Describing itself as “social media as it should be,” Bluesky Social is a decentralized social media app that has much of the feel, function, and look of X, formerly Twitter.
As brands add Bluesky to their roster of social channels, it’s important to understand how to optimize SEO content to ensure the best possible performance. In this SEO guide, we explore essential HTML best practices, technical requirements, and expert strategies to improve link previews and social sharing on Bluesky, helping your content stand out on this growing platform.
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What is Bluesky Social?
Founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Bluesky is a text-based social media platform that allows users to customize feeds and control their timelines.
Bluesky Social has consistently dominated headlines as a place to land for users and businesses that are leaving X in the wake of the platform’s numerous changes. X has transformed in recent years with the removal of their content moderation team, changing blue checkmarks from a verification tool to a paid subscription, as well as controversial changes to the block feature. Its most recent AI-related terms and conditions update has also aided in Bluesky’s boost in users.
While Meta’s competing platform, Threads, is currently is currently outpacing BlueSky in users, Bluesky has made inroads in growth since opening to the public in February of 2024. There are over 22 million users on Bluesky, with an influx of over 3 million over the last two weeks.
As a decentralized platform, users can create and use their own servers to store their data. Bluesky recently rolled out pinned posts, custom fonts, and video posting to compete with platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X/Twitter.
Best practices to ensure accurate link previews on Bluesky
To ensure webpages shared on Bluesky display the preferred title, description, and featured image, follow these best practices when setting up your webpage’s HTML:
Title Tags
Include all three types of meta tags for the title to ensure compatibility with Open Graph, Twitter Cards, and standard HTML:
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<meta property="og:title" content="Your Page Title Here">
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Your Page Title Here">
<title>Your Page Title Here</title>
Description Tags
Include meta tags for the description in all three formats:
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<meta name="description" content="Your page description here">
<meta property="og:description" content="Your page description here">
<meta name="twitter:description" content="Your page description here">SEO Tip: Keep descriptions under 160 characters for better visibility in search engines.
Image Tags
Use Open Graph and Twitter Card meta tags for images:
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<meta property="og:image" content="URL to your image here">
<meta name="twitter:image" content="URL to your image here">Image Specifications:
Use images with dimensions of 1200×630 pixels or an aspect ratio of 1.91:1 to prevent cropping and maximize compatibility.
General Placement:
Place all the above meta tags in the <head> section of your HTML document. This ensures they are recognized by BlueSky and other platforms that pull metadata from webpages.
The bottom line—SEO adds to social success
As Bluesky continues to grow and attract new users, you need to consistently optimize your content for better visibility. SEO optimization, such as link previews, plays a pivotal role in making sure your shared content stands out in a rapidly expanding social landscape. By implementing best practices for title tags, description tags, and images, you can enhance how your content is showcased on Bluesky.
“Since Elon Musk took over, X has lost nearly all its cultural relevance. The platform is a shell of what it once was, making Bluesky appealing to those who experienced Twitter in its prime. Bluesky feels like a return to a time before “doomscrolling” became the norm. A platform without bots, excessive ads, or trolls is refreshing and dare I say, enjoyable to use.
Like any social platform, time will tell how Bluesky truly unfolds. We’ve seen platforms like Threads, Lemon8, BeReal, and Clubhouse capture immense attention in their early days, only to face the challenge of maintaining that momentum. The question isn’t just about how quickly it can grow but whether it has the staying power to stand the test of time.”
– Vicki Marziale, Strategist, Social + Influencer
As businesses and users migrate onto the platform, integrating SEO strategies into your social sharing efforts will maximize your visibility, increase CTRs, and ultimately drive more meaningful interactions with your audience. By mastering the technical aspects of your metadata, you’re not just enhancing your link previews—you’re positioning your brand for long-term success in a rapidly evolving social space.
Are your favicons not showing properly in search results? Learn how this small but mighty technical SEO element can improve brand visibility, or let’s talk about how to achieve more for your marketing—and your business.
