As of May 2025, Bluesky has over 36 million users. Journalists, politicians, activists, celebrities, and everyday individuals are now using it to engage with the content and communities that matter most to them. If you're wondering whether your brand should be there too, this gui…
2
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Getting started on Bluesky is actually very easy, and it doesn't require a big time investment. You don't need to completely change your content strategy or brand voice to make it work.
3
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
All it takes are a few small tweaks. You can eventually choose to dive deeper and use Bluesky's more advanced features, but they are not necessary.
4
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
But first, why should you listen to me about this?
5
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Well, I've been on Bluesky since basically the beginning… I was account #1,216. I also set up one of the first brand accounts, back when that wasn't something anyone thought was worth doing.
6
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
My background is in social media and community growth, but nowadays I create resources that help people have a more enjoyable experience online. My hope is that I can use all the hours I've invested on Bluesky to make it more accessible to everyone else, including brands and comm…
7
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
We'll start with the basics if you're itching to jump right in, and then proceed to covering the complexities if you're ready to take things to the next level.
8
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Let's do this.
9
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
2
plaintext
Quick Start Guide
10
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
23
byteStart
0
features
0
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#bold
plaintext
1. Create your account.
11
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList
children
0
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
14
byteStart
6
features
0
uri
https://bsky.app/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Go to bsky.app and click "Create account".
1
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Choose an initial default username.
12
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
22
byteStart
0
features
0
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#bold
plaintext
2. Setup your profile.
13
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList
children
0
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Add an avatar, banner image, display name, and description.
1
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Include a link to your website in your bio.
14
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
30
byteStart
0
features
0
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#bold
plaintext
3. Connect your custom domain.
15
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList
children
0
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Usernames on Bluesky are just domain names. You get a default one to start, but if you want to look credible and trustworthy, you should likely use your own domain.
1
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
31
byteStart
6
features
0
uri
https://bsky.app/settings/account
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Go to bsky.app/settings/account and choose "Update Handle".
2
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Press the "I have my own domain" button.
3
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Update your domain's DNS settings with the records provided. If you work at a company, you may have to get your IT department to make this change for you.
4
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Wait for the DNS record changes to take effect (usually within 15 minutes, could be 24 hours).
16
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
alt
Screenshot showing how to change your handle on Bluesky
Introduce yourself, announce your latest news, or share something helpful within your niche. It's probably best to wait to do this until your handle updates to your custom domain though.
19
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
36
byteStart
0
features
0
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#bold
plaintext
5. Share about it on other channels.
20
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList
children
0
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Let your world know they can find you on Bluesky now.
21
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
41
byteStart
0
features
0
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#bold
plaintext
6. Add your Bluesky link to your website.
22
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList
children
0
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
If you have icons or links to your social media profiles on your website, add Bluesky to that list.
23
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Now, while you wait for your custom domain to finish connecting or your IT department to make the necessary configurations, let's learn more about what makes Bluesky tick.
24
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
2
plaintext
Understanding Bluesky
25
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Backstory
26
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
In 2019, the CEO of Twitter announced an internal research project called "Bluesky". The goal was to explore the feasibility of creating a decentralized internet protocol that could power Twitter and other social media platforms.
27
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
After a couple of years and an initial funding pool of $13 million contributed by Twitter, Bluesky became an independent organization with zero ties to its originator. In late 2022, Bluesky privately launched its new social media app to a small group of test users. The app was ve…
28
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
alt
Jack Dorsey's tweet announcing the Bluesky project
While you might be tempted to gloss over the decentralized technology that underlies Bluesky, learning the basics of it can be extremely helpful in both understanding part of the Bluesky culture and also tapping into the unique opportunities it can provide.
31
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
On a traditional social media site like Twitter or Facebook, all of the user data is controlled by one centralized entity — a for-profit corporation — and stored within that entity's database in a proprietary data format that will only work with their app.
32
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
If that social media app goes rogue, declines in quality, or gets bought by a billionaire, then the users don't have much of a choice in the matter... they either have to forfeit all of the followers and content they amassed over a long period of time or continue using the platfo…
33
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
The AT Protocol was built to solve this problem, and within a short period of time it has come a long way towards reaching its goals. You can now own your social networking data, take it with you, and hopefully avoid being locked into one specific app in the future.
