How to Tag Someone on Bluesky

Tagging someone on Bluesky is one of the most direct ways to pull them into a conversation, and getting it right is fundamental to building community on the platform. This guide breaks down exactly how to mention other users, shares best practices for doing it effectively, and walks you through common troubleshooting steps. You'll learn the simple mechanics and an expert's approach to using tags to grow your presence.

Why Tagging on Bluesky Matters (Besides Just Getting Someone's Attention)

On the surface, tagging - or "mentioning," as it's often called - is just a way to notify another user. But for marketers, creators, and community builders, it's a powerful tool with a much bigger purpose. An effective tagging strategy isn’t about just shouting into the void, it's about deliberately weaving connections and building relationships in public.

Think of it this way:

• It starts conversations. A tag is a direct invitation. You're not just posting content, you're asking for someone's specific input, reaction, or opinion. This transforms a one-way broadcast into a two-way dialogue, which is the foundation of genuine engagement.
• It builds community. When you tag others to give credit, share relevant information, or loop them into a thread where their expertise is valuable, you're creating a network. You signal to your audience that you're connected and that your corner of Bluesky is a place for collaborative discussion.
• It boosts visibility thoughtfully. A well-placed tag introduces your profile to another person's audience when they reply. Unlike spammy tactics, this form of visibility is earned and contextually relevant, making it far more valuable than a random follow.

Mastering how and when to tag someone is the difference between simply using the app and actively building a brand and community on Bluesky.

How to Tag Someone on Bluesky: The Step-by-Step Breakdown

The technical process of tagging a user in a post or reply is straightforward. Bluesky works similarly to other social platforms you're used to, so the learning curve is pretty gentle. Here’s exactly what to do.

Step 1: Start Your Post and Use the "@" Symbol

Whether you're creating a new post (a "skeet") or replying to someone else, start by typing the "@" symbol. This tells Bluesky that you intend to mention another user. As soon as you type it, the platform's user search function will activate.

Step 2: Begin Typing the User's Handle or Display Name

After the "@" symbol, start typing the name of the person you want to tag. You can search for them using one of two identifiers:

• Their Display Name: This is the name people see in bold on their profile (e.g., "Jane Doe"). It's not unique and can be changed.
• Their Handle: This is their unique ID on the platform, which looks like @username.bsky.social. This is the surest way to find the exact person you're looking for.

As you type, a dropdown menu will appear with suggestions matching your query. The more letters you type, the more refined the search results will become.

For example: If you were trying to tag the official Bluesky account, you could type @blue or @bsky, and they would likely appear in the suggestions.

Step 3: Select the Correct User From the Dropdown Menu

This is the most critical step. Once you see the correct user in the list, you must click or tap on their name. Simply typing out their full handle (e.g., @janedoe.bsky.social) in your post without selecting it from the menu will not create a tag. The text won't be a clickable link, and the user won't be notified.

When you select the user correctly, their handle will appear in your post as a blue, clickable link. That’s how you know it worked. You can mention multiple people in the same post by repeating this process for each person.

That's it! Once you publish your post, anyone you tagged will receive a notification directing them to the conversation.

Best Practices for Tagging: The Unwritten Etiquette of Bluesky Mentions

Knowing how to tag is easy. Knowing when and why is what sets great social media managers apart. Follow these guidelines to make sure your tags are always welcome and effective.

1. Tag with a Purpose, Not for a Crowd

Every tag should have a clear reason behind it. Before you hit "@," ask yourself: "Why am I including this person?" Good reasons include:

• Giving Credit: Are you sharing an artist's work, a developer's project, or someone's brilliant idea? Tag them so they get the credit they deserve.
• Asking a Relevant Question: If you know someone is an expert on a topic, tagging them in a genuine question is a great way to engage them.
• Continuing a Conversation: If your post is a direct continuation of a previous discussion, tagging the original participants makes perfect sense.

