Updated 2 November 2026. First published in 2025.
Bluesky has emerged as a fresh and innovative platform that sets itself apart from traditional networks like X, Instagram and Facebook.
As an open social network, Bluesky fosters transparency, accessibility and user independence. It opened to the public, without the need for an invite, in February 2024.
Bluesky began as a project backed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, with the aim of creating a decentralised social media experience that emphasises user control, privacy and community engagement.
Unlike traditional platforms, Bluesky is built so that no single organisation owns the network, keeping it community-driven and resistant to centralised control. Built on open protocols and an open ecosystem, it encourages collaboration and innovation.
By August 2026, Bluesky had around 46 million registered users. However, far fewer use it every month. Similarweb data reported by GIGAZINE put monthly active users of the mobile app at about 10.4 million in June 2026, down 27% on the year before.
Bluesky's registered users far outnumber its active users
Millions of users
Source: GIGAZINE, August 2026, citing bsky.jazco.dev (registered users) and Similarweb (monthly active users of the mobile app).
That makes Bluesky smaller and more niche than its headline number suggests. For brands, that's not necessarily bad news. The people who stay tend to be engaged, and a focused audience in your niche is worth more than a big follower count.
Bluesky continues to develop new features, with a vision for a thriving, customisable and decentralised online space.
This article explores practical strategies for gaining followers on Bluesky, and how its distinct features affect follower growth compared with other platforms.
1. Optimise your profile
Your profile is the first impression potential followers will have of you. A well-optimised profile can significantly increase your chances of attracting followers who connect with your content.
Build trust by using your own website domain as your handle, such as @yourbrand.com. Notable brands and public figures can also apply for a blue check. These are the main elements to focus on.
Craft a compelling bio
Choosing the right words for your bio is essential for attracting followers and making a strong first impression. Use keywords that reflect your interests or expertise to attract like-minded people. Consider including your hobbies, professional background or unique perspectives that make you stand out from the crowd.
Choose an eye-catching profile picture
A clear and engaging profile picture can significantly improve your visibility. Select an image that aligns with your brand or personality. If you're representing a business or brand, consider using your logo or a professional headshot.
Use a unique banner image
The banner space is an opportunity to show your creativity or highlight your interests. Use this area to feature something relevant to your content or brand identity, whether that's a catchy tagline, artwork or a photo that reflects your personality.
2. Create engaging content that resonates
Content is king on any social media platform. However, the type of content that works best varies significantly between platforms. Sharing original content is crucial, and content creators should prioritise originality to stand out and build a strong presence.
On Bluesky, creating engaging content means understanding what resonates with its users while also showing your unique voice.
Diverse content types
Experiment with different formats, including text posts, images, videos and polls. Engaging content encourages interaction and shares. For instance
Text posts. Share insights, thoughts or questions that spark discussion.
Images and photos. Use high-quality visuals, such as photos of customers using your product, that complement your text and attract attention.
Videos. Create short clips that provide value or entertainment.
Polls. Engage your audience by asking for their opinions on relevant topics.
Sharing a screenshot of a positive post or reposting user-generated content are effective ways to engage with your audience.
Focus on quality over quantity
While consistency is essential, prioritise high-quality posts that provide value to your audience. Thoughtful posts that resonate with followers are more likely to be shared and engaged with, which leads to more meaningful connections.
Use visuals
Add images or videos that complement your text to make your posts more appealing. Visual content tends to capture attention more effectively than text alone, increasing the likelihood of engagement.
3. Embrace consistency in posting
Consistency helps establish your presence on Bluesky and builds trust with your audience over time. For best results, keep a consistent posting schedule going over a sustained period.
Develop a posting schedule
Regular posting keeps your audience engaged and encourages them to check back for updates. Decide how often you can realistically post without sacrificing quality, whether that's daily, several times a week or weekly.
Experiment with timing
Analyse when your audience is most active and tailor your posting schedule accordingly. Some times bring higher engagement than others, and experimenting with different posting times helps you find the best ones for your audience.