34
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Where your data is stored
35
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
When you create an account on Bluesky, you're actually creating an AT Protocol account, even if you don't realize it. When you make a post on Bluesky, reply to another user, or like an image, all of that data gets stored in what's called your account's Personal Data Server (PDS).
36
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
The PDS is basically just a file folder containing lots of different files that get stored on a server in the cloud. You can decide which company (or even yourself) "hosts" your data, similar to how a website is hosted.
37
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
By default, new Bluesky accounts have their PDS data hosted on one of many different Bluesky servers, each of which is named after a different type of mushroom.
If Bluesky were to ever shut down or become hostile, users could move their data to a new host and still maintain all of their likes, followers, and posts.
40
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Think of it like your email provider — there are many different companies that provide email hosting services such as Gmail, Outlook, and iCloud. If you ever need or want to, you can download your email archive and contacts and import that data into another email provider.
41
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
The reason this is possible is because all of these companies chose to build their product on top of the decentralized protocols that emailing technology uses. In that sense, the AT Protocol is sort of like email but for social media.
42
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
How Bluesky is different from Twitter
43
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Many people think Bluesky is just a decentralized version of Twitter. And while that's true in some ways, Bluesky has many features that Twitter (now X) never had and likely never will have. Let's walk through each of these features and then revisit some of them later to discuss …
44
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
1. Custom feeds (algorithms)
45
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Perhaps its flagship feature, Bluesky has become famous for how it allows anyone to not only choose which algorithm their feed uses, but also build their own. Gone are the days of being forced to scroll through a non-chronological feed containing posts from random accounts you've…
46
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Bluesky comes with two optional feeds out of the box: 1) Discover, and 2) Following.
47
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Discover is Bluesky's proprietary suggestion algorithm similar to TikTok's "For You" feed. The difference of course is that no one has to use the Discover feed or even have it appear in their app at all… you can disable it completely and rely upon the Following feed, another comm…
48
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
alt
A screenshot showing a custom feed called "Fungi Friends" that filters posts about mushrooms
After the AT Protocol launched, there was a lot of talk about the concept of "composable moderation", which basically just means a suite of tools and infrastructure that would let anyone provide moderation services on top of the network.
51
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
72
byteStart
64
features
0
uri
https://bsky.app/profile/blacksky.app
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
One of the most well known examples of this is a service called Blacksky which provides a space for Black community building. Users can report posts/content to this third-party service and filter content out of their feeds based on it instead of Bluesky's official moderation.
52
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
alt
A screenshot showing Blacksky's moderation labeler interface
There's even a moderation service that automatically detects and flags posts that contain screenshots from other prominent social networks like X, allowing users to hide this content from their feeds completely. So, cross-posting by using screenshots might not be the wisest idea.
Bluesky also has "moderation lists" that any user can create and subscribe to. On a basic level, these are just lists of accounts, but you can use them to automatically block or mute accounts in bulk with one tap. For instance, there are a series of semi-popular moderation lists …
55
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
3. Labelers + content filters
56
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Connected to third-party moderation services are a special tool called "labelers". What is a labeler? Well, it applies labels to things.
57
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
There are moderation labelers that allow you to hide, warn, or filter posts/accounts based on specific labels (i.e. like the screenshot labeler mentioned earlier), but then there are also vanity labelers that allow users to self-identify with communities, causes, and more by appl…
58
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
51
byteStart
24
features
0
uri
https://bsky.app/profile/eras.bsky.sh
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
For instance, there's a vanity labeler for Swifties that lets them add a little "flair" to their profile in the form of their favorite Taylor Swift Era. Custom labelers of all types and sizes can be created by anyone, though the process to do so is still quite technical at this t…
59
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
alt
A screenshot showing the Taylor Swift Eras vanity labeler interface
Ever been frustrated when joining a new app and learning that your username of choice has already been taken? On Bluesky, this problem is not nearly as significant thanks to the fact that all usernames on the network are actually domain names.
62
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
94
byteStart
78
features
0
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#code
plaintext
When you create a new account, you can get a default username that looks like name.bsky.social, but you can (and should) set up your own because brands and creators without default names are sometimes seen as potential impersonators.
