Most people think about marketing a Shopify store in terms of Facebook ads, Google SEO, or influencer deals. But what if I said that some of the most engaged, untapped audiences lurk in the internet’s oddest corners—such as 4chan’s /b/ board or Reddit’s most niche forums?
We at 7thGrowth enjoy testing out-of-the-box marketing tactics. And here, we aided a small Shopify shop in increasing sales using the pandemonium of 4chan and Reddit’s strangest communities. Here’s how we managed to do it—without forking out a single advertisement cost.
Why 4chan and Reddit?
These are platforms that most brands try to steer clear of, as they can be so mercurial. That’s precisely why they succeeded:
No algorithm limitations – No Facebook or Instagram to compete with here.
Highly active (and opinionated) users – If they dig your product, they’ll share it like crazy.
Zero competition – Most companies don’t even try, so you’re not vying for attention.
Step 1: Discovering the Right Communities
Not all subreddits or 4chan boards will do. We targeted:
- /r/InternetIsBeautiful (for special products)
- /r/ObscureSubreddits (where niche experts hang out)
- 4chan’s /b/ (wild, but viral opportunity is massive)
- /r/UnethicalLifeProTips (for creative, edgy marketing)
The secret? Don’t spam. These subreddits despise ads, so we had to get sneaky.
Step 2: Creating “Organic” Posts That Didn’t Read Like Ads
Rather than saying “Buy our product!”, we:
Posted memes that included the product organically (e.g., a humorous use case).
Asked questions (“Has anyone done something like this?”).
Posted “found this weird thing” posts, and let users discover it themselves.
This helped the product appear like a collective discovery, not a pitch.
Step 3: Anonymity as Leverage (particularly on 4chan)
No one knows who’s behind each post on 4chan. We:
- Compiled phony “user reviews” (coy, but successful).
- Initiated phony discussions (“Is the product worth it?”) to generate chatter.
- Employed “leaked” format posts (“Discovered this in my grandmother’s attic”) for mystique.
The mission? Have the product come off like an in-joke or secret gem.
The Results: 0 to 500 Sales in a Month
By remaining active on these forums and allowing the audience to “find” the product, we experienced:
- A 300% boost in organic traffic from Reddit and 4chan.
- Viral threads where users promoted the product themselves.
- Zero ad spend, pure community-driven growth.
Could This Work for Your Store?
This tactic isn’t for all brands—it’s perfect for strange, humorous, or super-niche products. But if you’re willing to roll up your sleeves, sites like 4chan and Reddit can be goldmines of free, viral traffic.
We at 7thGrowth are experts in out-of-the-box, high-impact marketing techniques—whether it’s guerrilla Reddit tactics or comprehensive digital campaigns. If you’re interested in outside-the-box growth, let’s chat.
