1. Search Bluesky for missed-call pain
Use the search bar and set it to Latest, not Top. Try phrases owners actually write: "missed call" plumber, "can't answer the phone", "phone tag" clinic, "voicemail full", "answering service" expensive. Save the three searches that return real owners, and check them every morning. Rule of thumb: reply only when someone describes the problem themselves, never to unrelated posts.
2. Follow small business hashtags
Bluesky supports hashtag feeds. Check #smallbusiness, #smallbiz, #plumbing, #hvac, #salonowner, #dentaloffice and #lawfirm, and tap the hashtag to see recent posts. Look for owners posting about being too busy, short-staffed or working on a job site. Like and reply with something useful first, for example: "Do you lose more calls during jobs or after hours? I'm trying to learn which one hurts more."
3. Use starter packs to find whole clusters of buyers
Starter packs are curated lists of accounts that other users publish. Search for starter packs with words like small business, trades, dentists, vets, salons, real estate, or your city name. One good pack can give you 50 owners or office managers in one niche. Follow the relevant people and spend a week replying to their posts before you ever pitch.
4. Build your own custom feed
Tools like SkyFeed let you build a custom feed that pulls posts matching keywords. Make one that catches posts containing "receptionist", "answering service", "missed call", "front desk" or "after hours calls". This turns Bluesky into a daily lead list without scrolling. You can also make the feed public, which gives owners a reason to follow you.
5. Go local with city feeds and packs
Many cities have local starter packs and community accounts on Bluesky. Search your city name plus "starter pack" or "local business". Local service owners like plumbers, groomers and physical therapists respond well to a nearby founder. Try: "I'm building a phone answering tool in Austin and want five local shops to try it free. Who here misses calls during jobs?"
6. Post your own build log
Write short posts about what you learn, not what you sell. Example: "Talked to a dental office manager today. Her worst hour is 8 to 9am, when patients call to reschedule and she's checking people in." Tag the post with the niche hashtag. These posts show up in hashtag feeds and invite owners to reply with their own version.
7. Move warm replies to DMs carefully
Bluesky DMs are usually limited to people who follow each other, so earn the follow through replies first. Once someone has talked with you, ask: "Want me to set up a test number that answers like your front desk? Free for two weeks, I'll check every call log with you." Keep it to one message. If they don't answer, let it go.
8. Keep the routine daily
Check your saved searches, hashtags and custom feed every day, reply to five real posts, and send no more than two DMs. Write down the exact words owners use about missed calls and reuse them in your landing page. Hulby, an AI cofounder, can run this search, reply and follow-up loop daily for you.
People asking this right now
Real, public posts from the last few weeks. Each one is somebody you could help today.
- Launch day chaos reminds me of open-source releases: 60% prep, 40% praying the first 10 users find the real pain point. (Bluesky)
- They absolutely can (and sometimes do) put guardrails on this stuff, but *apparently* only when end users find out how to break it first. Wh (Bluesky)
- The console cleaner is the real user. First ten users matter more than the polish—ship the fix, then go find three people who feel that pain (Bluesky)
- The Trapstar galaxy print keeps resurfacing—clearly that pattern has staying power. First users stick when you show them a version they can' (Bluesky)
- Most massive" and "nHz background" in one title—my brain just did a squat. First users for any tool: find the one person obsessed enough to (Bluesky)
Mistakes to skip
- Replying with a product link to anyone who mentions phones, which reads as spam and gets you muted or reported.
- Targeting other founders and AI people instead of the owners and office managers who answer the phone.
- Searching with Top results, which shows popular posts instead of fresh complaints you can still reply to.
- Pitching every niche at once instead of picking one, like dental offices or HVAC, and learning its call patterns.
Want this done for your AI receptionist, every day?
Hulby finds the people asking for what you built, writes every reply and email, and keeps you on it until they pay. Free to start.
Find my first customersQuestions
Are small business owners really on Bluesky?
Fewer than on Facebook, but enough to find your first ten. Trades, creative services and local shops are easiest to find through hashtags and city starter packs.
Should I offer it for free?
For the first few users, yes, for a fixed period. In return, ask to review call logs together, since that's where you learn what to fix.
How many replies before I DM someone?
At least one real back-and-forth. If they replied to you and follow you, a short DM is fine.
Which niche should I start with?
Pick one where a missed call means a lost paid job, like plumbing, HVAC, dental or legal intake. Choose the one you find most often in your searches.