to other platforms to participate in the beta testing phase.

Enhancements to the User Experience

Alongside these publisher-focused tools, Reddit is also refining the news-reading experience for its users. Previously, clicking a link opened it within an in-app browser.

To return to the original thread and post comments, users were required to close the story. Reddit is now implementing a more seamless process, allowing users to simply swipe up to access and contribute to the original discussion.

Strategic Alignment with Search Ambitions

News articles and blog posts represent a significant component of user searches on Reddit. Consequently, Reddit aims to optimize the platform for publishers to effectively distribute their content.

This initiative directly supports the company’s recently stated goal of evolving into a fully-fledged search engine.

Changes to Subreddit Display Metrics

In addition to providing more data to businesses, Reddit is also modifying some publicly visible metrics. The company announced on Tuesday that it will discontinue the display of member counts on subreddits.

Instead, these counts will be replaced with a seven-day visitor figure, alongside the total number of contributions made within that timeframe.

Key takeaway: Reddit is investing in tools to attract and support publishers.
Impact: These changes aim to improve content distribution and user engagement.