Andrew Ellis vs Stijn Verhagen: Two Paths to LinkedIn Authority
Andrew Ellis builds credibility through exclusive access and community ties, showcasing his network in sports and business. Stijn Verhagen dismantles traditional agency models, proving his AI-driven lead generation systems with live builds and transparent results. The choice depends on whether you seek to grow through relationships or through direct, systemized lead generation.
Andrew Ellis, FRSA
Managing Partner, Eyetoeye Capital | $10M+ project finance, (Commercial Real Estate, AI, Data Centres, Medtech) | US, UK + GCC | AI policy (APPG AI)
Stijn Verhagen
One-person marketing teams for professional services firms | Built from your own expertise | 95+ founders helped
- Ellis: insider access, relationship-driven growth.
- Verhagen: AI systems, agency-killer lead gen.
- Ellis: high-profile connections, local authority.
- Verhagen: contrarian hooks, specific dollar claims.
Side by side
| Dimension | Andrew Ellis, FRSA | Stijn Verhagen |
|---|---|---|
| Voice | Andrew writes as a warm, grateful insider, freely name-dropping high-profile figures and local contacts without arrogance. | Stijn writes as an impatient builder, using short, punchy sentences to expose BS and show exact clicks. |
| Content mix | Andrew mixes policy news, career milestones, local community events, and venue recommendations, all anchored to named individuals. | Stijn focuses on AI-powered LinkedIn systems, contrarian comparisons, live builds with proof, and transparent pricing models. |
| Hook style | Andrew uses news pegs with authority quotes, minimal personal announcements, and event recaps with name-drop clusters. | Stijn employs contrarian claims with price anchors, experiment reveals with shock winners, and time-to-build comparisons. |
| Engagement pattern | Andrew's posts average 14 engagements, driven by community recognition and exclusive access. | Stijn's posts average 147 engagements, often exceeding 2900 with direct attacks on competitor pricing. |
| Posting cadence | Andrew maintains a consistent cadence of 4.6 posts per week, with Fridays being his best day. | Stijn posts slightly more frequently at 5.7 posts per week, with Thursdays showing his highest engagement. |
Who wins what
Stijn's average engagement of 147 significantly outperforms Andrew's 14, indicating broader reach per post.
Stijn's Conversation Index of 69.4% is four times higher than Andrew's 15.8%, showing more active discussion.
Andrew's repost rate of 3.1% is higher than Stijn's 0.7%, suggesting his content is more often saved or shared.
Both creators maintain strong, consistent posting cadences, with Andrew at 4.6 and Stijn at 5.7 posts per week.
Pick Andrew Ellis, FRSA if…- You want to build authority by showcasing your network and exclusive access to high-profile individuals.
- Your goal is to foster a local business community and reinforce your role as a connector.
- You thrive on sharing gratitude and recognizing collaborators publicly to build reciprocal goodwill.
- Anchor posts to named individuals and specific venues to create a sense of exclusive access and local authority.
- Amplify industry developments by quoting trusted insiders, positioning yourself as a connector between sectors.
- Publicly thank collaborators and hosts by name, creating reciprocal goodwill and signaling your role in an ecosystem.
Pick Stijn Verhagen if…- You are a B2B founder looking to generate leads using AI systems instead of expensive agencies.
- You want to learn how to create contrarian hooks that directly challenge established industry pricing.
- You need to see live builds and specific results (e.g., 47 qualified leads, $30k pipeline) to trust a system.
- Use contrarian hooks that directly attack competitor pricing (e.g., '$50K/year') to establish value through specificity.
- Show specific results from client projects (e.g., '312 profile views, 47 qualified leads') to prove your system works.
- Break down the infrastructure behind converting posts into calls: profile optimization, lead magnet templates, automation workflows.
These two creators demonstrate that LinkedIn success isn't one-size-fits-all. Andrew proves that consistent, relationship-driven content, even with lower engagement, can build significant credibility and a loyal community. Stijn shows that a direct, contrarian approach with transparent proof and specific numbers can generate massive engagement and position you as a disruptor. Your strategy should align with your business model and personal brand, whether that's building a network of influence or a system for direct lead generation.
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