Can I mention my product if I do not include a link?
No. The rules ban promotion and soliciting in any form, even if it is free, and the ban is described as without warning.
Subreddit guides
r/ecommerce rules, stats, and what to post
A source-backed Rankhog guide to r/ecommerce: public rules, community context, posting fit, and startup-promotion risk before you publish.
By Anthony Riera, founder and operator of Rankhog.
Subreddit guides combine public Reddit source URLs, captured rules, visible verification dates, and Rankhog's account-safety workflow.
Current public stats
- Members
- 680,547
- Verified
- September 29, 2026
- Category
- Ecommerce founders and operators
Rules can change, so Rankhog keeps verification dates and the original public Reddit sources visible.
Rule summary
- No Soliciting, Promotion, or Direct Soliciting via DM: No Self-Promotion: Do not solicit, promote, or attempt to acquire personal or private contact with users in any way (even if free). This includes soliciting posts, DM requests, invitations, referrals, or any attempt to initiate personal contact. This includes posts seeking services. Your post/comment will be removed, and you will be banned without warning. This is not the place to promote or seek out services in any way. This is our most strictly enforced rule.
- No External Links (Except Site Reviews): Do not post links to services, blogs, videos, courses, or websites (see Section III for site review exceptions). Do not link to your YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, or other pages. Links to pages that address a specific issue may be allowed, but context may be reviewed by moderators.
- No 3PL Related Threads: These threads are repetitive and often promotional. Refer to previous threads or other subgroups.
- No "Get Rich Quick", "Success Stories", Case Studies, etc: No "Get Rich Quick", "Success Stories", Case Studies, or Blogspam Posts: Do not post "We turned $XXX into $XXX in 4 Weeks - Here's How," How-To Guides, "Top 5 Ways You Can..." lists, or other blogspam.
- Do not post courses, themes, or stores for sale: r/ecommerce is not the place to sell your existing ecommerce store, theme, account, or course. Users who violate this rule will be banned, due to the risk of fraud and dishonesty it causes. This included trade offers.
- Any 'AMA'-type post must first be approved by mods.: Any 'AMA'-type post must first be approved by mods.
- No 'Dev Research' posts: Posts seeking "pain points," "biggest challenges", app validation ideas, beta testers, app reviews, or feedback on app/software ideas are not allowed
- No AI or Suspected AI Slop: Obvious or suspected AI content is not welcome here. Violations from lower-karma accounts with little contribution history in this sub may result in a ban. This will be at the sole discretion of the group moderators.
Works well
- A specific question about a real store problem, like why checkout conversion dropped after a design change, written with the details of what you tried
- A detailed answer to someone else's question about SEO, product selection, or marketing strategy, based on your own experience and with no links
- A plain-language walkthrough of how you solved a checkout or conversion issue on your own store, told as a discussion rather than a case study
- A site review request that follows the community's stated exception for site reviews
- A question about product selection or pricing that invites other store owners to share how they handle it
Avoid
- Promoting your product, service, or course in any way, even for free, because “No Soliciting, Promotion, or Direct Soliciting via DM” is the most strictly enforced rule here
- Asking anyone to DM you or offering to move the conversation to private messages, since that counts as attempting personal contact
- Posting links to your blog, YouTube channel, social pages, or website, because “No External Links (Except Site Reviews)” blocks them
- Starting a thread about 3PL providers, since “No 3PL Related Threads” removes them as repetitive and promotional
- Sharing a success story or case study like how you grew revenue in a few weeks, because “No 'Get Rich Quick', 'Success Stories', Case Studies, etc” bans that format
- Listing your store, theme, or course for sale, since “Do not post courses, themes, or stores for sale” leads to bans over fraud risk, and it includes trade offers too
What r/ecommerce Is For
r/ecommerce is a community for people who design, build, and run online stores. The description says it is for seasoned retailers and newcomers alike, and it names the topics it wants: selling tips, marketing strategies, SEO optimization, product selection, checkout processes, and conversions. The stated goal is helpful and honest discussion that helps people increase their online sales. So the people posting here are store owners, operators, and people getting into selling online, and they come to trade practical experience about running an ecommerce business.
Rules That Matter Before Posting
The rule that decides almost everything here is “No Soliciting, Promotion, or Direct Soliciting via DM”. It bans self-promotion, soliciting posts, DM requests, invitations, referrals, and even posts seeking services, and it says you will be banned without warning. The next one is “No External Links (Except Site Reviews)”, which blocks links to services, blogs, videos, courses, and social pages, with a narrow exception for links that address a specific issue and for site reviews. “No 3PL Related Threads” removes anything about third party logistics because those threads are repetitive and often promotional. “No 'Get Rich Quick', 'Success Stories', Case Studies, etc” bans revenue bragging posts, how-to guides, and listicle style blogspam. “Do not post courses, themes, or stores for sale” bans selling stores, themes, accounts, or courses, and it includes trade offers, with bans for violators. “Any 'AMA'-type post must first be approved by mods.” means you cannot run an AMA without permission. “No 'Dev Research' posts” blocks pain point fishing, app validation, beta tester requests, and feedback on software ideas. Finally, “No AI or Suspected AI Slop” bans obvious or suspected AI content, and lower-karma accounts can be banned for it at the moderators sole discretion.
What To Post
A good post here is a plain question or a plain answer about running a store. Ask about a checkout problem, a conversion question, a product selection decision, or an SEO tactic, and share what you have already tried in your own words. Write it yourself and keep it free of links, pitches, and anything that smells like marketing. If you want to share a link, only do it when it genuinely addresses a specific issue someone raised, and expect moderators to review the context. If you want to do an AMA, get moderator approval first. The safest shape is simple: contribute knowledge, answer other people's questions, and let people find your profile on their own.
What To Avoid
The fastest way to get removed and banned here is any form of promotion or solicitation, including asking people to DM you, offering free things, or posting about your service. External links to your site, blog, videos, or social pages get removed unless they address a specific issue and moderators allow it. Third party logistics threads are removed on sight. Success stories, case studies, how-to guides, and top five listicles are treated as blogspam and removed. Selling or trading stores, themes, accounts, or courses gets you banned because of fraud risk. AMAs without moderator approval are removed. Posts fishing for pain points, validating an app idea, or hunting for beta testers are not allowed. And AI written or suspected AI content is not welcome, with bans possible for low-karma accounts.
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Common questions about r/ecommerce
Can I link to my site at all?
Only for a site review or when the link addresses a specific issue, and moderators may review the context before allowing it.
Can I ask the community about pain points so I can build a tool for them?
No. “No 'Dev Research' posts” blocks pain point questions, validation ideas, beta testers, and feedback requests on software.
Can I run an AMA about my ecommerce journey?
No. AMA-type posts must first be approved by the moderators, so message them before posting anything in that shape.
What can I actually talk about here?
Yes. The description names selling tips, marketing strategies, SEO optimization, product selection, checkout processes, and conversions as welcome topics.
Lists featuring r/ecommerce
Use these audience lists to decide whether r/ecommerce is the best fit for your Reddit SEO plan or just one supporting community.
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