63
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Using your own domain name is a way to self-verify your account's legitimacy. For instance, NPR (National Public Radio) has the username of @npr.org, which is also its official website. Only the owner of the domain can possibly set it as a Bluesky username, so you know with confi…
64
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
You can also set up subdomains as usernames, so you could set up team member accounts such as name.brand.team. Bluesky itself does this for many of its employees — check out the CEO's handle: @jay.bsky.team
In addition to being able to self-verify your account via your domain name, there is also a unique verification system run by Bluesky that functions similarly to the original "blue check" from Twitter before it became X. While it may look the same on the surface though, there's a…
68
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Bluesky can issue blue check verifications like you would expect, but it also can designate a third-party organization like the New York Times to be considered a "Trusted Verifier", meaning that there are now multiple independent sources for verification. At launch, there are onl…
69
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
alt
A screenshot showing Paul Frazee's verified account on Bluesky
Furthermore, the underlying technology that makes this system possible is completely composable, meaning that any user on the network can issue a "verification" record for any other account and theoretically become a "Trusted Verifier" themself.
71
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
137
byteStart
126
features
0
uri
https://deer.social/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
While the odds of this are relatively low in the official Bluesky app, there are already third-party Bluesky client apps like deer.social that allow you to fully customize and set your own list of "Trusted Verifiers". This means that you could have blue check marks appear next to…
72
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
6. Free, open API
73
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Twitter used to have a free and relatively open stream of public data that was accessible via an API (Application Programming Interface), but when Elon Musk took over, he quickly shut this API down and started charging exorbitant prices to access the data.
74
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
If you're unsure of what an API is or why it's significant, just compare the vibrant ecosystem of third-party integrations and applications that exists on Bluesky with what X has today... Bluesky is like a lush beautiful garden filled with lots of diverse plant life, and X is a v…
75
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
An API is merely a highway that developers and creators can use to retrieve and send data. With Bluesky, that highway is open, free, and lets you explore the world. With X, only the wealthiest can drive on the highway and there are speed traps everywhere.
76
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
An open and free API means an environment friendly to innovation, network effects, and the public good.
77
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
7. Everything is public
78
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Speaking of the public, almost everything you do on Bluesky at the moment is publicly accessible data (even blocks and likes!). This won't matter that much to brands, organizations, and creators who explicitly want their content to be public, but it might matter to some of the pe…
79
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
8. In-app media players
80
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
On most social platforms, sharing a YouTube or Spotify link won't play the media directly within the app. Instead, users have to leave the platform and open YouTube or Spotify to watch or listen. On Bluesky, this isn't the case. You can listen to music or watch embedded videos wi…
81
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
9. No outbound link suppression
82
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Since we're on the subject of sharing links, now's a great time to mention that another defining and powerful feature of Bluesky is that its "Discover" feed algorithm doesn't suppress and down rank content that contains links to outside websites. This is huge for companies, brand…
83
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
10. Starter packs
84
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
One of the difficult parts of joining a new social network is finding accounts that share your common interests and values. Bluesky tackled this issue by introducing an industry-first that was soon copied by Meta/Instagram: Starter Packs.
85
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
At their core, Starter Packs are hand-curated lists of accounts that anyone can make. Each starter pack even has an invite-link attached to it. By sharing a Starter Pack with someone, they can create a new Bluesky account and follow a bunch of relevant accounts instantly.
86
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
This feature works especially well for community building, whether that's for a city (Boston!), a fandom (kpop!), or even bicycle riders. If you're a brand, you could set up a Starter Pack that has your entire team in it or trusted industry voices.
87
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
alt
A screenshot showing the Starter Pack interface on Bluesky
Hidden under the surface of Bluesky are a plethora of user customizations that apply to the "Following" feed (the reverse-chronological feed of just posts from accounts someone follows) and beyond. For instance, you can disable seeing reposts, quote posts, and replies.
90
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Within threads, you have the option of ordering the replies however you want: most liked, oldest, newest, prioritize following, hot, or even random (aka "Poster's Roulette").
91
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
alt
A screenshot showing the feed preferences interface on Bluesky
Not only can you turn off replies to your Bluesky posts, but you can also customize reply permissions in extremely granular ways. For instance, you can specify that only users on a custom list can contribute to the conversation or make it so that someone has to be following you i…
94
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Additionally, you can prevent people from quote-posting your content completely. Both of these features are even available to apply retroactively.
95
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
13. Nuclear block
96
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Bluesky has intentionally tried to cultivate an environment where users have more control over who can interact with them. One of the ways they achieved this is through what is colloquially known as the Nuclear Block.
