Getting Started With Bluesky: What You Need To Know About The Trendy New Platform

Text-based social media apps are not a new concept, but they are making a comeback in popularity. X, formerly known as Twitter, used to be the place to go for short text-based content, but recently other apps have been drawing in quite the audience. If you spend much time on social media, you have probably heard of Bluesky, the newest text-based app. So what is different about Bluesky, and should you explore this social network? Here is what you need to know.

What Is Bluesky?

Bluesky is a decentralized, text-based social media platform created by the former CEO of Twitter. Bluesky started back in 2019 as an invite-only app, but opened the platform to everyone in February of 2024. Although it’s been a year since Bluesky opened up the platform, it only started rising in popularity over the past few months.

Why Is Bluesky Becoming Popular?

One of the biggest factors driving users to Bluesky is X’s recent ownership change and re-branding from Twitter. Many users on X have expressed concerns about content moderation and misinformation, encouraging them to turn to other platforms. Bluesky is decentralized, meaning that it runs on a system that is not controlled by any one person or organization. This gives users more control over their user experience and how they customize their feed. It also means that the workings of the network are more transparent. Many users appreciate the high engagement levels and genuine conversations on Bluesky as well. Since the platform is still fairly new, users haven’t decided on a “right” or “wrong” way to use Bluesky, opening up an authentic, unpolished space.

How Can I Use Bluesky?

If you’ve been thinking about joining Bluesky, now is a great time to do it! Although they boast over 31 million users, Bluesky makes it fairly easy to find your niche and connect with them. Positioning yourself as a thought leader helps you build those connections and grow your audience. If you have any tips and tricks for your industry, or interesting industry or company news, share it! Getting in there early helps you establish yourself before the platform gets over-saturated and allows you to engage with your audience. Bluesky also makes it easy to share outbound links, so you can share your information without your initial post being too word-y.

Bluesky offers a unique feature called starter packs that are intended to help foster community. Starter packs are build to help users find and connect with communities based on specific interests, topics, or keywords. Anyone can make a starter pack, and making one for your business can help you build your audience. Each starter pack comes with a link and a QR code you can share across your networks. Tailoring your content to a niche audience helps you reach people who are interested in what you have to offer, and helps you build deeper relationships with that group.

Bluesky is not currently allowing businesses to run ads, which means that the platform is less promotional than its competitors. This can be a great thing for your business, as it encourages authentic conversations with your audience rather than simply trying to sell them on your product or service. Since the overall tone of Bluesky tends to be pretty laid back, starting conversations with your audience and even asking their opinions on aspects of your business is encouraged. You are likely to get direct feedback that you can use to help you plan content and ads on other platforms, as well as in future business plans.

Bluesky is a welcoming platform that users seem to really enjoy, so now is the perfect time to join! With its easy navigation and engaging conversations, it is sure to quickly become a favorite and help you engage with your audience. If you already have a Bluesky account, we’d love to connect!