# Bsky Tips & Tricks

Here are some helpful tools and tips for getting the most out of bsky I've picked up over the past week.

## Labelers

Labelers are profiles or tools that tag posts with specific labels, making it easier to find and organize content that fits your interests.

- **[Khronos, Time Zone Labels](https://bsky.app/profile/khronos.world):** Adds time zone labels to posts for better context.
- **[STEM Labeler](https://bsky.app/profile/stemlabels.xyz):** Categorizes posts related to science, technology, engineering, and math.
- **[Pronouns Labeling System](https://bsky.app/profile/pronouns.adorable.mom):** Tags posts with pronouns to promote inclusivity.
- **[US Politics Labeler](https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:bxnuth7kms5l57v2milp5gb3):** Labels posts discussing U.S. politics for easier navigation.
- **[List of all Labelers](https://blue.mackuba.eu/labellers/):** Browse a full directory of all available labelers.
- **[Labeler Repository](https://bsky.app/profile/labeler-lists.bsky.social):** This profile stores known Bluesky labeler/labeller accounts in associated lists. Go to the 'About' tab on the list to see the accounts.

So you can use the US Politics Labeler to **hide** all posts that match that criteria if you don't want to see US political content.

## Feeds

Feeds are a great way to discover trending posts or follow content from specific topics. Here are a few general ones I check regularly & have pinned to my sidebar:

- **[Catch Up](https://bsky.app/profile/skyfeed.xyz/feed/catch-up):** Features the most popular posts from the past 24 hours.
- **[mostpop](https://bsky.app/profile/why.bsky.team/feed/mostpop):** Shows the most liked post every ten minutes.
- **[❤>500⏱️3hrs](https://bsky.app/profile/jagjit.bsky.social/feed/aaachzy2s6vp6):** Highlights posts with over 500 likes in the last three hours.
- **[What's Rising English](https://bsky.app/profile/rebelagainsthate.com/feed/aaamznu7kjkks):** A feed of trending English-language posts.

I use other regional ones like UK Politics, niche interests, etc. - You can explore more on **[blueskyfeeds.com](https://blueskyfeeds.com/en)**.

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## Starter Packs

Starter Packs are curated lists of people you can follow, designed by other users to help you quickly build a network or explore specific communities. They’re a great resource for getting started or finding niche groups.

- **[Starter Packs Directory](https://blueskydirectory.com/starter-packs/all?q=):** Browse a collection of starter packs organized by topic. Sort by uses or size.
- **[Convert a BSky Starter Pack to a List](https://nws-bot.us/bskyStarterPack.php):** Easily turn a starter pack into a customizable list for use in your feeds.

If you’re creating a custom feed, starter packs are a great resource for building your initial input lists.

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## Creating Your Own Custom Feed

Building your own custom feed lets you tailor what you see to match your interests exactly. **[skyfeed.app](https://skyfeed.app/)** is a powerful tool for this. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. **Set Your Input:** Choose the entire network or use starter packs and lists as your foundation.
- Use the **[Convert BSky Starter Pack to a List tool](https://nws-bot.us/bskyStarterPack.php)** to pull in relevant accounts quickly.
2. **Filter by Keywords:** Apply regex (regular expressions) to fine-tune your content.
- Include specific terms: `(?i)\b(term1|term2)\b`
- Exclude terms by selecting “Invert” with the same regex.
3. **Refine Your Feed:**
- Use custom lists to include or remove specific users.
- Exclude posts in other languages or remove duplicates.
4. **Sort by Engagement:** Sort posts by popularity, like using HN Ranking (e.g., 1.8) to prioritise content - or view by creation date if you want to see new posts.

### Pro Tip:
Organize your lists to simplify management:

- `<niche>-feed-source`: A list of users contributing valuable content to your niche.
- `<niche>-feed-exclude`: A list of users you want to filter out. You can update this as you browse, and those users will be excluded automatically.
- *Tweak the Inverted Regex with more terms as you find irrelevant posts on your feed.*

Custom feeds give you full control over your browsing experience, and with tools like starter packs and regex filtering, you can create something truly unique to your interests.