Bluesky vs. X for Writers: What's the Best Choice?
Well, it's a little complicated.
If you’re reading this, no doubt you’ve either already left X (formerly Twitter), are considering leaving X, or are unsure - do I need to be on both? Many of us are joining Bluesky by the tens of millions over the last week. Here’s me.
From a book marketing strategy standpoint, not ethical or moral or otherwise, it makes sense to maintain a presence on X because:
Google indexes X posts. That alone is a massive advantage for X in the SEO game, allowing our visibility to grow. Bluesky does not (as of this writing).
#BookTwitter is still a hugely popular hashtag for readers.
X offers advertising, analytics, communities, and audiospaces. Bluesky does not.
However, if you cannot be anywhere near X, take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each and make an informed decision.
Let’s Compare: X vs. Bluesky
Comparing X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky reveals distinct advantages and disadvantages for each platform. Some may matter to you more or less than others.
1. Audience and Reach
X (formerly Twitter):
Advantages:
• Boasts a massive user base with over 300 million active users, offering extensive networking opportunities, though many millions have left over the past few weeks.
• Established global reach, making it ideal for real-time news dissemination and marketing.
• Diverse user demographics across various industries and interests.
Disadvantages:
• High saturation can make it challenging for new voices to gain visibility.
• Algorithm changes and the introduction of paid features, such as X Premium, have impacted organic reach for non-paying users.
• Increased prevalence of trolls and toxic interactions due to evolving content moderation policies.
• No human moderation or customer service.
Bluesky:
Advantages:
• Smaller, more niche community fosters deeper connections among users.
• A decentralized model gives users greater control over their data and the algorithms that curate their feeds.
• The early adoption phase offers opportunities for individuals and brands to establish a strong presence.
• Human moderators review reports.
Disadvantages:
• Limited user base: as of November 2024, Bluesky has approximately 20 million users, significantly fewer than X; however, they have gained tens of millions of new subscribers in the last two weeks alone.
• User demographics are currently skewed toward tech-savvy early adopters, potentially limiting audience diversity, though writers and journalists seem to be adapting to it quickly.
• The platform's growth and long-term viability remain uncertain as it develops.
2. Features and Functionality
X (formerly Twitter)
Advantages:
• Offers comprehensive features, including Spaces (live audio), long-form posts, videos, shops, and community-building tools.
• Advanced search capabilities and trending topic discovery enhance user engagement.
• Robust advertising tools and analytics support business marketing efforts.
Disadvantages:
• Many features are locked behind X Premium subscription options, such as the ability to edit posts and create longer tweets/posts.
• The interface has become increasingly cluttered with ads and promoted content, potentially detracting from user experience.
Bluesky:
Advantages:
• Features a clean, user-friendly interface that emphasizes simplicity.
• Focuses on innovation through decentralized protocols and user empowerment.
• Currently free from ads and intrusive content, enhancing user experience.
Disadvantages:
• Offers limited functionality compared to X; for example, it lacks advanced search features, audio spaces, advertising options, and live audio capabilities.
• Some features, such as editing posts or video sharing, are still under development or not widely available.
3. Content Moderation and Community Vibes
X (formerly Twitter)
Advantages:
• Hosts diverse voices and topics, fostering a dynamic discourse environment.
• Emphasizes freedom of speech, allowing a wide range of content.
Disadvantages:
• Moderation policies have been criticized as inconsistent, leading to user dissatisfaction and no human review of reports.
• Since Musk's acquisition, there has been an increase in hate speech, misinformation, and harassment on the platform.
Bluesky
Advantages:
• Cultivates a more positive, collaborative community culture.
• A decentralized approach allows for personalized moderation, giving users control over their experience, including ‘starter packs.’
Disadvantages:
• A smaller user base may limit the diversity of discourse.
• As the platform grows, it may face challenges maintaining effective moderation.
4. Monetization and Business Use
X (formerly Twitter)
Advantages:
• Provides an established advertising platform with detailed analytics and targeting options if you upgrade to X Premium.
• X Premium allows users to monetize content through subscriptions and ad revenue sharing.
Disadvantages:
• The pay-to-play environment favors more prominent brands and verified accounts, potentially disadvantaging smaller users, like indie writers, musicians, and artists.
• Organic marketing has become less effective due to algorithmic biases favoring paid content.
Bluesky
Advantages:
• Early adopters have the potential to gain influence before monetization systems mature, and growth is monumental right now.
• Emphasizes authentic, organic interactions over paid promotions.
Disadvantages:
• Currently lacks monetization options for creators or businesses.
• Does not offer analytics tools or advertising opportunities, limiting marketing capabilities.
5. Accessibility and Cost
X (formerly Twitter)
Advantages:
• It is free to all users, with optional paid upgrades available through X Premium (including Grok, X’s AI).
• Widely supported across devices and integrates with various third-party applications.
Disadvantages:
• Free users may face visibility limitations compared to paid accounts.
• Increasing implementation of paywalls for features and enhanced visibility (such as advertising and analytics).
Bluesky
Advantages:
• Currently free to use and devoid of advertisements.
• Early adoption offers opportunities for organic growth and community building.
• There’s now a ‘follower bridge’ extension to help you find X friends; more here.
• Personal fav Mark Hamill is now there. He wished my 87-year-old father a happy birthday on X. I’ll follow him anywhere.
Disadvantages:
• Their original invite-only system restricted access, initially limiting user base expansion. That invite-only stuff is gone now.
• Lacks third-party integrations and advanced tools available on more established platforms, e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer*, and other social media scheduling tools (which I use daily) don’t offer Bluesky. Yet.
I did just learn about Fedica - they have a free plan, too, which includes Bluesky.
*Buffer offers the option if you upgrade only.
Conclusion
Choose X if You require broad reach, advanced tools for marketing, or access to a diverse global audience. It is ideal for established businesses and public figures seeking extensive engagement.
Choose Bluesky if You value community-driven, decentralized networks and wish to grow within a more innovative, niche platform. It suits creatives, tech enthusiasts, and those seeking an alternative to the mainstream social media experience.
Choose Both X and Bluesky if you feel it couldn’t hurt to have both, and wait and see how it all shakes out. If X merges with Truth Social? I’m out. What’s your boundary?
Will I continue to stay on X? For now.
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn are still popular among the over 35+ crowd. TikTok is appealing for #BookTok - dip your toe there if you’re up for it.
There’s no ‘set in stone’ formula that works for writers because readers are everywhere. No ‘easy button,’ though I’m often asked: Where’s the ONE place I can be? We’ll discuss this in my next newsletter.
Happy Thanksgiving, U.S. readers. See you on #BookMarketingChat audiospace on Wednesday, January 8, 2 pm PT/5 pm ET—link provided in next month’s newsletter.
Other News:
Several wonderful friends are having book sales this month.
Mayhem on Mulberry: Book One: Rise of the East by Vince Defilippo, Ph.D., ebook is free today (11/24).
In The Kitchen With Linda, by Linda Carsman, is $1.99 for the ebook. Okay, that’s my mom. It’s a great little book! Published by munnavenuepress.com and
. She’s 83 and just published her first book. Go, Moms!Stephen Deck’s Land of the Story Tellers will be free December 11 - 15. More here.
My own Broken Series of 3 ebooks are all available now for only 99c. More here.
Speaking of Munn Avenue, they hosted me on their fantastic podcast. Click here for more:
Youtube:
Spotify:
Apple:
Happy writing!
I appreciate all the hard work you put into this. I quit using Twitter when Elon bought it. I’m really enjoying Bluesky so far. It reminds me of the good old days of Twitter.
Thank you for this rundown!