Reddit, which calls itself the front page of the Internet, is a massive community where people discuss and debate literally millions of topics every day. One of its key features is a forum called Ask Me Anything (AMA), where anyone with an interesting story, job, or background — famous or not — opens themselves up and answer any and all questions that are asked of them.
We’ve sorted through the best Reddit AMA threads for entrepreneurs, managers, and anyone who is part of a fast-growing team and come up with a list of 15 must-read AMAs. Today we’re posting the first 7.
Read on to find out how one Shark Tank contestant beat the odds, how to beat a used car salesman at negotiating, and why every successful nightclub needs a butt funnel.
#1. I’m Ben Cohen, Ben & Jerry’s co-founder and Head Stamper of the Stamp Stampede. AMA!
Aside from making some damn delicious ice cream, Ben Cohen – along with Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield – has pioneered a number of progressive management practices that are in heavy use right now.
While this AMA is mostly concerned about Stamp Stampede, a movement that wants to “stamp money out of (U.S.) politics,” it does offer a few golden nuggets on reconciling social consciousness with profitability as well as why Ben & Jerry’s continues to champion Fair Trade. Also, there’s a whole lot of ice cream talk straight from the one of the world’s most famous ice cream men ever.
Most Interesting: Why isn’t the company named “Jerry & Ben’s”?
#2. IamA entrepreneur, eight years ago my wife and I sold everything and bought a 90ft tunnel oven to make cookies. Today we’re shipping 1 thousand pounds a day. AMA!
Every now and again an entrepreneur thinks they can use AMAs to blatantly promote their own product rather than offer anything of value back to the community. The Reddit community always savages these self-promoters to bits.
This AMA started innocently enough, but it soon escalates into a fiery debate on the company’s line of gluten free chocolate chip cookies. It still makes for worthwhile reading through — if only to learn how not to piss off your potential customers!
Best Ask: Why do your gluten-free cookies contain gluten?
#3. IamA Teen Entrepreneur who was on ABC’s Shark Tank AMA!
If you’re an entrepreneur then chances are you’ve caught a glimpse of Shark Tank once or twice. The show, which features a bunch of wannabe entrepreneurs pitching their ideas to five rich investors (the titular ‘sharks’), encapsulates the stresses that you can face in an actual pitching session.
This AMA gives some insight on what to do before, during, and after a pitch. If you’ve ever wanted to get on Shark Tank and pitch your product yourself, it also doubles as a primer on what to expect.
Best Ask: Do bananas make for good water infusion ingredients?
#4. I am a car salesman and part owner of 4 dealerships. Ask me questions about how the business really works.
If you ever find yourself needing to buy a car, then this AMA is a good source of inside info on how the business works. The person who started the AMA has only been in the sales game for a little under a decade, but seeing as it’s the family business you’re sure to find something you can use.
The AMA also has a few more general sales-related tips, such as how to get the best deal possible if you’re a first-time buyer, some insight into Chrysler’s bankruptcy, and what scams to watch out for.
Most Interesting: Do you have any amusing car sales anecdotes?
#5. IAmA guy who owns a website publishing business, works from home, and earns $600,000 – $900,000 per year. AMAA about online business.
One of the things I like about this AMA is that aside from giving out the usual tips and tricks for making money out of an online business, it also touches on the run-up prior to plunging head-first into starting your own company.
Aside from those, it also covers the importance of quality content, SEO, the effect of ad blockers on ad sales, and how to cover your backside on the legal front when it comes to intellectual property on your sites.
Best Ask: How do you deal with content thieves and domain typo squatters?
#6. IamA Owner/CEO of an Accounting, Bookkeeping, and Business Consulting firm AMA about accounting software, timekeeping software, crm systems or bookkeeping!
Whether you’re thinking of getting into accountancy or are already an accountant or bookkeeper, this AMA is a treasure trove of practical advice. A lot of the discussion concerns using currently available accounting software to your advantage, although the thread also touches quite a bit on how to get into the accounting industry.
Best Ask: Does technology have a positive or negative impact on the accounting industry?
