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PlugMonkey
Updated Feb 2026

How to Set Up Reddit Keyword Monitoring Alerts

Never miss a Reddit conversation that matters. Configure keyword alerts that scan Reddit automatically and notify you when specific terms appear — with intent scoring to separate noise from opportunity.

Beginner
10 minutes
7 steps

Before You Start

  • Google Chrome browser (desktop)
  • Reddit Scout Pro installed from the Chrome Web Store
  • A list of keywords you want to monitor (brand names, topics, competitor names)
1

Install Reddit Scout Pro

Visit the Chrome Web Store listing and click "Add to Chrome." The extension starts working immediately after you add your first keywords. No API keys, no Reddit developer accounts, and no external sign-ups required.

Chrome Web Store page for Reddit Scout Pro

Screenshot the Chrome Web Store listing with the 'Add to Chrome' button highlighted.

2

Open the Scout panel and navigate to keyword settings

Navigate to any page on reddit.com and click the floating PlugMonkey button to open the Scout panel. Go to the Keywords section. This is where you define what terms the extension monitors across Reddit.

Reddit Scout Pro panel open on the Keywords section

Screenshot the Scout panel with the Keywords section open, showing the empty keyword list and the Add button.

3

Add your monitoring keywords strategically

Enter the keywords you want to track. Be strategic about your keyword selection: Brand terms — your company name, product names, and common misspellings. Competitor terms — competitor names and their products. Problem terms — phrases people use when searching for solutions you provide (e.g., "need a better CRM", "looking for email tool", "recommendation for project management"). Intent signals — phrases like "has anyone tried", "what do you recommend", "looking for alternatives to".
Pro Tip

Use 2-3 word phrases for more precise monitoring. Single words like 'email' or 'design' will generate too many irrelevant matches. Phrases like 'email marketing tool' or 'graphic design app' are much more targeted and produce higher-quality alerts.

Keyword input showing strategic keyword categories

Screenshot the Keywords section with several keywords added, organized by category (brand, competitor, problem terms) with the Add button visible.

4

Set up subreddit groups for focused monitoring

Create Subreddit Groups to target specific communities. Click "Add Group," name it (e.g., "Industry," "Competitors," "Support"), and add relevant subreddits. You can assign specific keywords to specific groups — for example, monitor your brand name across all of Reddit, but only monitor competitor names in industry-specific subreddits. This reduces noise and ensures alerts are contextually relevant.

Subreddit groups configured with different monitoring scopes

Screenshot showing two subreddit groups created with different names and subreddits listed under each, plus keyword assignments.

5

Configure your scan interval

In the Settings section, set how often Reddit Scout Pro scans for new matches. Free users scan every 30 minutes. PRO users can scan as frequently as every 3 minutes for near-real-time monitoring. For keyword alerts, the scan interval determines how quickly you are notified after a matching post or comment appears on Reddit.
Pro Tip

The 30-minute free scan interval is fine for most monitoring use cases — Reddit conversations develop over hours and days, not seconds. Upgrade to PRO 3-minute scanning only if you need to respond to time-sensitive conversations (customer complaints, competitor discussions, or sales opportunities) within minutes.

Scan interval settings showing free and PRO options

Screenshot the Settings section with the scan interval dropdown showing 30-minute (free) and 3-minute (PRO) options.

6

Enable desktop notifications for hot alerts

Turn on Desktop Notifications in the Settings section. Configure the score threshold for alerts — a score of 50+ indicates high buyer intent or high engagement conversations. When a new result exceeds your threshold, you receive a desktop notification with the post title, subreddit, matched keyword, and intent score. Click the notification to open the Reddit thread directly. This is how you catch time-sensitive opportunities like "Looking for a tool that does X" or "Can anyone recommend a [your category]?"
Important

Desktop notifications require Chrome notification permissions. When prompted, click 'Allow' to enable alerts. You can manage notification permissions later in Chrome Settings > Site Settings > Notifications.

Desktop notification settings and a sample hot alert notification

Screenshot the notification settings with the toggle enabled and score threshold set to 50, alongside a sample desktop notification showing a hot lead alert.

7

Test your alerts and refine keywords

After configuring everything, wait for the first scan to complete (check the dashboard by clicking "Open Dashboard" in the panel). Review the initial results. If you see too many irrelevant matches, narrow your keywords (add more words to make phrases more specific). If you see too few results, broaden your keywords or add more subreddit groups. The first 24-48 hours are a calibration period — adjust your keywords based on what the tool surfaces.
Pro Tip

Check the 'General' category results in your dashboard. If most matches are categorized as General (low intent), your keywords may be too broad. Focus on phrases that indicate intent: questions, requests for help, comparisons, and recommendations. These generate higher-scoring alerts that are worth your attention.

Dashboard showing initial scan results for keyword refinement

Screenshot the dashboard with the first batch of results, showing a mix of categories and scores, with the keyword adjustment interface visible.

Summary

You have set up automated Reddit keyword monitoring that scans for your terms, scores results by buyer intent, and sends desktop alerts for high-value conversations. The key to effective Reddit monitoring is keyword refinement — start with focused 2-3 word phrases, review results after 24-48 hours, and adjust based on relevance. Use subreddit groups to reduce noise by targeting specific communities. Enable hot alerts (score 50+) for time-sensitive opportunities that require quick responses. Over time, you will build an intuitive sense for which keywords generate the best results for your specific use case. Reddit Scout Pro runs in the background while you browse, so there is no daily effort required — just respond when alerts tell you something important is happening.

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Related Guides

How to Monitor Reddit for Brand MentionsHow to Find High-Intent Reddit Leads for SaaSHow to Track Competitor Mentions on Reddit

Frequently Asked Questions

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