Most people now post to more than one network: X, Bluesky, Mastodon, LinkedIn, often all four. The lazy way is to paste the same text everywhere. It works, but it shows. A thread cut off mid-sentence on Bluesky, a LinkedIn post that reads like a tweet, hashtags that do nothing on X.
The better way is one draft, several versions. This guide shows how.
The networks are different
| Limit | Threads | Links | Tone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | 280 (weighted) | Yes | Count as 23 characters | Short, punchy |
| Bluesky | 300 | Yes | Need facets to be clickable | Casual, conversational |
| Mastodon | 500 (most instances) | Yes | Count as 23 characters | Plain, no marketing speak |
| 3,000 | No (use the first comment) | Often go in the first comment | Longer, professional |
Check any post against all of these at once with our character counter.
Start with the longest version
Write the fullest version first, usually for LinkedIn. It's easier to cut down than to pad out. Then make the short versions:
- X: the one sentence that matters, plus the link. Or a thread if there's more to say.
- Bluesky: similar to X, but you have 300 characters and can be a bit more relaxed.
- Mastodon: plain and direct. A couple of relevant hashtags at the end help people find it.
- LinkedIn: the full story, in short paragraphs, with the link in the first comment.
Cross-posting with Postbase
- Pick all your channels at the top of the composer.
- Write the main version in the "All channels" tab.
- Open each network's tab and adjust the wording where it matters. Each tab shows that network's character limit as you type.
- Add a thread for X, Bluesky and Mastodon if you need more room. On LinkedIn, the extra parts become the first comment.
- Schedule it once. Every version goes out at the same time.
Available channels
Customize per channel
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Or let the agent write the versions
The Postbase agent, or Claude over MCP, can write the versions for you:
Announce our new feature on X, Bluesky, Mastodon and LinkedIn. Keep X short, make LinkedIn a proper post with the link in the first comment, and schedule everything for Tuesday at 9am.
Here's a version for each network, sized to fit. They're set for Tuesday at 09:00.
Read what it writes before it goes out. It's quick to fix a word, and it's how you teach it your voice.
Habits that make cross-posting look native
- Don't @mention across networks. A handle on X means nothing on Mastodon.
- Skip hashtags on X and LinkedIn, or keep them to one. Use a few on Mastodon, where they drive discovery.
- Stagger by a few minutes if you like, but posting together is fine. Different audiences see different networks.
- Reply where the conversation happens. Scheduling the post is half the job; the replies are where people get to know you.
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