Bluesky vs. X for Writers: What's the Best Choice?

Well, it's a little complicated.

Photo by Florian Delée on Unsplash

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.

Photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash

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

  The Munn Avenue Muse
  . 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:

Abuse Survivor, Writer & Social Media Expert Shares Her Secrets to Success

Youtube:

Spotify: 

Apple:

Happy writing!