In a bold move to compete with advertising giants like Meta and Google, Reddit has launched automated bidding for brand awareness campaigns. This new feature is aimed at helping advertisers increase visibility while optimizing ad spend—without manual effort. As Reddit continues to grow its advertising ecosystem, this update is a major step in improving Reddit ads performance for marketers looking to tap into niche communities.
If you’re looking to increase brand visibility, drive top-of-funnel awareness, and streamline your media buying strategy, this update is for you. In this blog, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Reddit’s automated bidding, how it works, its benefits, and how it compares with automated ad bidding on other platforms.
What Is Automated Bidding on Reddit?
Automated bidding, also known as auto-bidding, is an ad strategy where Reddit’s algorithm optimizes your bid dynamically to maximize reach within your budget. It removes the need for manual cost-per-thousand impressions (CPM) settings by adjusting bids automatically in real-time, targeting better placements and broader audiences for brand awareness.
This feature is now available under the Brand Awareness campaign objective within Reddit Ads Manager.
Why Reddit’s Automated Bidding Matters for Brand Awareness
With the explosion of community-driven marketing, brands are increasingly turning to Reddit to tap into highly engaged, topic-specific audiences. But the challenge has always been optimizing ad bids effectively—especially for advertisers unfamiliar with Reddit’s unique ecosystem.
That’s where automated bidding comes in. Here’s why it’s a game-changer:
- Simplifies campaign setup
- Maximizes impressions and reach
- Reduces manual optimization
- Improves ROI on brand awareness goals
- Helps scale campaigns across Reddit communities
Benefits of Using Reddit’s Automated Bidding for Brand Awareness
If you’re running Reddit advertising campaigns in 2025, using automated bidding offers tangible advantages:
1. Maximize Reach Without Guesswork
Reddit’s algorithm handles bidding, helping you get the most impressions possible for your budget.
2. Optimized CPM Without Manual Tweaks
Manual bid adjustments can be time-consuming. Automated bidding dynamically optimizes CPM based on performance data.
3. Better Budget Utilization
Your ad spend is more efficient as Reddit’s system continuously adapts to ensure every dollar contributes to reaching more users.
4. Ideal for Top-of-Funnel Objectives
If you’re aiming to increase brand awareness, this is the feature to use—especially in industries where brand visibility is key.
How Does Reddit’s Auto Bidding Compare with Meta and Google Ads?
When it comes to automated ad bidding platforms, Google and Meta have long dominated the space. But Reddit is catching up fast. Here’s how they compare:
| Platform | Automated Bidding Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| CPM-based auto bidding for brand awareness | Niche community engagement | |
| Meta | Bid cap, cost cap, ROAS-based bidding | Mass audience & retargeting |
| Google Ads | Smart Bidding (Target CPA, ROAS, Maximize Conversions) | Search + Display networks |
Use Cases: Who Should Use Reddit’s Auto Bidding?
Reddit’s new automated bidding model is ideal for:
- E-commerce brands launching new products
- Startups looking for brand visibility
- Gaming and entertainment companies
- Financial services reaching niche communities
- D2C brands with limited ad resources
If you’re already running Reddit brand awareness ads, testing automated bidding could significantly improve performance—especially for campaigns where impressions and reach are key KPIs.
How to Set Up Automated Bidding for Reddit Campaigns
Setting up auto bidding for Reddit Ads is simple:
- Log in to your Reddit Ads Manager
- Create a new campaign and choose Brand Awareness as the objective
- In the Bidding section, select Automated Bidding (CPM)
- Set your budget and audience
- Launch and monitor performance via Reddit’s reporting dashboard
📌 Pro Tip: Run A/B tests between manual and auto bidding to understand performance differences.
Real-Life Example: Brand Success Using Reddit Ads Auto Bidding
Let’s say you run a tech gadget startup and want to reach Gen Z Redditors interested in innovation. Previously, you had to manually test bids across multiple subreddits. Now, with auto bidding:
- Reddit auto-optimizes your bid to get the most impressions
- Your ads are shown in front of active, relevant users
- You save time on manual adjustments
- Your brand recall and post views increase significantly
This helps not only in exposure but also creates a funnel for Reddit retargeting campaigns later.
Should You Use Reddit’s Automated Bidding in 2025?
If you’re looking to increase brand awareness using Reddit ads, the new automated bidding feature is a must-try. With Reddit growing into a powerful, underutilized ad platform in 2025, automated bidding levels the playing field for brands of all sizes.
By allowing smarter budget allocation, more impressions, and less manual work, it simplifies campaign scaling—especially for advertisers new to the platform.
