This. I think there is a way to ghost domains on Reddit too so your comments/submissions containing links to it wont show to users.
Submit a new, unique and interesting content with a captivating title on it to Reddit and it will be a talk about in the discussion.
Go to the mod list which appears in every subreddit (usually appears in the bottom right corner of every subreddit). Direct message some of the guys on there and tell them that you've been an active member and ask VERY NICELY if you can promote. Remember, it's all about positioning
Have you tried social media sites? They can be a great way for you to increase your reddit followers.
Use split testing to test conversion for titles for your website. Then use the optimized title for your reddit submission.