Avoid "tag bombing" - the act of tagging a long list of popular or unrelated accounts just to get more eyeballs on your post. It's considered spammy, rarely works, and is a quick way to get yourself muted or blocked.

2. Use Tags to Spark Dialogue, Not Just to Broadcast

A tag is an invitation. Instead of just tagging someone in a post where you share their article, add your own perspective and a question.

Weak Tag: "Cool article about marketing. @jane-doe.bsky.social"

Strong Tag: "Loved this take on organic growth by @jane-doe.bsky.social. The point about community-led feedback loops is spot on. Have you seen this strategy work well for early-stage brands?"

The second example gives Jane a clear reason to respond. It shows you actually absorbed her work and adds to the discussion, making an interaction far more likely.

3. Understand the Context: New Posts vs. Replies

Where you tag someone matters. Tagging a user in a new post is like a public announcement. You're referencing them for all your followers to see. This is great for giving shout-outs, sharing content, or asking a broad question.

Tagging someone in a reply brings them into an existing, often deeper, conversational thread. Do this when their input would be specifically valuable to the ongoing discussion. It’s a more focused way to engage.

Tagging Beyond the Basics: Link Cards and Alt Text Explained

As you get more comfortable on the platform, new questions about tagging may arise. Here are two common areas where users can get confused.

Can You Tag Someone in a Link Card?

When you paste a URL into a post, Bluesky automatically generates a "link card" - a preview of the webpage with a title, image, and short description. You cannot embed a clickable user tag inside the link card itself because that content is pulled directly from the website's metadata.

However, you absolutely can (and should!) tag relevant people in the text portion of your post that accompanies the link card. For example, if you're sharing an article written by a specific journalist, you would write your commentary in the text box and tag their handle there.

Can You Tag Someone in Alt Text?

The short answer is no. Alt text has a very specific and important purpose: accessibility. It's meant to describe the contents of an image for visually impaired users who rely on screen readers.

Attempting to tag a user in alt text won't notify them, as the system isn't designed for that. More importantly, it undermines the function of alt text, creating a confusing experience for screen reader users. Always use alt text to describe what's in the picture, and keep your tags in the main body of your post where they belong.

Troubleshooting Common Tagging Problems

Sometimes, tagging doesn't work as expected. If you run into trouble, one of these common issues is likely the culprit.

Problem: I can't find the user when I search for them.

• Check for typos: You might be misspelling their handle or display name. Remember, handles must be exact.
• You might be blocked: If a user has blocked you (or you have blocked them), you won't be able to find or mention each other. Disagreements happen, so this is always a possibility.
• The profile is deactivated: The user you're looking for may have deactivated or deleted their account.

Problem: The user handle isn't blue or clickable.

This almost always happens when you manually type out a user's full handle without clicking their name from the dropdown suggestion menu. To fix this, simply delete the plain text, re-type it, and make sure to click the correct user from the list that appears. The name will then turn into a blue, clickable link, confirming that the tag has worked.

Problem: I tagged someone, but they didn't reply.

This doesn’t necessarily mean there's a technical issue. Notifications can get noisy, and people are busy. They might have missed it, or they simply may have chosen not to engage. The best approach is to make your tags so valuable and relevant that people want to respond, but never to demand a reply.

Final Thoughts

Tagging on Bluesky is a simple feature, but using it with strategy and good etiquette can significantly enhance your social media presence. By focusing on creating genuine dialogue, giving credit where it's due, and avoiding spammy behavior, your mentions will become a powerful tool for building a thriving community around your brand or profile.

As your presence grows across Bluesky, X, and other platforms, keeping track of every mention, reply, and direct message can quickly become overwhelming. This is where we built Postbase to help. Instead of juggling a dozen apps, we put all your social conversations from every platform into a single, unified inbox. This makes community management feel organized and intentional, allowing you to respond to important mentions without letting anything fall through the cracks.