#7. I am Jon Taffer, host of Bar Rescue and entrepreneur – AMA
Bar Rescue is Hell’s Kitchen for bars. It doesn’t really matter if you’ve seen the show or have never even heard of it before, as this AMA with host and food & beverage consultant Jon Taffer will net you a few useful ideas to use in the food & beverage industry. Bar Rescue fans, though, will definitely get a lot more out of the sneak peek answers straight from Taffer himself.
Best Ask: What is a butt funnel and how does it work?
COMMENTS
I loved reading the question/answer trail for #5.. as a web developer I found it fascinating that this guy is doing so well but also I loved the guessing game the questioners were playing trying to figure out what type of content he produced.
I don’t really have any sites that I read about business, I am more of a technical person and like to read about new technologies and frameworks.
However I enjoyed reading ‘The 4 Hour Work Week’ – and would really like to put some of these theories into practice… but really is it possible? I sometimes dream about work and then have to get up and do a full day’s work… in effect, I sometimes do a 24 hour day!
hmm made me think!
So this is interesting. The big problem for me is getting to the BS to actually find interesting and useful information. But it is there. On of the most boring but probably useful ones for me was # 6.
I’ve never visited reddit but it looks like the could be some useful stuff thee so I’ll check it out. Thanks Daniel.
Never really got into reddit, but this was a great share! It was great to read all of these AMA’s especially Jon Taffer’s. There’s never really been a go-to site for business advice. Just really what pops up in Google first since there are many sources for different business tips.
Agree – and so often what shows up in Google or over Twitter is baseless, generic, content marketing dribble designed solely to elicit social shares or search engine ranking…
I dont use Reddit that much but my co worker is always talking about. I will have to look into that part. But Work[etc] and Dan! keep up the work i love the software and it make my work so much more easier and efficient!
Reddit has been the one social network I’ve productively avoided for some reason. Perhaps some overwhelm on the mass volume of content. This was a good reminder that there is plenty of good information on there worth getting a bit more used too. I will be browsing these first 7 and looking forward to seeing what else you’ve pruned as the best!
Having looked at the website briefly it is a bit overwhelming, but this article proves that there is good and useful information to be found there. I must give it another shot really.
I’ve not been inclined to delve into reddit, I’m sure there are loads of good things available there, I just already get a load of good content delivered to me daily from blogs I subscribe too and rarely have team to read that content without going looking for more.
I don’t have any business advice websites to recommend, as I am a web developer so all my goto sites are more related to that.
I love Reddit and AMAs. It does take some time to get into Reddit, as I must admit that I avoided it for much of my time at university. Reddit has a TON of great information & communities to support said information. I follow several “pages” that are pertinent to my job & hobbies. Thanks for posting, I’ll have a read when I have some additional free time.
I have personally never heard about AMA’s and don’t read stuff on Reddit often so this was a refreshing change of pace. I loved reading how the self promotion pitches were shot down that was mildly entertaining! Being real with your clients can help but only if you dont have a problem airing all your laundry, clean and dirty alike.
Nice article retweeted to my followers along with pt2.
I tend to fall in the technical side of things myself, much like David M. But I can definitely see how this can be a positive source for community information. A few other sites from a technical standpoint, that I like to ping every now and then are experts-exchange (paid), and stackoverflow. These usually have a final solution, and less of an open discussion fashion. I will have to check reddit out for future references, thanks!
I read Reddit multiple times a day and enjoy the AMA section as well. It really is the front page of the internet and generally where I get my news but the most interesting reads are the comments on the articles. There are always some very unique and sometimes inspiring perspectives. It’s also a great place to post a question yourself and gain useful insight from a very large community.
I enjoyed this article it was a great way to see how others deal with things. I learned some great tips and tricks and can’t wait for part 2. Who would have thought you could learn so much from others without leaving the office.
I’ve always tried to avoid Reddit, mostly due to the always being one click away from NSFW nature of it, but the AMAs have been something pretty good to come from the site. I almost feel like it would be useful for the AMAs to be spun off into their own site (where you can login via reddit, or another social media account). That way, non-redditors would feel more comfortable viewing the information without worrying about the baggage that comes along with Reddit.
Although I have frequented reddit, I never really paid attention to the AMA’s. It’s nice to get information from those that have been successful. Being able to ask anything is even better!