How to Gain Traction on Bluesky

Jumping into Bluesky can feel like showing up to a cool, low-key party where you don't know anyone yet - but you want to. If you’re trying to build a presence there, you’ve probably noticed that the strategies from other platforms don’t always translate. This guide breaks down exactly what works on Bluesky right now, giving you actionable steps to find your audience, create content that connects, and start gaining real traction.

First, Understand the Bluesky Vibe

Before you post anything, it’s important to absorb the culture. Bluesky isn’t X (formerly Twitter), it’s not LinkedIn, and it’s definitely not Instagram. The overall atmosphere is more relaxed, conversational, and community-driven. Think of it as a return to the earlier days of social media, where genuine interaction mattered more than polished brand messaging.

People on Bluesky tend to value:

• Authenticity over polish: Heavily curated, overly professional content often falls flat. Users appreciate a more human, behind-the-scenes feel.
• Conversation over broadcasting: Simply dropping links to your blog or announcing product updates won't get you far. The real growth comes from participating in discussions and adding value to existing conversations.
• Niche communities: Bluesky’s structure, particularly its custom feeds, is built to help small, passionate groups find each other. Leaning into a specific interest is more effective than trying to appeal to everyone.
• Humor and creativity: The platform has a playful energy. Memes, witty observations, and creative posts generally perform very well.

Spend your first few days just observing. Lurk in conversations, check out popular feeds in your areas of interest, and get a feel for the rhythm before you dive in. This initial investment of time will save you from making early mistakes that signal you don't "get" the platform.

Setting Up Your Profile for Success

Your profile is your digital handshake on Bluesky. It's the first thing people see when they’re deciding whether to follow you or engage with your content. Make it count.

Choose a Clear Handle and Display Name

Your handle (@yourname.bsky.social) should be simple and recognizable. If you’re building a personal brand, use your name. If it’s for a business, use your business name. Your display name can be more descriptive. For example, your display name could be "Jane Doe | Social Media Strategist" or "Crafty Co. 🧶 Knitting Supplies." This gives immediate context to anyone who stumbles upon your profile.

Write a Bio That Connects

Your bio isn’t a resume, it's an introduction. Avoid corporate jargon. Instead, use it to quickly tell people who you are, what you’re interested in, and what they can expect from your posts. A great formula is:

• Who you are/what you do: "I’m a landscape painter," "Founder of XYZ startup," "Host of a podcast about comic books."
• What topics you post about: "...sharing my art process, thoughts on creativity, and love for hiking."
• A touch of personality: "Powered by coffee," "Probably watching a horror movie," "Collector of rare plants."

Use High-Quality Profile and Header Images

A blurry profile picture looks unprofessional and untrustworthy. Use a clear, well-lit headshot where your face is visible. People connect with people, and seeing who they're talking to helps build rapport.

The header image is prime real estate to add more personality or context. You could use it to showcase your work, feature a photo that represents your brand’s values, or simply use a visually appealing image that aligns with your niche.

Your Content Playbook: Creating Posts That Resonate

Once your profile is set, it’s time to start posting (or "skeeting," as it's called on the platform). The key to gaining traction isn’t about posting constantly, it’s about posting content that gets people to stop scrolling and engage.

Engage First, Broadcast Second

This is the most important rule on Bluesky. Before you worry about your own content calendar, make a habit of replying to others. Find people and brands in your niche and jump into their conversations. Add a thoughtful comment, ask a follow-up question, or share a relevant experience. Early on, at least 50% of your activity should be replies.

Why? Because replies are the fastest way to become visible to a relevant audience. When you leave a smart comment on a larger account's post, their entire audience sees your name and contribution. It’s the digital equivalent of being introduced to a room full of people by a well-known friend.

The Anatomy of a Great Bluesky Post ("Skeet")

Good "skeets" usually fall into one of these categories. Try to mix it up to keep your feed interesting.

• Open-Ended Questions: Ask your audience for their opinion, advice, or experiences. Examples: "What's one tool you can't live without in your workflow?" or "Best sci-fi book you’ve read this year? Go!"
• Behind-the-Scenes Glimpses: Show your workspace, a project in progress, or a "day in the life" moment. This kind of content feels authentic and helps build a personal connection.
• Valuable Insights or Tips: Share a quick tip, a surprising statistic, or a lesson learned. Make it genuinely helpful and easily digestible. No massive walls of text.
• Humor and Relatability: Share a funny observation, a relatable struggle, or a light-hearted meme related to your industry. Humor is a universal connector.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Instead of just talking about your work, show it. Post photos, quick videos, or an interesting chart. Visual content almost always outperforms plain text. Leverage alt text on your images to make your content accessible - the community highly values this.

Unlock Explosive Growth with Custom Feeds

This is Bluesky’s secret weapon. Custom feeds are curated streams of posts created by users, often centered around a specific topic. Think of them as user-made discovery algorithms. If your content gets picked up by a popular feed, your visibility can skyrocket overnight.

How to Find and Use Custom Feeds

You can find feeds by going to the "Feeds" section of the app. Look for feeds that are relevant to your interests or industry. Popular feeds might include things like "What's Hot Classic," "Art," "Tech News," or more niche feeds like "Gardening" or "Cat Pics."

Your Action Plan:

1. Subscribe and Participate: Subscribe to 5-10 feeds relevant to your niche. Spend time reading what gets posted there and engaging with the content. This is a goldmine for finding like-minded people to connect with.
2. Understand the Keywords: Many feeds work by pulling in posts that contain specific keywords or phrases. Pay attention to the feed's description. If you’re a photographer, the photography feed might look for posts with "#photography" or "photo." Start using those keywords naturally in your relevant posts.
3. Create Your Own Feed: Once you're comfortable, consider creating your own feed for a micro-niche. For example, if you are a baker in Toronto, you could create a "Toronto Bakes" feed. This positions you as a community curator and a go-to person in your space.

Getting your content featured on a popular feed is far more impactful than trying to "go viral" on the main timeline. Focus your energy here.

Common Pitfalls: What Not to Do on Bluesky

Gaining traction is just as much about avoiding mistakes as it is about implementing the right strategies. Steer clear of these common missteps:

• The "Link Drop": Don't just paste a link to your latest blog post or product with no context. If you want to share a link, introduce it first. Tell people why it’s worth clicking.
• Being Overly Promotional: Avoid posts that sound like advertisements. The "hard sell" doesn't work on Bluesky. Instead, aim to be helpful, informative, and entertaining. Your expertise will naturally attract customers.
• Ignoring Replies: If someone takes the time to reply to your post, reply back! Ignoring engagement is the fastest way to get people to stop interacting with you. Community management is not optional.
• Jumping on Every Trend: Stick to your lane. It can be tempting to engage with every popular topic, but your audience follows you for your specific area of interest. Stay focused.

Final Thoughts

Gaining traction on Bluesky is less about chasing algorithms and more about building genuine connections within a community. By understanding the platform's unique culture, optimizing your profile, engaging in conversations, and strategically using custom feeds, you can build a meaningful and engaged following.

Adding a new platform like Bluesky to your lineup while still managing everything on Instagram, TikTok, and X can get overwhelming fast. To keep our own content organized without jumping between apps all day, we built Postbase. It gives us a central calendar to plan and schedule everything, which has been a lifesaver for staying consistent everywhere and lets our team focus on the creative work instead of just juggling logins.