4. Use hashtags and trends
Hashtags and trending topics can significantly increase the visibility of your posts and connect you with wider conversations on the platform. You can join trending discussions, create branded hashtags and use relevant keywords in your posts.
Research relevant hashtags
Use hashtags that are popular within your niche to reach a wider audience. Look at what similar accounts use and include those in your posts, while also creating unique hashtags for your brand.
Participate in trending conversations
Joining trending topics can attract attention from people who don't know you yet. Make sure your contributions are meaningful and relevant, so you stay authentic.
5. Engage meaningfully with other users
Building relationships is vital on a decentralised platform like Bluesky, where community interaction drives follower growth more than algorithms do elsewhere. Meaningful engagement leads to lasting relationships with followers.
Comment and share thoughtfully
Engage directly with others' posts by leaving meaningful comments or sharing their content when appropriate. This builds community and encourages reciprocity, as people are more likely to follow you if they see you taking part in discussions.
Respond to comments promptly
Show appreciation for engagement by responding to comments on your posts. This can turn casual viewers into followers who feel valued and connected.
Use starter packs and custom feeds
Bluesky doesn't have groups in the way Facebook does. Instead, communities form around starter packs and custom feeds, and they're two of the best ways for a new account to be found.
| Feature | What it is | How it helps you grow |
|---|---|---|
| Starter packs | Shareable lists of up to 150 accounts and 3 custom feeds that new users can follow in one tap | Getting into a pack in your niche puts you in front of every new member who uses it |
| Custom feeds | Topic-based feeds that anyone can build and follow | Posting on topics a popular feed covers gets you seen by people who don't follow you yet |
| Domain handle | Using your website address as your username | Shows people the account really belongs to your business |
| Blue check | A badge Bluesky gives to authentic, notable accounts | Builds trust at a glance, and notable brands can apply |
| Moderation lists | Shared lists that let people mute or block groups of accounts | A reminder that spammy behaviour can get you filtered out by whole communities |
Create your own starter pack of useful accounts in your industry and share it. People who use it remember who made it.
6. Promote your Bluesky account across platforms
Cross-promotion lets you tap into existing audiences and reach beyond a single platform. By using your other social media channels well, you increase visibility for both your brand and your new Bluesky account.
You can also add your Bluesky account to your website, so visitors can follow you there too.
Share your profile link
Promote your Bluesky account on other social media platforms where you have a following. Include links in bios or posts that direct traffic to your Bluesky profile.
Encourage followers from other networks
Invite your audience from platforms like Instagram or X to join you on Bluesky. You might say something like, "I'm sharing exclusive content on Bluesky, follow me there for more!"
7. Collaborate with influencers and peers
Collaborations introduce you to new audiences and add credibility through association with established names in your niche. Partnering with influencers can extend your brand's reach and build trust through authentic content, and joint projects create opportunities for cross-promotion that benefit everyone involved.
Partner with influencers
Collaborating with established users lends credibility to your profile and exposes you to their followers. Identify influencers within your niche who share your values and reach out about potential collaborations.
Engage in joint content creation
Consider creating content together, such as interviews or discussions. Joint projects let both parties tap into each other's audiences while providing valuable content.
8. Analyse growth metrics
Understanding what works is crucial for sustained growth. Tracking performance shows you which strategies succeed and which need improving. Set clear goals for your Bluesky growth, so you can measure progress and stay focused.
Use analytics tools
Bluesky's own app shows likes, reposts and replies on each post. However, it has no built-in analytics dashboard, so many brands use third-party tools to track follower growth and engagement over time. These insights show you which types of content resonate most.
Adjust strategies based on insights
Use what the data tells you to keep refining your content strategy. If certain types of posts perform better than others, focus more on those formats while still experimenting with new ideas.
9. Stay authentic and positive
Authenticity resonates in any social media environment. Being genuine in your interactions builds trust and rapport with your audience, making them more likely to engage with your content.
