Tired of trying to beat TikTok’s algorithm? Struggling to get people to follow your Instagram account? Missing the microblogging experience of Twitter before all its changes? Or are you just looking for a fresh new social media experience?
Bluesky is the answer to all your troubles!
The new app, developed by former Twitter (now X) founder Jack Dorsey, is one of the newest social media apps that aims to be the next big thing. Publicly launched in February 2024, it has now amassed a total of 20 million users (and counting!).
But what exactly is Bluesky? How does it work? And does it really offer anything new for marketers and content creators?
Join us as we answer all those questions and more in this ultimate guide to Bluesky.
Let’s get started!
What Is Bluesky?
Bluesky is a text-based platform where people can create posts of 300 characters or more and interact with other users by liking, commenting, sharing, or quoting a post.
Sounds like the old X? Indeed! Their former CEO made the app and even started Bluesky back when he was still on Twitter. This is why the app’s structure, layout, and UI are reminiscent of the (formerly) blue app.
What sets them apart from X (and all the other social media platforms), though, is their open-source and decentralized nature.
Unlike others, which are owned by a single company and host their data on a single server, Bluesky runs on AT Protocol. This means that every user essentially has their own “website” or JSON file that runs on their own server.
How does this decentralization benefit the users? Some examples are:
- Account portability—Since users own their data, they can move to any platform they want while keeping their followers, likes, or posts.
- Algorithmic choice—What you see on your feed depends entirely on your settings, not just what is popular on the app’s servers.
- Customizable feed—Unlike other social media platforms, the app does not set the feed’s settings. You can also control whether you want to see posts in chronological order, by posts from your mutuals, by posts on a specific niche like Science or Gardening, or by other settings.
- Composable moderation—Users can set their own moderation rules and guidelines on what goes on their feed instead of following the app’s settings.
To put it simply, everything a user does or sees on the app is theirs alone and not set by Bluesky. This gives users more control and freedom over their social media experience.
Why Should You Use Bluesky
Bluesky may be a new app, but it already offers many exciting features for its users. Whether you are a marketer, content creator, business owner, or just an individual looking for a new app to use, Bluesky has something for you.
Some of them are:
More meaningful interactions
Bluesky’s decentralized nature means brands and creators can engage their audience without trying to “game” the algorithm or relying on ads. They can create content more aligned with what they want to do rather than follow what is trendy in the system. This helps them create more genuine and authentic content that their audience actually wants to see and engage with.
Most Bluesky users are also trying to avoid commercialized platforms, as they prefer more real, human interactions. They are open to joining discussions and building a community and are usually more engaged and loyal users.
If that is your target audience, then Bluesky is a great platform for you!
Creative freedom
Bluesky is new so there is no specific style of content that is popular on the app yet. This allows brands and creators to freely experiment with their content.
Have some posts that didn’t do well on X or Instagram? Repost it there to see if it works better. Had a video idea that you deemed too niche for TikTok? Your Bluesky followers might just be the right audience.
The reverse works as well. Some of your successful Bluesky content might be worth trying out on your other social media platforms to see if you can replicate the success.
Early adoption opportunity
Getting a headstart on Bluesky now can only be good for you.
First, there is less competition, so it’s easier to get your audience’s interest.
Second, you can build a strong brand identity, amass a good amount of followers, and establish your content style before it becomes too oversaturated.
Lastly, being early on a trend can help position you as an expert or “in the know” which can open so many opportunities for partnerships, collaborations, shoutouts, or interviews down the road.
How To Get Started With Bluesky
Interested in joining Bluesky now? We’ve got you covered. Here is our guide to help you get started with the app.
How to create an account on Bluesky
- Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google PlayStore.
- Click “Create account.”
- Input your email address, password, and your birth date.
- Choose your username. They should only contain letters, numbers, and hyphens. It should also have at least 3 characters.
Note: As mentioned above, Bluesky is decentralized, so each account is essentially a website domain. This is why you see the “.bsky.social” next to your username.
- Next is to add your profile picture. You can choose to add a picture from your phone’s library by clicking the middle Picture icon:
Or by clicking the “Create an avatar instead,” which will give you customizable designs like the one below:
- Choose the topics you are interested in so that Bluesky can give you post recommendations.
- Your account is now complete!
How to navigate Bluesky feed
Let’s now take a look at how Bluesky works.
Your Bluesky feed is divided into three: Discover, Following, and Custom.
The Discover feed contains posts curated by the Bluesky algorithm for you based on your interests and past activity. Think of it as their version of the “For You” or “Explore” page.
Following, as the name suggests, contains the posts made by accounts you follow. They are displayed in chronological order. As soon as they post, the feed is updated to show it.
Custom feeds are feeds based on a specific topic or niche. This can be anything from Cats, Gardening, to Astronomy. You can even be more specific, like say, Tuxedo Cats or Calico Cats. The possibilities are endless!
You can find new custom feeds by clicking the “#” icon on your home page and scrolling to Discover New Feeds. From there, you can click via the search bar or select from the recommended feeds that Bluesky will show you.
