How to Repost on Bluesky

Knowing how to repost on Bluesky is your first step toward building a community and engaging in wider conversations on the platform. Unlike a simple like, reposting and quote posting are powerful tools that amplify content, add context, and demonstrate your value as a curator and thought leader. This guide breaks down exactly how to do both, along with strategies to use them effectively for growing your presence.

Understanding Reposts vs. Quote Posts: What’s the Difference?

If you're coming from X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky’s sharing functions will feel familiar. The app offers two primary ways to share someone else’s content, each serving a different purpose.

• Reposting: This is a direct, one-click share. Think of it as the equivalent of a "retweet." When you repost something, the original post appears in your followers' timelines, showing that you shared it. It’s a pure signal boost for the original creator and their message. There’s no room to add your own comment, you're simply amplifying what was already said.
• Quote Posting: This is the equivalent of a "quote tweet." It embeds the original post within a new post of your own. This crucial difference lets you add your own commentary, ask a question, offer a different perspective, or provide context. Your followers see your thoughts first, with the original content attached for reference.

Choosing between the two depends entirely on your goal. Do you want to endorse an idea without adding to it? Use a simple repost. Do you want to build on an idea or start a dialogue? A quote post is your best bet.

How to Repost on Bluesky: A Step-by-Step Guide

The standard repost is the quickest way to share content on the platform. It takes just two clicks and amplifies a post to your audience in its original form. Use this when you agree wholeheartedly with a post and want to share it with your network without altering or adding to its message.

Step 1: Find a Post You Want to Share

Scroll through your feed or visit a specific user's profile to find a post (or "skeet," as many users call them) that you want to amplify.

Step 2: Locate and Click the Repost Icon

Beneath every post, you'll see three icons: a reply arrow, a repost icon (two arrows forming a circle), and a heart for liking. Click the middle icon, the two cyclical arrows.

Step 3: Select "Repost" from the Menu

After clicking the icon, a small menu will pop up with two options: Repost and Quote Post. Click on "Repost."

That's it! As soon as you click, the post is instantly shared. A small green banner appears at the top of the post you just shared or a brief confirmation at the bottom depending on the platform (web vs. mobile), and a green notation above it will confirm "You reposted." Now, your followers will see this post in their Feeds. Posts that have been reposted will show a green repost icon and mention who reposted them above the content.

If you change your mind, you can just as easily undo it. Simply click the now-illuminated green repost icon and select "Undo Repost."

How to Quote Post on Bluesky: Adding Your Voice

Quote posting is where you can truly show off your personality, expertise, and perspective. By adding your own commentary, you transform a simple share into a piece of content that builds your unique brand voice. Use this feature to start conversations, offer analysis, or add a humorous twist.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Quote Posting

The process starts in an identical way to a simple repost:

Step 1: Find the Post and Click the Repost Icon

Just like before, find the post you want to feature and click the circular arrow icon below it.

Step 2: Choose "Quote Post"

From the menu that appears, this time select Quote Post instead of Repost. The app will open a new post composer window with the original post automatically embedded at the bottom.

Step 3: Write Your Own Commentary

This is your chance to shine. In the text field above the embedded post, write your comments. You can ask a question, share an analysis, tag people, or even add images and alt text just like you would for any regular Bluesky post.

Step 4: Click "Post"

Upon hitting the "Post" button, your new post will go live. Your followers will see your message first, followed by the original post you are commenting on.

When to Use a Quote Post: Practical Examples

Not sure what to say in a quote post? Here are some scenarios where they shine:

• Asking a question: If someone shares an interesting statistic, you can quote post it and say, "This is fascinating. What does everyone else think the implication of this will be?"
• Providing context: A post might share a news headline. You could quote post it with additional links or a clarification that says, "Important update, but there's some more background for those who missed the initial story."
• Cracking a joke: Funny images or comments are perfect for quote posting with a witty comment like, "This is my brain every Monday morning."
• Starting a debate: Quote post with a contrary view (respectfully!), such as: "I see the argument they're making here, but I'm not so sure. My take is..."

Strategies for Reposting Like a Pro: Grow Your Audience

Reposting isn't just about sharing content, it's strategic. When used thoughtfully, it can create growth, establish your authority, and deepen your connections with others.

Use Quote Posts to Build Community

By quote posting and tagging the original creator, you're doing more than just sharing, you're starting a conversation. It invites their audience and yours to engage with each other in the replies. This is a fantastic way to cross-pollinate audiences and build bridges between communities on the platform.

Become a Go-To Source with Curated Content

Consistently reposting and quote posting high-quality content in your niche establishes you as a trusted curator. If you're in the world of social media marketing, for example, making your feed a one-stop-shop for the latest news, analyses, and case studies by reposting experts makes you valuable. Over time, people will follow you not just for your original content, but also because they trust you to bring them the best content from all over Bluesky.

Engage with Industry Leaders Thoughtfully

Instead of just replying to an influencer with a simple message like, "Great post!", quote posting allows you to show you've actually engaged with the material. A thoughtful quote post that adds your own unique perspective signals to the original creator (and their followers) that you're a peer taking the conversation seriously. This makes you more visible and credible than a hundred generic replies.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While powerful, reposting and quote posting come with some pitfalls to watch out for:

• Don't become a repost-bot: A feed of nothing but reposts can feel impersonal and unoriginal. Ensure you balance curated content with your own original thoughts and ideas. Your followers want to hear from you, not just the people you follow.
• Avoid excessive negativity: "Dunking on" or excessively criticizing other posts through quote posting can be tempting, but it rarely builds a positive brand reputation. Use quote posts to constructively criticize, add context, or start a productive debate, not just to tear others down.
• Don't overdo it: Nobody wants to see their feed dominated by reposts from just one person. Even if the content is great, space out your shares to avoid overwhelming your audience.

Final Thoughts

Reposting and quote posting are fundamental skills on Bluesky that allow you to amplify the messages of others while adding your own unique voice to the conversation. Mastering both can help grow your community, establish your authority, and make your Bluesky experience more interactive and engaging.

As you begin to plan your Bluesky content alongside other social channels, keeping everything organized can become a huge challenge. At Postbase, we built-in a tool specifically to simplify that process, bringing all your platforms into a single, clean visual calendar. Scheduling content consistently and getting a bird's-eye view of your content plan becomes straightforward, freeing you up to focus on engagement tactics like clever quote posts.