Be yourself
Share genuine thoughts and experiences that reflect who you are. Authenticity attracts followers who appreciate real connections, as people want to follow accounts they can relate to and trust.
Maintain a positive attitude
Positivity creates a welcoming environment that encourages others to follow you. Even when you face criticism or negativity, responding constructively can enhance your reputation within the community. Don't let Bluesky degenerate into what X has become.
10. Use user-generated content (UGC)
Encouraging user-generated content is an effective way to engage followers. Showcasing the creativity and experiences of your community creates a sense of belonging and involvement among your audience.
When you publish user-generated content, always credit the people who created it, and check that it fits Bluesky's community guidelines before you share it.
Encourage followers to share their experiences
Ask followers to share their experiences related to your niche or brand using hashtags you've created. This increases engagement and provides social proof of the value you offer.
Showcase UGC on your profile
Highlighting user-generated content on your profile shows appreciation for your community and gives you fresh content without extensive effort.
11. Host contests or giveaways
Contests and giveaways can quickly boost engagement and attract new followers. They create excitement around your brand and encourage participation from both existing and potential followers.
Create challenges
Host challenges related to your niche that encourage followers to take part, such as sharing their own content on a specific theme.
Offer prizes
Offer prizes that match your audience's interests, from branded merchandise to exclusive access to content or even collaborations with influencers.
Should you buy Bluesky followers?
Plenty of services sell Bluesky followers, and it's tempting when you're starting from zero. However, bought followers almost never help.
They're usually fake or inactive. They don't like, repost or reply. Feeds favour posts that people engage with, so a big follower count with no engagement can make your posts less visible, not more.
They make your account look less credible. A business with thousands of followers and a handful of likes per post looks suspicious to anyone who checks, including potential clients.
Bluesky users can filter them out. People can subscribe to community moderation lists that mute or block accounts linked to follow farming, so the accounts you're trying to reach may never see you.
They ruin your data. You can't tell which posts work when most of your audience isn't real.
If you want followers fast, the quicker routes are genuine ones. Get added to starter packs in your niche, post on topics that popular custom feeds cover and reply to people in your industry.
Should you be using Bluesky for your brand?
Gaining followers on Bluesky requires a strategic approach that uses the platform's unique decentralised nature.
By focusing on authenticity, engaging meaningfully with your audience and creating high-quality content, you can build a loyal following that values genuine connections. Bluesky's audience is smaller than X or Instagram, so it suits brands whose customers are already active there.
The strategies in this article, from optimising your profile to using user-generated content and hosting contests, are designed to help you navigate Bluesky effectively. Bluesky is built on open web protocols, which support an open ecosystem, innovation and user control.
Embrace the opportunity to connect with people who share your passions, and watch your follower count grow alongside meaningful interactions. Your commitment to community will set you apart and lead to lasting relationships on Bluesky.
Want help deciding which platforms suit your brand? Our social media team builds strategies across Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.
-
Bluesky had around 46 million registered users by August 2026. However, only about 10.4 million used its mobile app each month, and that number has been falling. It's worth investing time if your customers are active there. Treat it as a niche channel, not a replacement for LinkedIn, Instagram or X.
-
Getting into starter packs in your niche and replying thoughtfully to people in your industry usually works fastest. Posting on topics that popular custom feeds cover also puts you in front of people who don't follow you yet. A complete profile with a domain handle helps those visitors decide to follow.
-
Yes. There's less reliance on a single algorithm, so visibility comes more from custom feeds, starter packs and genuine conversation than from paid reach. Users can also mute or block groups of accounts with shared moderation lists, which makes spammy or overly promotional behaviour costly. Brands that join conversations do better than brands that broadcast.
-
Post as often as you can keep the quality up, which for most brands means a few times a week to once a day. Replying to others counts too, and it can bring in new followers as well as your own posts do. Check your engagement after a few weeks and adjust.