How to get verified on Bluesky
Sadly, Bluesky has no blue checkmark yet like the one on X.
But there is a way to get “verified” – that is, you use your own website domain in your username instead of the custom “.bsky.social” one. This makes your account look more credible and legitimate since you are using your own business website.
To do this:
- Click the Menu.
- Click Settings, then Account.
- Click Handle.
- Click the “I have my own domain”
- Enter your domain name. Copy the DNS record they show on your domain name provider.
- Once you’ve done this, go back to this page and click “Verify DNS Record.” Your username should now just show your website domain.
How To Use Bluesky for Business or Branding
While the app doesn’t have a separate business profile option, ads, or monetization opportunities yet, it doesn’t mean that you can’t start building a strong branded presence now.
To do this, try the following:
Brand your account properly
Just like with other social media platforms, your Bluesky profile needs to be optimized and contain your branding so that your audience knows it’s you.
Make sure your username is related to your brand. Use your logo for your profile picture and use a banner photo that aligns with your brand. For best results, use size 400×400 pixels for your profile picture and 1500×500 for your banner.
Write a short yet snappy bio that highlights what you do or what your account is all about. Don’t forget to link back to your website, portfolio, store, other social media accounts, or other platforms where you want to drive traffic to.
Create posts in a distinct brand voice
Ever notice how we remember Wendy’s Twitter account with its humorous and sarcastic remarks? Or Apple with their short and powerful captions? That specific way they communicate is called brand voice.
Having a distinct brand voice like these popular brands can help you stand out, especially on a text-based app like Bluesky.
Don’t know how to find your brand voice? You can start by writing a few adjectives that best describe your brand. This can be “playful,” “approachable,” or “edgy.”
From there, you can build a specific persona. What would this person say? How would this person talk? What slang would they use (if any)?
Having this information can help you build a distinct brand voice, which you can use to write outstanding Bluesky posts.
Focus on creating content for your niche
Bluesky’s customized feeds are a great opportunity to reach people interested in your niche or industry.
Focusing your content on a specific topic (let’s say, art or cooking) lets you reach the right audience faster, unlike if you post about everything at once.
It also helps you find people who are already interested in your content instead of trying to make them interested. This results in finding more engaged and loyal followers.
This strategy is also more powerful in Bluesky, as they don’t rely on algorithms as much as the other apps. If you want to be seen in Bluesky, you need to be in the right place, which in this case is the custom feed.
Don’t be promotional
At the same time, avoid promotional posts. People are not on Bluesky to look for things to buy. Instead, they want valuable and useful content that generates discussion.
Try doing content such as how-tos, tutorials, expert advice, ask-me-anything, industry tips, or short case studies. You can also do a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your company’s operations or work culture. If you are a content creator, you can do a day-in-the-life or a step-by-step guide to your editing process.
Aside from giving your audience quality content, this also helps position you as a thought leader or industry expert.
Prioritize community engagement
Bluesky thrives on meaningful interaction.
Don’t just post content, then disappear. Engage with your followers by replying to their comments, participating in their discussions, or sharing their posts.
You can do polls, Q&As, or AMAs to start discussions. You can also do a “Finish the sentence” post or do prompts where you say a word, and your followers will respond to what they associate with it.
Aside from being more interactive, this type of content also helps you gather insights into how your followers think and what content they like. Win-win, right?
Engagement doesn’t just end with your audience, either. You can look into trending discussions or interact with posts from fellow users or influencers on the app. This helps you spread your presence to more than just your followers. Who knows, this might even open up a future collab for you!
Don’t forget your hashtags
Bluesky might not be dominated by hashtags, unlike TikTok or Instagram, but they still work to let users discover your posts.
You should use only 2-3 relevant hashtags in your post. Don’t add too many as you’ll risk looking spammy or too promotional.
You also have a 300-word limit in your post, so make sure the hashtags you use are the most relevant to your post to make it count!
Add multimedia
Visuals are king, and that holds true even on Bluesky. Add images, videos, or GIFs to supplement or elevate your text posts.
Bluesky doesn’t have strict guidelines or image specifications. For your images, follow the usual ratios like 1:1 square, 4:5 portrait, or 16:9 landscape. Just make sure that your images are all high-quality so that they will remain clear and not pixelated, as Bluesky tends to compress images upon upload.
Bluesky’s video specifications are also more free compared to other platforms. You only need to keep your videos to a maximum of 60 seconds and upload them in .mp4 or .mov format.
Get Started on Your Bluesky Journey Now
Bluesky is the latest trendy app that offers a unique experience that brands, creators, marketers, and individuals can enjoy. Its focus on user experience and community building makes it a meaningful platform to join.
And if you’re planning to join Bluesky to build your online presence, we only have one tip for you–experiment! Now is the time to try out all your creative ideas and consider innovative concepts, as the competition is still low, and there’s no set “standard” in the app yet. You never know; your content might just be the trend to follow in Bluesky in the future!
Want to get started on Bluesky? Try our post scheduler tool to help automate your posts!