97
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
If two people are having a conversation on Bluesky and one blocks the other, the entire conversation thread becomes hidden from view for everyone else. This feature is a bit controversial, having divided the community into two camps: people who love it and people who hate it. The…
98
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
14. Paragraph breaks in bios
99
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Lastly, it's a small detail, but Bluesky profiles offer flexible bio formatting, making it easy to create a clean, readable description without needing tedious tricks or workarounds. There is no dedicated field for links, but you can add as many as the character limit will allow.
100
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Audience and Culture
101
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Over the course of Bluesky's two-year history, its culture has shifted as the network has become more populated. When there were only several thousands users, the space reflected the industry it sprang out of, so it was very centered on the United States' technology scene.
102
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Eventually, there were growth periods that were dominated by other countries such as Japan or Brazil, with the latter case happening due to X temporarily abandoning Brazilian users entirely.
103
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
The biggest growth event that the network has experienced so far though was in the days surrounding the 2024 United States presidential election, at which point millions of people created new Bluesky accounts in an effort to migrate off of big tech social networks like Facebook, …
104
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
In the months that followed, many people mistakenly started to assume that Bluesky had effectively become a politically left-leaning platform just for democrats. In reality, the culture of Bluesky is so multi-faceted at this point that it really doesn't make sense to think about …
105
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
There isn't a singular "Bluesky Culture" anymore. The user base is made up of millions of people from all over the world with an innumerable number of niche interests.
106
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Start thinking about Bluesky as a diverse system of hundreds (if not thousands) of large to small sub-cultures. Approaching the network with this perspective will better prepare you for all the different types of people you likely will encounter on any given day, and it will help…
107
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Why people use Bluesky
108
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
While it's true that Bluesky is hard to pin-down culturally, there are a variety of big ideas that tend to attract people to it and influence it on a monocultural level. Keeping these themes in mind might help you avoid some faux paus.
109
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
1. It's an open, decentralized, interoperable network.
110
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
For the past two decades, most people have only experienced an online social network that is both centralized and closed. Platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and X became known for trying to keep people on their apps for as long as possible to make money from advertisements, even if…
111
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
As the years went on and the user experience continued to degrade, more and more people started to be fed up. A new future began to be conceived of, and experimental versions of alternative social apps started to gain some traction. The properties that defined these platforms wer…
112
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
5
plaintext
A. Open
113
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
A significant portion of the network's data is publicly accessible via open APIs and storage. Additionally, anyone can create and host their own account.
114
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
5
plaintext
B. Decentralized
115
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
The network is designed and implemented in such a way that one centralized entity can't own or control everything within it. Decentralization exists on a spectrum, but in general a decentralized social network will be accessible from many different apps called "clients" and the d…
116
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
5
plaintext
C. Interoperable
117
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
An "interoperable" network means that the data and features that exist in one place can be easily used in many different places. A simple example of this would be multiple different apps that rely on the same user profile data. For instance, you would login to a new app, and it c…
118
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
2. There aren't any ads… yet.
119
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
One of the primary reasons traditional corporations implement user-hostile things like link suppression and intrusive algorithms is to maintain their revenue model: advertising. Their primary incentive is to keep users in their apps for as long as possible at all costs.
120
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
With Bluesky, a traditional advertising model is not nearly as feasible or sustainable due to the underlying protocol's design and open nature. If Bluesky began having advertisements in their app, people could easily choose to consume the same content through the "window" of a th…
121
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
In this situation, the primary way to keep people using your app (and even get them to pay for it!) is to offer an unparalleled positive experience with quality features. This framework better aligns the company's incentives to be in step with the users' needs.
122
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
This isn't to say that advertising will never exist within Bluesky, but at the very least it won't manifest in the exact same way as it has in the past.
123
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
3. There's more control.
124
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
One of the many benefits of an open and interoperable network is that users have greater control over their individual experiences. Bluesky empowers users with a significantly higher degree of agency in comparison to traditional social platforms.
125
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
This reality also contributes to Bluesky's multicultural environment... for any given user that you meet, you can't assume that they are engaging with the network using the same "lens" that you are.
126
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
4. It's not "big tech".
127
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Given the fact that almost all of the major social media platforms in the United States have decided to align themselves with specific government administrations and policy proposals, even to extreme degrees, many people are uncomfortable spending their time with products made by…
128
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Now that you have a solid understanding of Bluesky, its underlying technology, and its multifaceted community, you're ready to start thinking about how you can practically fit into the equation.
