How to Build a Free Reddit Brand Monitor in Python Using PRAW and Sentiment Analysis

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A tutorial published on DEV Community walks developers through building a custom social media monitoring tool using Python, targeting Reddit via the PRAW library. The guide covers setting up API credentials securely with python-dotenv, fetching brand mentions across Reddit, and analyzing post sentiment using TextBlob or VADER. Results can be stored in a local SQLite database, enabling tracking of mention history and sentiment trends over time. The tutorial positions the custom-built tool as a cost-free alternative to expensive platforms like Brandwatch or Sprout Social, which can cost hundreds of dollars per month. It is aimed at startups, solo developers, and Python learners looking to automate brand monitoring with minimal infrastructure.

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