Building a social media audience doesn’t always require ads or aggressive marketing. Here’s how one animator leveraged Reddit communities to grow his following to 10k by sharing creative work where fans already gather.

Algorithm:

1. The artist regularly posts his original Pokémon-themed animations and illustrations in r/pokemon - a large, engaged fan community.
2. His posts feature high-quality, eye-catching art that immediately resonates with fans of the franchise. Titles are short, casual, and often humorous, which helps them blend naturally into the subreddit feed.
3. In the comments, he shares his social media profiles, primarily his X account where he has built a 10k follower base. This allows interested users to explore more of his work without the main post feeling promotional.
4. When asked, he also shares alternative platforms he uses, such as Bluesky, to connect with followers who avoid X.
5. Looking at his Reddit profile, it’s clear he expands his reach by posting similar art to other communities:
   • r/pokemonart for more niche-focused Pokémon fans
   • r/deltarune for crossover art inspired by other games
   • r/animation to connect with a broader audience interested in the craft of animation

How to Scale This:

• Post consistently in large fandom communities where your style or subject matter is celebrated.
• Adapt the content to fit each community’s vibe - avoid simply reposting identical captions everywhere.
• Use the comment section for promotion rather than the main post to avoid breaking self-promo rules.
• Engage with commenters - answer questions about your process, tools, or inspirations.

This Is How It Looks Like

What users say

• Someone asks for non-X platform: “Any non-Twitter socials?”
• Other users reply with humor or encouragement to keep up the great work

By sharing his work in the right communities and keeping promotion light-touch, the animator steadily built a strong follower base and diversified his reach across multiple platforms.

Final Notes

• Focus on quality and relevance to the subreddit’s audience.
• Keep promotional links in the comments, try to avoid the post body.
• Cross-post strategically to reach overlapping but distinct audiences.