You've undoubtedly noticed that Twitter/X is being abandoned by millions of people. Stephen King, The Guardian and other huge accounts are fleeing the platform. Other major brands and nonprofits are leaving the toxicity and algorithm manipulation that plagues the site.

It appears that Bluesky has become the heir-apparent, drawing in large numbers of users. Over the past few months, it has been a top download in the Apple store. Now is a great time to make the move—taking advantage of its boom in popularity and grow your organization’s social media presence as the site gains new users.

Why BlueSky?

While still improving, BlueSky already has many advantages over Twitter:

Better fundraising potential

Unlike X and Facebook, which prioritize internal content, BlueSky does not throttle outside links. This means your fundraising links, petitions, and donation pages will have unrestricted visibility. This translates to more views and better engagement for your fundraising efforts.

Safer and more supportive environment

With stricter controls on hate speech and enhanced blocking options, BlueSky is quickly earning the title of the “anti-troll” social media site. This allows for better control of bad actors as they interact with your accounts. It also helps foster a healthier online space for nonprofits and supporters to communicate and build relationships.

Higher engagement rates

The platform’s customizable algorithm means you have more control over what you, as a user, sees. People can customize their feeds to focus on content they value, making it easier for nonprofits to reach their target audience of supporters and donors. This means greater organic opportunities to connect with your audience.

Many users are finding engagement levels on BlueSky to be comparable to their Twitter/X accounts, even with significantly fewer followers, due to the absence of shadow bans, bots and algorithm manipulation.

With the “why” out of the way, the obvious next step is “how?”

How to transition to BlueSky

1. Set-up your profile: Create a profile that mirrors your organization’s identity on other platforms. Use the same/similar handle, consistent branding, links to your website, and a clear call to action for followers to support your cause. You may even be able to find online tools to help you migrate your Twitter followers to Bluesky. (Pro tip: Lock your Twitter account so that it can’t be taken over).
2. Promote your move: Share your new BlueSky account widely. Make a post about your new BlueSky account on your old Twitter account, and encourage your followers to join you there. Pin this to the top of your account – or better yet, include your BlueSky profile link in your bio.
3. Let us know your handle. Follow us - @hmassociates.bsky.social - and we will follow you back.

Act now

As Twitter/X’s usability and engagement continue to decline, moving to BlueSky offers nonprofits a chance to reconnect with their supporters and thrive in a platform designed for openness and collaboration. Early adopters have an advantage and can grow more quickly. Take advantage of BlueSky’s fundraising-friendly environment and bring your audience along for the journey.

Harvey McKinnon is President, Harvey McKinnon Associates which works with dozens of Canadian non-profits. He is a keynote speaker and author of six books, including the #1 bestseller, The Power of Giving, which has been published in nine languages.