Why Smaller Social Media Platforms Like Bluesky Might Be Worth Exploring

A Fresh Look at Bluesky

• New Platform, New Opportunities: Bluesky is a newer social media platform that’s been growing fast. While not everyone’s on it yet, it’s worth considering as a space for your business to connect with people in a more intimate and less crowded way.
• Explore, Don’t Commit: There’s no need to rush into Bluesky. It’s worth exploring as an option, but businesses don’t need to feel pressured to jump in immediately. Take your time to understand the platform and see how it can fit into your overall marketing strategy. Sometimes, trying new things and seeing what works is the best approach.
• Niche Opportunity: Smaller platforms like Bluesky can be a hidden gem for reaching audiences that might not be on larger platforms. Because it’s less crowded, your business has a better chance of standing out and making meaningful connections with a dedicated and engaged audience. This can be especially beneficial for targeting niche markets that are often overlooked on bigger social media platforms.

What Is Bluesky?

• Origins: Bluesky is a social media platform created by Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter. It aims to offer a decentralized experience, putting more control in the hands of users.
• Fast Growth: The platform has gained momentum quickly, especially as people look for alternatives to established social media sites. Since its public launch in February 2024, Bluesky has seen its user base grow to around 22 million by November 25.. 
• Simplicity and Control: One of Bluesky’s main attractions is its minimalist design and the absence of ads, allowing for a cleaner, more user-focused experience.

Why Explore Bluesky?

1. Genuine Connections: Bluesky isn’t just another marketing platform—it’s all about real, meaningful engagement. And real connection is the strongest form of marketing.
2. Small Audiences, Big Opportunities: Because Bluesky is a smaller platform, your content has a better chance of being seen and appreciated. Your voice won’t get lost in the noise as it might on the larger, more popular platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
3. Less Competition: With fewer users, there’s less competition for attention. This means your content can have more organic reach, and you can experiment with different types of posts to see what resonates best with your audience.
4. Slow and Steady Wins: There’s no need to dive in headfirst. Businesses can start slowly, dipping their toes in, and gradually increasing their presence as they become more comfortable with the platform.

Pros of Joining Bluesky (With a Little Patience)

1. Less Noise, More Focus: With a smaller community, your posts are less likely to get lost, giving your business a chance to connect more directly with your audience.
2. Tighter Communities: Bluesky’s invite-only days helped create a more invested and engaged user base. Now that it’s open to more users, it still fosters close-knit communities where people are genuinely interested. This could be an opportunity to build relationships with loyal followers.
3. More Control Over Visibility: Without complex algorithms pushing content, your posts are more likely to be seen in chronological order, making it easier to have meaningful interactions with your audience. Just like the early days of Instagram and Twitter. 
4. Room to Experiment: With fewer competitors, you have more freedom to test new approaches, whether it’s trying out different types of posts or discovering what resonates with your audience.
5. Easy to Use. Unlike Instagram, where sharing a Reel, Story, or image can get downright complicated, you just post on Bluesky. That’s it. 

Cons of Joining Bluesky (But Worth Considering)

• Smaller User Base: With about 22 million users as of November 2024, Bluesky can’t offer the massive reach of platforms like Instagram or Facebook. But that can be an advantage if you want to target a more specific audience.
• No Ads Yet: If you’re used to the paid ads options on bigger platforms, Bluesky doesn’t offer that—yet. It’s an organic-only space for now, which means your content will need to do the heavy lifting. But it also means you’ll be poised and ready, with an existing following, when they introduce ads.
• Limited Tools: Unlike well-established platforms, Bluesky doesn’t yet have as many integrations for scheduling or analytics, so tracking your performance can be more of a challenge.

Is Bluesky the Right Platform for You?

• The Small but Mighty Principle: Smaller platforms might seem insignificant, but sometimes that’s where the real connections happen. Don’t discount them just because they’re not the “big” players.
• Don’t Rush: Bluesky might not be for everyone, but it could be an interesting option to explore for your business in 2025. Take it slow and see where it leads.

Give it a Try

• Baby Steps: Don’t feel pressured to create an account, but it’s worth a look to see if Bluesky offers value for your business.
• Follow Janice Hostager: Follow Janice’s account to get a feel for Bluesky and its potential for your small business.