Devin Reed vs Richard van der Blom: Stories beat data on LinkedIn
Devin Reed (99K followers, 228 avg engagement) wins through vulnerable storytelling and personal connection, while Richard van der Blom (266K followers, 422 avg engagement) dominates with bold contrarian claims backed by data. Choose Devin if you want to build trust through relatability; choose Richard if you want to grab attention and establish authority.
Devin Reed
I help B2B marketers and execs build durable content systems | The Reeder
Richard van der Blom
LinkedIn Strategist | Algorithm Research-Backed | Helping Entrepreneurs Turn Visibility Into Revenue Without Living on the Platform | 350K+ Trained | Keynote Speaker
- Richard reaches 2.7x more people; Devin creates 1.85x deeper conversations per post.
- Devin's 'This never made sense to me' hook beats Richard's numbered lists in raw engagement.
- Richard posts algorithm insights; Devin posts life lessons wrapped in professional advice.
- Both post 15.3x/week on Sundays, but serve completely different audience needs.
Side by side
| Dimension | Devin Reed | Richard van der Blom |
|---|---|---|
| Voice | Conversational and self-deprecating, inviting camaraderie through personal struggle and triumph. | Authoritative and cynical, positioning himself as a data-driven truth-teller challenging LinkedIn norms. |
| Content mix | Blends content strategy, personal branding, and life stories; 5 pillars spanning professional and personal. | Focuses narrowly on algorithm updates, LinkedIn myths, and platform critique; 4 pillars all strategy-focused. |
| Hook style | Opens with outrage ('This never made sense to me'), credibility bombs, and vulnerable anecdotes. | Uses numbered lists ('5 ways'), bold irrelevance statements, and algorithm report teasers. |
| Engagement pattern | 228 avg engagements with 17% conversation index; builds intimate dialogue with smaller audience. | 422 avg engagements with 28.5% conversation index; attracts larger crowd with higher debate intensity. |
| Posting cadence | 15.3 posts/week, primarily story format; consistent rhythm of personal narrative. | 15.3 posts/week, primarily problem-solution format; consistent rhythm of tactical advice. |
Who wins what
266K followers vs 99K; 2.7x larger audience despite identical posting frequency.
28.5% conversation index vs 17%; his posts spark 1.68x more back-and-forth dialogue.
Problem-solution format and algorithm reports are inherently more shareable and reference-able than personal stories.
Both post 15.3 times/week with 1.2-2.1% repost rates; identical discipline and originality.
Pick Devin Reed if…- You're building a personal brand in B2B and want to stand out through authenticity and vulnerability, not just tactics.
- Your audience is burned out on 'growth hacks' and craves relatable stories that make professional advice feel human.
- You're willing to trade raw reach (99K) for deeper trust and a 17% conversation rate that feels like real community.
- Use 'This never made sense to me' as your outrage opener; Devin's top hook hit 2182 engagements by naming a contradiction.
- Pair a credibility bomb with a personal anecdote: 'I did X and achieved Y, and here's the moment I realized why' structure.
- Share one life lesson per week wrapped in professional context; his Life & Relationships pillar humanizes his marketing expertise.
Pick Richard van der Blom if…- You want to grow faster and reach more people; his 266K followers and 422 avg engagements prove the data-driven approach scales.
- You're obsessed with LinkedIn's algorithm and want to understand how it actually works, not just succeed despite it.
- Your goal is authority and debate; his 28.5% conversation index means people argue with and defend his claims publicly.
- Lead with numbered lists ('5 ways LinkedIn silently kills your post'); his top hook hit 2403 engagements using this pattern.
- Make a bold irrelevance claim ('Your connections don't matter anymore') to jolt people awake before explaining the nuance.
- Back every claim with data; his 'The data doesn't lie' and 'Here's what our data exposed' phrases build instant credibility.
Richard wins on scale and authority because bold contrarian claims backed by data attract larger, more argumentative audiences. Devin wins on intimacy and trust because vulnerable storytelling creates genuine connection. Neither approach is better—they're solving different problems. If you want to build a movement, study Devin's emotional hooks. If you want to build influence, study Richard's data-driven positioning. The real win is knowing which one matches your actual goal: depth or reach.
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