129
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
2
plaintext
Achieving Growth and Engagement
130
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
386
byteStart
346
features
0
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#bold
plaintext
If you're reading this guide, then you're probably not on Bluesky just to have fun and blow off steam. You're likely an organization or a public figure that has a product, service, or cause that you need to promote to achieve your goals. In order to do that, you need to get peopl…
131
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Attracting followers wasn't easy on traditional social media, so it's not easy on a decentralized network like Bluesky either. Plus, there aren't many ways to do advertising on Bluesky, so you can't reliably use "paid media" to force your way into peoples' attention spans.
132
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Instead, you have to provide valuable content that gets spread organically. This guide won't be teaching you how to do that, but it will be showing you how to apply that content creation to the unique context of Bluesky in a way that maximizes its potential.
133
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Formatting and packaging your content for Bluesky
134
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
1. Use links directly, without any weird hacks
135
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
As we've discussed in previous sections, Bluesky does not suppress outbound links to other websites. This means that you don't need to perform the same algorithmic gymnastics just to sneak in a link to your website. Instead of making a main post and then following up with a reply…
136
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
If you were to keep using the workarounds that are required on other platforms, many Bluesky users might see your activity as half-hearted, ignorant, or even cringe. On Bluesky, people like links and don't want to have to go searching for them in weird places.
137
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
❌ Don't: 'Great article! (link in bio)'
138
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
✅ Do: 'Great article on sustainable fashion: [direct link]'
139
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
2. If you post images, always include alt text
140
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
More so than in other places, a significant part of Bluesky's culture cares a lot about web accessibility. By including alt text on your images, you're being inclusive to people with certain disabilities, but you're also making your content more discoverable because alt text is i…
141
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
For instance, if you post a screenshot of a document or promotional graphic, you should include all of that content as alt text too. If you didn't do this, then your post would not end up in relevant search results where it otherwise could and should. There are even Bluesky users…
142
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
3. Be conservative and mindful with your hashtag usage
143
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
While hashtags are supported on Bluesky and used in many different contexts, including them in all of your posts can be seen as a desperate attempt for attention and a form of engagement hacking in many spheres. Depending on your industry and context though, the usage of hashtags…
144
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
4. Consider the variables or conditions of relevant topical feeds
145
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Remember, Bluesky doesn't just have one algorithmic feed. It has a limitless number of customizable user-generated algorithms in addition to its default "Discover" algorithm. Many people disable the default algorithm completely and choose to rely upon more niche or topical feeds …
146
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
For instance, there are community-controlled feeds dedicated to lovers of mushrooms/fungi, web development, and academic research. Each of these feeds has a custom algorithm with different conditions/rules that dictates which posts or content show up in the feed (this is often a …
147
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Be warned though, if your activity violates the norms or rules of a custom feed, your entire account could get banned from ever appearing in it again. Don't be a bad actor.
148
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
5. There is no edit button, so spell-check your content carefully
149
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Most social platforms these days allow for editing a post if you make a typo or need to add something after the fact. Bluesky does not currently support this feature. While it is technically possible to edit posts under the hood on the protocol level, doing so is a bit technical,…
150
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
6. You can embed videos and audio from some third-party services directly in a post
151
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
While it doesn't make sense to post a YouTube link on Twitter/X anymore because of suppression, Bluesky embraces offsite media content and allows users to watch/listen without ever leaving the app. At the time of writing, the following services are supported: YouTube, Vimeo, Twit…
152
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Leveraging Bluesky's unique features for growth and engagement
153
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
1. Labelers (Advanced/Expert)
154
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
A Labeler is a customizable integration that can be used to display helpful information within the Bluesky app. They are used to apply textual and visual labels to either specific accounts or specific posts. These labels are only visible to users who "Subscribe" to the Labeler, m…
155
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
While Labelers were originally designed as a "serious" moderation tool, they have now evolved to include even more casual or even silly use cases. For instance, the official Bluesky company released a Super Bowl Labeler for the 2025 Super Bowl which allowed users to apply a label…
156
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Other Labelers use more advanced technology to automatically analyze and categorize accounts/posts based on publicly available data.
