How to schedule Bluesky and Mastodon posts
Bluesky and Mastodon have no built-in scheduler on the web. How to schedule posts to both, the limits to know, and how to write for each audience.
On this page
Bluesky and Mastodon are where a lot of writers, developers and early adopters went when they left X. Both are open networks, both reward real conversation, and neither has a "schedule" button in its own web app. If you want to post at the right time without being online, you need a scheduler.
The limits that matter
| Bluesky | Mastodon | |
|---|---|---|
| Characters per post | 300 | 500 on most servers (some allow more) |
| Images per post | up to 4 | up to 4 |
| Video | 1 per post | 1 per post |
| Links | count toward the 300 | always count as 23 characters |
| Alt text | yes, and people expect it | yes, and people expect it |
| Hashtags | work, but optional | the main way people find posts |
Two things catch people out. On Bluesky, 300 characters is tight, so a caption written for LinkedIn or Instagram simply won't fit. On Mastodon, each server can set its own limit, so 500 is the safe number.
How to schedule to both
- Write the core message once. One idea, one sentence that carries it.
- Cut a Bluesky version to 300 characters. Lead with the point. Put the link at the end.
- Write a Mastodon version with one or two hashtags. Mastodon has no algorithmic feed, so hashtags and boosts are how new people see your post. Use CamelCase (#SmallBusiness) so screen readers read them properly.
- Add alt text to every image. On both networks, posts without image descriptions get fewer boosts and reposts. Many people simply skip them.
- Pick a time. Both feeds are mostly chronological, so timing matters more than on Instagram or Facebook. Post when your followers are awake, and space posts out rather than sending five at once.
- Schedule, then show up for the replies. Conversation is the point of both networks. A scheduled post that gets replies and no answer looks like a bot.
Write like a person, not a brand
Both networks are allergic to corporate tone. What works:
- First person and plain words.
- Sharing something useful (a tip, a link, a lesson) rather than a promotion.
- Replying to others, not only posting.
- A clear account bio that says who runs it.
On Mastodon, some servers have rules about promotional accounts. Read your server's rules before you post as a business, or pick a server that welcomes businesses.
How Feedlio helps
Feedlio posts to Bluesky and Mastodon, alongside Threads, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and more. You write one post, give Bluesky and Mastodon their own shorter captions, and schedule them for the time you choose. Feedlio checks each platform's character and image limits before publishing, so a post never fails because it's 20 characters too long.
