How to Transfer Twitter Followers to Bluesky

Thinking of moving your community from Twitter to Bluesky? You're not alone. While there isn’t a magic button to instantly transfer every follower, you can strategically guide your audience to your new profile. This guide will walk you through the practical steps for finding your existing followers, announcing your move effectively, and building a new home for your community on Bluesky.

The Hard Truth: Why You Can't "Transfer" Followers

Let's get one thing straight from the start: you cannot directly transfer your followers from X (formerly Twitter) to Bluesky. Social media platforms are walled gardens, meaning they don't allow users to export their follower list and import it elsewhere. There's no official tool or API that connects the two platforms for a seamless migration.

But don't let that discourage you. Instead of thinking of it as a "transfer," think of it as a "migration." Your goal is to make it incredibly easy and appealing for your dedicated followers to find and reconnect with you on a new platform. This process actually offers a unique advantage: the people who make the effort to follow you to Bluesky are your most engaged, loyal community members. You're not just rebuilding an audience, you're strengthening its core.

Step 1: Find Your Existing Twitter Community on Bluesky

Before you announce your move to the world, your first step should be to find the people you already know. Many of your Twitter followers are likely already on Bluesky, waiting for you to connect. Here’s how you can find them.

Use Third-Party Finder Tools

Thankfully, a few clever developers have built tools to bridge the gap between platforms. These apps work by scanning your follower and following lists on X and comparing them against a database of Bluesky users who have opted in. This is by far the most efficient way to rebuild your initial network.

One of the most popular tools for this is the Sky Follower Bridge. Here’s a general guide on how tools like this work:

1. Visit the Tool's Website: Navigate to the web-based tool. You won't need to download anything.
2. Authenticate Your Accounts: The tool will ask you to log in and grant permissions to both your X/Twitter account and your Bluesky account. This is necessary for it to read your follower lists and access your Bluesky profile. Always be mindful of the permissions you grant any third-party app.
3. Run the Scan: Once authenticated, the tool will start scanning. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the size of your following. Be patient and let it work in the background.
4. Review and Follow: After the scan is complete, you'll be presented with a list of matches - accounts on Bluesky that are also in your X network. Most of these tools provide a simple interface that lets you follow each person directly from the results page, making the process quick and easy.

Using a finder tool can give you an instant community on Bluesky before you've even made your first post. It’s the closest thing to an automated "transfer" you can get.

The Good Old-Fashioned Manual Search

Not everyone will have linked their accounts to a third-party finder tool. For a more thorough search, you’ll need to do a little manual snooping.

• Search Common Usernames: Many people use the same username across all social media platforms. Start by searching for the handles of your closest friends, colleagues, and favorite accounts. You might be surprised how many you find right away.
• Look at Who Others Are Following: Once you find a few key people from your community, check out who they are following. It’s highly likely their network will overlap with yours, leading you to discover more familiar faces.
• Check Profile Bios on X: Some users have already added their Bluesky handle to their X bio. Do a quick scan of your followers' profiles on X to see if they've shared their new social address.

Step 2: Announce Your Move and Make it Impossible to Miss You

Once you’ve found some familiar faces, it's time to let everyone else know where to find you. You need to make a clear, persistent announcement across all your channels. The easier you make it for people, the more likely they are to follow.

Craft the Perfect "Moving Announcement" Post on X

A single, well-crafted post on X can do wonders. Don't just drop your handle and call it a day. Make your announcement post attention-grabbing and informative.

• Be Clear and Direct: Your first post should be unambiguous. Start with something simple like, "Hey everyone! I'm now active on Bluesky. You can find me over there, and I'd love to connect with you."
• Share Your Full Handle and a Link: Provide both your Bluesky username (e.g., `yourhandle.bsky.social`) and the direct URL to your profile (e.g., `https://bsky.app/profile/yourhandle.bsky.social`). The link removes all friction, allowing people to click and follow in seconds.
• Give a Reason (The "Why"): Briefly explain why you're excited about Bluesky. Are you looking for more meaningful conversations? Do you like its decentralized model? Sharing your "why" gives people a reason to be excited with you and encourages them to check it out for themselves.
• Create a Visual Aid: Design a simple graphic that includes your Bluesky handle and maybe even a QR code that links to your profile. Tweets with images get significantly more attention.
• Pin It to Your Profile: Once you post your announcement, pin it to the top of your X profile. This ensures it’s the very first thing anyone sees when they visit your page, whether they're a long-time follower or a new visitor.

Don't be afraid to post this announcement more than once. The timeline moves fast, so remind your followers every few days for the first couple of weeks to catch anyone who might have missed it.

Update Your Social Media Real Estate

Your X announcement is just the start. Your Bluesky profile should be discoverable from every online touchpoint you have. This creates a network of signposts all pointing to your new home.

• Update Your X Bio: This is the most important place. Put your Bluesky handle or link directly in your bio on X.
• Link-in-Bio Tools: Update your Linktree, Carrd, or any other link-in-bio service you use to include a prominent button for Bluesky.
• Cross-Promote on Other Platforms: Add your Bluesky link to your Instagram bio, Threads bio, TikTok profile, and author bios on any blogs you contribute to.
• Email Signature: Add a link to your Bluesky profile in your email signature. It's a small but professional touch that reaches your network outside of social media.

Step 3: Make Your Bluesky Profile a Place Worth Following

Getting people to click "Follow" is only half the battle. Now you need to give them a reason to stay and engage. A successful migration depends on creating a vibrant, active presence on the new platform.

Don't Bother Following an Empty Profile

Would you follow an account with no posts? Probably not. Before you even start your big announcement campaign, seed your Bluesky profile with content. Post 5-10 engaging pieces of content first.

This could be a mix of your all-time greatest hits from Twitter and some new posts crafted just for Bluesky. It shows visitors what kind of content they can expect from you and gives them something to like or comment on right away. The first impression is everything.

Engage With the Bluesky Community Culture

Bluesky is not a carbon copy of Twitter. Its culture, at least for now, is generally more conversational, niche, and less reliant on viral broadcasting. To truly build a community here, you need to participate in it.

• Join conversations: Don't just post into the void. Reply to others, ask questions, and engage with popular topics.
• Use Feeds: Discover and participate in Custom Feeds. These are user-curated feeds based on specific topics (e.g., "Art," "Tech," "Cat Pics"). Posting to and engaging in these feeds is a great way to meet people with shared interests.
• Be yourself: Many people use Bluesky as a place for more relaxed, genuine interaction. Let your personality shine through.

A Note on Expectations

It's important to set realistic expectations. You are not going to migrate 100% of your X followers, and that's perfectly okay. Follower counts are often a vanity metric. If you bring over 10-20% of your audience, you're looking at a group of highly dedicated people who truly value what you have to say. Focus on building deep connections with this core group, and your new community will flourish.

Final Thoughts

Moving a community from Twitter to Bluesky isn't a simple, one-click action, but a multi-step process. By using smart tools to find your existing connections, creating clear and persistent announcements, and seeding your new profile with valuable content, you can successfully migrate your most dedicated followers and build a thriving new home for your community.

We know that adding a new platform while maintaining your presence on others can feel like a lot to juggle. That's why at Postbase, we designed a simple, visual calendar to help you manage your content on established platforms like X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. By scheduling your 'moving to Bluesky' announcements and keeping your other channels active seamlessly, you free up mental space to focus on what matters most: connecting with your community on their new favorite app.