157
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
alt
Screenshot of the Bikesky Labeler showing a profile with a "Cyclist" label applied
Let's say you are a video game studio with a beloved game that has many different playable characters. You could create a Labeler that would allow your community members to tag their profile with their preferred character's name. Or, maybe you are a coffee shop chain and want to …
159
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Here is a list of some different Labelers to give you more inspiration and ideas:
Creating your own Labeler is not user-friendly at the moment though, but it is possible if you have some coding/development skills. To get you started check out this Github Repository that a community member created to serve as a starter kit for creating a Labeler.
162
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
2. Feeds (Easy/Moderate)
163
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
132
byteStart
120
features
0
uri
https://graze.social/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
One of the most popular, powerful, and relatively easy things you can do is create a custom feed using the no-code tool graze.social. In fact, I would recommend creating at least two different feeds: 1) an internal feed you use for actively listening for mentions of your brand, p…
164
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
The internal feed is designed to include only mentions of your brand name, links to your website, or important keywords for monitoring trends. You, your social media manager, or customer support team can use this feed to stay on top of feedback or community questions. Keep in min…
165
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
The public feed is your brand's contribution to the community. It should be a highly valuable feed that displays curated or relevant posts from other accounts that are about or adjacent to your niche. This feed shouldn't be specifically for just the people that are aware of you, …
166
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
By doing this, you're providing a valuable free service to people and getting your brand name out there at the same time. Be tactful in how you promote yourself though using this method, most people are not going to be interested in a feed that is created or managed in a way that…
167
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
alt
Screenshot of the Graze.social feed editor interface showing various filtering options
As a reminder, Starter Packs are just curated lists of Bluesky accounts that you're recommending other folks check out or follow. They are helpful for sending to new community members or onboarding people to Bluesky itself. When you send a Starter Pack link to someone, they can e…
170
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
When thinking about creating your own Starter Packs, one simple option would be to create a Starter Pack with prominent public-facing members of your organization or team that you want people to also follow.
171
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Another idea would be to curate a list of adjacent brands and content creators within your niche. For instance, if you are a fashion designer, then you could put together a list of other prominent designers and clothing labels within your industry. There's a chance your Starter P…
172
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
You can even include up to three custom feeds in a Starter Pack, so people can use them to find the feeds you created earlier as well.
173
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
alt
Screenshot of the Boston Starter Pack showing various city department accounts that can be followed
While the primary purpose of domain names as usernames on Bluesky is for self-verification purposes, people have begun using subdomains for community identification and recognition. A subdomain is when you see a normal domain like example.com but it has an extra part tacked on at…
176
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
588
byteStart
577
features
0
uri
https://handles.net/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
For instance, Taylor Swift fans can get their very own free username that uses the swifties.social domain, making it easy for other Swifties to identify them as part of the group. So your username could be @hannah.swifties.social. The Bluesky team itself uses this for some of the…
177
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Case Studies
178
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
The City of Boston
179
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
35
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://bsky.app/profile/boston.gov
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
https://bsky.app/profile/boston.gov
180
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
The most populous city in the commonwealth of Massachusetts is also one of the most active municipalities on Bluesky currently. Boasting over two dozen interconnected government-owned accounts, Boston's embrace of Bluesky is a great blueprint for how a large entity could join the…
181
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
268
byteStart
258
features
0
uri
https://boston.gov/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Each of their major city departments has its own Bluesky account with consistent branding and official usernames that are self-verified using the subdomain system. Anyone can instantly recognize a Boston account as being official because they all end in the boston.gov domain name…
182
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Boston even has a unified custom feed that you can follow to see just city updates across all departments in one timeline, clutter free.
183
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
Bikesky
184
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
39
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://bsky.app/profile/bikesky.social
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
https://bsky.app/profile/bikesky.social
185
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
A bicycle rider named Derek van Vliet took it upon himself to organize a community on Bluesky for bike enthusiasts. He called it "Bikesky", and it now has over 12,000 followers. It also supports almost every single one of Bluesky's unique features such as custom feeds, labelers, …
186
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
The Bikesky labeler lets a community member add a tag to their profile to display what kind of bike enthusiast they are. These labels range from "Tandem Bike Partner", "Recumbent Rider", to even "Folding Bike Fan". This tool makes it easy for community members to recognize and co…
187
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Bikesky even has over a dozen custom feeds so that bike enjoyers can find niche content created within the biking community. Many of these feeds gather/curate posts automatically by matching the #Bikesky hashtag.
