Bluesky is a relatively new social media platform that you may be eyeing if you’re an app developer. It’s a decentralized social media network that many are using as an alternative to X (formerly Twitter).
But while it’s been labeled as an alternative, Bluesky does have its own ecosystem, so you should know if you’re going to thrive on it. So, let’s look at this. One tip: buy Bluesky followers to build social proof.
Why Bluesky is Different for Developers
1. Decentralization
While they have similarities, Bluesky is very different from X in one major way: it’s decentralized. The AT protocol is a decentralized standard for social media platforms. It also focuses heavily on federated systems, where individual entities work together while maintaining their independence. Therefore, developing a composable app is a must. Your app should be standalone yet able to work with Bluesky’s ecosystem.
Therefore, it’s important to make an app with these rules in mind. If you’re an app developer, be mindful that Bluesky’s infrastructure is different. If you’re commissioning an app, notify the app developer that Bluesky is very different from other social media platforms.
2. Feeds, Community, and Reach
Another reason Bluesky is different for an app developer is its customizable feeds. Bluesky lets users create various feeds and algorithms that are tailored to their interests, hobbies, and needs. Making sure that your app can fit into many of these niche feeds can help you stand out.
Speaking of niche feeds, Bluesky’s culture is more community-centric in general. You may not gain as many followers as you would on X, but the users may be more interested in reposting your content and interacting with you. There’s less of chasing the algorithm and more of building a grassroots community.
Another difference between Bluesky and X is that Bluesky doesn’t have odd rules that may destroy your reach. You don’t have to worry about putting a link in your post and having your reach throttled or about hashtags having the opposite effect.
3. It’s Smaller
Finally, a major difference is that Bluesky is that there are a lot fewer active users. Specifically, we’re talking about users who didn’t make a Bluesky account and never used it much but people who are active consistently on the platform. The number can range between 1 to 10 million users, while X has over 250 million.
While this means there are fewer users to market to, it also means less noise, which means your app can stand out if you know what you’re doing.
Promoting Your App on Bluesky
1. Crafting a Post
There is a lot of overlap between how you promote your app on other platforms and how you would on Bluesky, but as established, there are also many differences.
One example is that users don’t expect a quantity over quality approach. On X, writing the first thing that comes to your head is the norm. Meanwhile, on Bluesky, users expect more nuanced, well-crafted posts that are informative or thought-provoking.
Therefore, you don’t need to make as many posts a day. In some cases, you may post only several times a week. And when you do, give insights into your app, provide user benefits, or showcase some behind-the-scenes content.
2. What Hashtags to Use
As mentioned, Bluesky is a platform that doesn’t penalize you if you use too many hashtags, so feel free to experiment. Tags like #dev, #devsky, #indieDev, #PromoSky, and #BlueSkyApp work well. There’s usually a hashtag ending in “Sky,” like the hashtags ending with “Tok” on TikTok and “Gram” on Instagram.
3. Follow, Follow, Follow
Bluesky is not going to penalize you if you follow too much. In fact, following is one of the biggest ways people on that platform grow. Follow people who use similar hashtags to you, thought leaders in the app development world, users who have pain points that your app can fix, and so on.
4. And Interact
That said, don’t just follow and expect nothing back. Interact with the people you follow or are about to follow. Bluesky is all about community and less about “me,” so to speak. Support other app developers, even if you’re in the same field and would be considered competitors otherwise. Chances are, they’ll return the favor, as Bluesky goes both ways. Partner up with app developers and grow your brands even further.
Bluesky is the Platform for Feedback
Another way Bluesky can be useful as an app developer is that it promotes feedback much better than X. There are going to be fewer replies on your posts, but they will be much more insightful. People may leave constructive, civil feedback and want to see you grow.
Like any platform, there will be trolls, but they can be easily blocked. In fact, Bluesky retains X’s old blocking system, where if someone blocks you, the blocked person cannot see your page, posts, and replies. Making posts asking for feedback or audience participation will give you better results.
Because Bluesky is less restrictive about how you post links, it can be a great platform if you want to link users to beta-test your app or link to a form you can use to collect feedback and improve your app further.
Suppose you have a presence on other social media platforms. In that case, you may give those followers an incentive to follow you on Bluesky by offering exclusive access to certain features or forms they can use to grow your app even further. By building a community like this, you’ll gain plenty of buzz. What is great about Bluesky is that endorsements are less likely to come from an influencer and more likely to come from real users who have a genuine interest in your app.
Final Thoughts
Bluesky is a much smaller platform and is still new compared to its rivals. But that’s what makes it special. It rewards early adopters by giving them a landscape that is far less competitive. Its unique decentralized structure makes it a new frontier for app developers. And the app is more community-focused than Instagram, X, or Facebook.
As long as you craft interesting posts and learn to interact with users on the platform, you can gain a following. You should also look at hashtags and custom feeds your potential customers may be using. Bluesky will be a slow burn, but the reward can be much sweeter than other platforms.
