Soft Mentions vs Hyperlinks
Written By Engain io
Last updated 3 months ago
Why soft mentions work best on Reddit
When promoting on Reddit, soft mentions consistently achieve higher stick rates than direct links. They survive longer, look natural, and avoid moderation triggers.
Soft Mentions vs. Links
Soft Mentions (Safest option)
Mention your brand naturally in the comment (example: “We tested this with Engain”).
Interested users will search for your brand on Google. This increases branded searches, which signals to Google that your business is growing and that more people are actively interested in what you offer → improves SEO
Much lower risk of triggering Reddit’s spam filters or manual mod actions.
Comments stay organic and don’t look promotional.
Links (Higher risk)
Adding links increases the chance of removal since Reddit prefers users to stay on-platform.
Links receive extra scrutiny from filters and subreddit moderators.
Use links only on Reddit posts that already get a lot of traffic and where adding a link is worth the risk.
The ideal balance
70% soft mentions
30% links (only in top-performing threads)
This keeps a strong balance between visibility and stick rate.
Pro tip: use non-clickable domains
If you must include a domain, write it as plain text (example.com).
This avoids filters while still letting users remember your brand.
Summary: Soft mentions deliver the highest stick rate on Reddit. Use links selectively and treat them as a tactical tool.