The popular online music platform for independent recording artists known as Bandcamp recently launched a first-of-its-kind integration with Bluesky that allows its Pro users to set their Bluesky username to be their Bandcamp subdomain such as artist.bandcamp.com. It's unclear ho…
191
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
2
plaintext
Analyzing and Measuring success
192
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Once you've started posting on Bluesky, there might come a time where you need to see if what you're doing is having any effect. How you go about investigating this will largely depend on your specific goals and needs, but in general here are some of the key areas you can pay att…
193
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList
children
0
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Follower count
1
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Engagements received (likes, reposts, replies, mentions)
2
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Engagement rate
3
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Website traffic from Bluesky
194
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Unlike other major social media platforms, Bluesky does not yet offer in-app analytics or social media management features that you might be accustomed to. Thanks to its free and public API though, dozens of third-party social media management tools have popped up that can help f…
195
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
While most of these tools are free for anyone to use, they vary widely in terms of the quality and set of features they provide. The right combination of tools for you will depend on what you're trying to accomplish or track. If you're a for-profit business with a marketing budge…
196
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Analytics
197
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList
children
0
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
13
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://blueskymeter.com/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Bluesky Meter
1
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
6
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://skykit.blue/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Skykit
2
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
8
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://blueview.app/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Blueview
3
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
6
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://skyzoo.blue/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Skyzoo
4
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
15
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://cred.blue/alt-text
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Alt Text Rating
5
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
6
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://fedica.com/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Fedica
6
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
17
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://besttimetopost.blue/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Best time to post
198
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Note: there is no way to count the number of views/impressions that a Bluesky post gets. The core metrics for a post are limited to likes, replies, quotes, and reposts.
199
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Cross-posting and Scheduling
200
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList
children
0
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
6
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://buffer.com/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Buffer
1
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
6
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://fedica.com/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Fedica
2
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
10
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://coschedule.com/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
CoSchedule
201
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Monitoring
202
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList
children
0
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
9
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://deck.blue/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
deck.blue
1
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
12
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://graze.social/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
graze.social
2
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
8
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://clearsky.app/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
ClearSky
203
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Utilities
204
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList
children
0
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
16
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://bsky-follow-finder.theo.io/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Network Analyzer
1
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
11
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://skeetbeaver.pages.dev/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Skeetbeaver
2
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
4
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://boat.kelinci.net/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
Boat
205
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
2
plaintext
Risk Mitigation
206
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
The internet is a wonderful place, but it can sometimes be difficult to navigate safely thanks to the fact that humans are complicated and don't always get along well. They have differing (sometimes opposing) viewpoints, cultural norms, and expectations for everything under the s…
207
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Sensitive Topics
208
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
In addition to all of the usual touchy subjects in social settings such as politics and religion, Bluesky in particular has several vocal sub communities that are critical or outright opposed to the following issues:
If your brand provides products or content that cover any of these topics, keep in mind that you could encounter some pushback or even aggression in the replies to your posts at times. You can reduce the degree to which this becomes an issue by communicating clearly and being pre…
211
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Mitigation Strategies
212
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
Safety features
213
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
One approach to risk mitigation is through effective use of Bluesky's safety features, as well as a few third-party tools. Let's briefly take a look at each technique so that you'll understand how they work.
214
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
When using these features, it is important to remember that the way in which you use them can sometimes make matters worse if you don't know what you're doing. Also, I don't reference the "mute" feature here because I don't typically recommend brands mute people because you will …
215
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
5
plaintext
Post Interaction Settings (Thread gates)
216
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
At any moment you can change who is able to reply to or quote your posts. If a potentially risky or sensitive post starts getting traction outside of your direct audience, you could always preemptively restrict who has permission to reply and quote in order to avoid unwanted enga…
217
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
alt
Screenshot showing Bluesky's post interaction settings interface, which allows you to control who can reply to or quote your posts
While it's generally best to let anyone reply to a post, there are plenty of scenarios in which it would make sense to add restrictions. You can even limit replies to specific groups of users by making custom lists.
And if you find yourself in an extreme scenario, there's even a third-party tool that helps you limit the replies on all of your past posts in bulk.
220
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
5
plaintext
Blocks and blocklists
221
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
For organization or company accounts, it's typically best to avoid blocking people because it could make your brand be perceived negatively, so proceed with caution.
222
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
If you're a content creator, influencer, or personality, then utilizing the block feature is much more acceptable and likely not to create any public relation issues. Your mental health and safety matters a lot, so protect yourself as needed.
