Bluesky's Full of Twitter Quitters

January 30 - Edition #28

Author

Dia Creative
January 30, 2025

January 30, 2025 - Edition #28

This week you'll learn:

  • đź—ł Bluesky’s Full of Twitter Quitters

  • đź—Ł How To Get Started on Threads

  • 🧳 Pinterest’s User-Focused Success Journey

  • ⚡️ Quick Hits: Instagram updates, Infinite Reality acquisition, and Meta protection policies

Bluesky Soars Past 27 Million Users

Image Source: ABC News

The social media platform Bluesky has seen explosive growth since the November 2024 US presidential election, increasing from 9 million users in September to over 27.5 million by mid-January 2025.

The influx of new users, many of whom are self-proclaimed "Twitter quitters," has been driven by a combination of dissatisfaction with changes at Twitter/X and Bluesky's unique features.

Celebrity Endorsements and Record-Breaking Milestones

High-profile users like Star Wars star Mark Hamill and author Stephen King have joined the platform, with Hamill openly declaring himself a "Twitter quitter."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the first person to reach 1 million followers on Bluesky, a milestone for any account besides the company's own.

According to Bluesky, the platform added over 1 million users per day in the period immediately following the election, equating to about 12 new users per second.

Many new users are referencing the election in their first posts, suggesting a direct link between the political landscape and the platform's growth.

Key Differences from Twitter/X

While Bluesky shares many similarities with Twitter/X in terms of design and functionality, it offers several unique features that have attracted users:

  1. Domain-based handles: Users can set their domain as their handle, potentially aiding in verification and branding.

  2. Customizable moderation: Bluesky employs automated moderating and a system of community labeling, giving users more control over their experience.

  3. Algorithmic choice: Users can select from various algorithms to determine the content they see in their feed.

  4. Blocking and muting options: Bluesky's blocking and muting features are designed to prevent toxic behavior and pile-on.

As Bluesky continues to gain traction, it remains to be seen whether it can maintain its rapid growth and establish itself as a true competitor to giants like Twitter/X and Meta's Threads.

However, the platform's early success suggests a growing appetite for alternative social media experiences that prioritize user control and customization.

Threads: The Best New Marketing Channel

Image Source: Quickframe

Meta's text-based platform Threads has evolved into a powerful marketing channel, with 300 million monthly active users and growing. Here's how to utilize this platform for your brand.

Getting Started Right

First impressions matter, especially on a platform still finding its footing. To start, claim your handle, optimize your profile, and link your Threads to your IG bio.

Content That Works on Threads

The platform favors conversational, authentic content over polished marketing speak. Focus on:

  • Behind-the-scenes glimpses: Share casual updates about your business operations

  • Quick tips and insights: Break down complex topics into digestible threads

  • Industry commentary: Join relevant conversations with valuable perspectives

  • Customer engagement: Respond to mentions and build genuine connections

Utilize Platform Features

Take advantage of Threads' unique capabilities:

  • Scheduled Posts: Use the new scheduling feature to maintain a consistent presence

  • Cross-Posting: Share Instagram content strategically to Threads

  • Thread Format: Break longer content into engaging multi-post sequences

With Meta's advertising capabilities now entering the testing phase and user engagement growing rapidly, early adopters have a unique opportunity to establish their presence before the platform becomes more crowded.

Don't wait – your competitors probably aren't.

Pinterest's User-Focused Success Journey

Image Source: Pinterest

Pinterest's journey from a small startup to an $11 billion social media giant is a huge lesson in organic growth driven by a relentless focus on user behavior and intuitive design.

Using Familiar Behaviors

Pinterest's brilliance lies in its ability to help users do something they were already doing—collecting and organizing things they liked—in a digital space. By using the familiarity of real-world pinboards, Pinterest minimized friction and made adoption effortless.

"Pinterest is an online pinboard. Organize and share the things you love." This simple tagline primed new users on what to expect, making the activation point incredibly strong from the start.

Targeting the Unexpected

Pinterest purposefully targeted Midwestern homemakers, giving them a truly valuable tool. This counterintuitive move ensured Pinterest appealed to a broad, diverse audience from day one.

"I sent Pinterest to 200 of my friends, and I think 100 of them opened the email. It was catastrophically small numbers. I included a lot of people from Google and California, and I emailed a lot of people from Iowa. The people who started using it used it the way we had hoped."

Ben Silbermann, Co-founder, Pinterest

Guided Discovery

As Pinterest's collection grew, they pioneered innovative ways to aid content discovery.

Guided Search, launched in 2014, allowed users to start with a broad query and then refine results through suggested subcategories. This made finding the perfect pin intuitive and engaging.

Custom Categories further empowered users to organize content their way, laying the groundwork for an adaptable, personalized experience.

Pursuing Visual Search Dominance

Pinterest's most ambitious move has been its investment in visual search technology.

Features like Lens, which can identify objects in smartphone photos, put Pinterest as close as possible to users' real-world impulse purchases, with virtually zero friction.

By focusing on solving real user problems through familiar behaviors and intuitive design, Pinterest organically grew into a visual search behemoth.

Their story proves that putting users first can be a winning formula for lasting success.

⚡️ Quick Hits

What we’re working on right now

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