Bluesky is a relatively new platform that many associations are choosing to have a presence on, but it is important to understand how to make it work best for you.
Bluesky for Associations
Being very similar to the original Twitter that many grew to know and love, the platform is a great one for short, snappy updates to your followers and can be a great place to start or join existing conversations. Like any new platform, it will take some time for people to make their way over and we have to be mindful that it might not have the same success in the way that some existing platforms have.
Questions to ask when thinking about joining Bluesky as an Association
- Why do we want to be on Bluesky?
- Do we know others in our industry or community already on Bluesky?
- Can we allocate someone to spend time engaging with others on the platform?
- What type of posts do we want to include on Bluesky?
When joining a new platform as an association, it is important to firstly consider why you want to join it. For example, have you been asked by members to be present? Alternatively, have some of your trustees or council joined the platform themselves and seen value in being there? By understanding this from the outset, you will have a clearer idea of the content you want to share and, importantly, who you will be sharing it with.
Perhaps you know of other associations or related companies that are present on the platform. This is particularly useful information to have, as you can not only interact with their content but also be aware of any competitors or similar associations you want to build your presence around.
Invest some time in being active and finding the right people to follow and engage with. This means finding someone within your association to dedicate time to this. With your knowledge of your own industry this is the best way to really engage with the right people. By doing this you will build up an engaging profile and hopefully attract a relevant audience to follow you back.
All of this will help you understand the type of content you want to share on the platform. Maybe you will want to share everything. Or, you might just like to share specific detail on some of your associations activities you know will resonate with the type of audience on the platform.
Getting Support
Ultimately, Bluesky isn’t the only new platform around, but this one — along with others — is something an association management company can help you investigate for your association, as well as manage alongside your other social media accounts.