223
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
124
byteStart
116
features
0
uri
https://clearsky.app/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
All this being said, you should know that your blocks and blocklists are public data, so anyone can use a tool like Clearsky to see who you're trying to keep away.
224
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
5
plaintext
Hide replies for everyone
225
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
If you've chosen to let anyone reply to your posts, you might encounter a scenario in which someone says something in the comments that you don't want to be publicly attached to your content. In these situations, you can easily hide a reply for everyone. There are ways to find th…
226
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
If you're experiencing a pile-on or targeted harassment, my recommendation is to disable replies from accounts you don't follow, disable quote-posts, and then hide any replies that you don't want featured next to your content.
227
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Active Monitoring
228
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
To stay ahead of the curve, you might want to consider utilizing a few third-party tools that can give you insight into how people are talking about your brand or industry.
229
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
Custom Feeds
230
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
132
byteStart
127
features
0
uri
https://www.graze.social/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
The simplest approach to begin active monitoring is by creating a special "brand mentions" feed using a feed builder tool like Graze which we talked about earlier. This is a unified feed that can be configured granularly to show you a lot more than what the "mentions" part of you…
231
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList
children
0
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
@ mentions of your brand accounts
1
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
mentions of your brand name that aren't explicitly tagged with an @
2
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.unorderedList#listItem
content
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
posts containing links that contain your domain name
232
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
You could even configure a "competitors" feed that displays similar information but for one of your key competitors if you want to stay in the loop with what's happening to them.
233
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
Firehose/Jetstream
234
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
177
byteStart
122
features
0
uri
https://docs.bsky.app/blog/jetstream
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
For larger brands and organizations with development resources and heightened monitoring needs, you can directly tap into the live stream of raw data flowing through the network to get virtually instantaneous alerts. This mechanism is commonly referred to as accessing the Bluesky…
235
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
BluNotify
236
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
253
byteStart
244
features
0
uri
https://bluenotify.app/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
The official Bluesky app currently only serves push notifications for certain things like new likes, reposts, and mentions. If you're in need of getting alerts when a specific account posts something new, you can download a separate app called BluNotify which seems to have reliab…
While the name is focused upon one specific feature, this third-party app actually offers a variety of monitoring features in addition to just showing you when an account unfollows you. You can also see blocks, when people deactivate, or when accounts are banned.
239
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
Clearsky
240
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
facets
0
index
byteEnd
9
byteStart
0
features
0
uri
https://clearsky.app/
$type
pub.leaflet.richtext.facet#link
plaintext
This tool was mentioned earlier in the guide, but it can be helpful for brands as a monitoring application because you're able to see all the lists your account has been put on as well as all the accounts that are blocking you. If you notice a huge spike out of the blue in the nu…
241
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Behavioral approaches
242
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
Defuse
243
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
In the event that you feel like you must actually engage with a negative comment, it's usually best to not "fight back". Attempt to de-escalate rather than poking the hornet's nest, and don't try to "silence" someone or move them to a private channel... doing so will often just g…
244
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
Ignore
245
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Try to ignore negative posts if they are coming from an audience that isn't your audience or that doesn't impact your audience. Spending energy on these efforts is likely a waste of time and a distraction from your mission.
246
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
4
plaintext
Introspect
247
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
When you go to make a post about a topic that might be sensitive, think carefully about how you word what you say. Actively try to see your own words in the worst possible light because this is how some people will be perceiving them.
248
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.header
level
3
plaintext
Community guidelines
249
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Lastly, be aware of Bluesky's rules and make sure you don't violate them.
While Bluesky has only been on the social media scene for a tiny fraction of the industry's history, it has already made significant strides towards creating a more consumer-friendly platform and foundation upon which a healthier system could emerge.
253
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
Establishing yourself as a brand or creator early in the journey positions you for the potential benefits that could come if the AT Protocol succeeds in its mission.
254
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
With that being said, you should likely still maintain some sort of a presence on other networks in the meantime. Bluesky is still relatively small in comparison to legacy platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, so it probably can't meet all your communication needs jus…
255
$type
pub.leaflet.pages.linearDocument#block
block
$type
pub.leaflet.blocks.text
plaintext
The information contained in this guide will hopefully get you started, and I will do my best to provide updates as new features come out and dynamics evolve. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below or in the replies to my post on Bluesky.