Jay Clouse
Founder of Creator Science — Education for professional creators • Investor in Kit, Carry, Kick, Maven, Gumroad, Beast Industries
Jay Clouse educates professional creators on how to build and monetize their online presence. He excels at blending personal stories with actionable advice, creating a relatable and engaging experience for his audience.
15.4/wk
200 posts in 30d
128
avg per post
28.4%
comments / total
0.5%
reposts / total
problem-solution
Sun · 7 PM CET
Voice & tone
Jay's voice is conversational, authentic, and encouraging. He comes across as a peer sharing insights rather than a guru dispensing wisdom. He uses self-deprecating humor and vulnerability to build trust, often ending posts with a casual sign-off like "Please clap."
Signature phrases
- “How cool is this??”
- “Truth be told...”
- “New Year new me!”
- “Let me tell you one of my LinkedIn secrets.”
- “Coming this Fall:”
Top 3 posts, dissected
Their highest-engagement posts, broken down line by line. Steal the structure.
How cool is this?? Yesterday, I took over Times Square! I was highlighted as part of a campaign from Circle. If you're not familiar, Circle is my favorite platform out there for online communities. When I speak to creators about their. needs in a community platform, I almost always recommend Circle. My membership (The Lab) has been on Circle since 2022. Before that, I spent ~18 months leading the team at Smart Passive Income building out their Circle communities when the platform was still in private beta! To say Circle has been transformative for my business would be an understatement. Since launch, my membership has generated nearly $1.5 million in revenue. And the wonderful thing about memberships is that – when done well – revenue *builds* over time. This year alone, the membership will contribute more than $500,000 to the bottom line. So, I'm a Circle fanboy. And with yesterday's campaign highlighting some of their creators, it seems they may be fans of me too. 😂 If you're thinking about building your own community, try Circle yourself: https://lnkd.in/eTQByPzW – 👋 I'm Jay, and I help creators attract more attention, develop deeper trust, and make more money from their content. 🧪 Want my help? Join 400+ other creators sharing experiments and growing together in The Lab: https://lnkd.in/ejvU2p99
The double question mark conveys genuine excitement and invites the reader to share in the enthusiasm. It's a disarming, informal opening.
The post follows a chronological narrative, starting with the Times Square takeover and then providing background on his relationship with Circle. It ends with a call to action.
- Enthusiastic Tone - Uses phrases like "How cool is this??" and "Circle fanboy" to convey genuine excitement.
- Social Proof - Highlights the $1.5 million in revenue generated from his Circle membership.
- Personal Connection - Shares his history with Circle, starting from its private beta phase.
He includes a direct link to Circle, but the casual sign-off with a laughing emoji keeps it from feeling overly salesy. The link is a natural extension of his enthusiasm.
Share your genuine excitement for products you believe in.
You haven't heard from me much lately, so here's the quick update: 1️⃣ Social media is changing. The assumption used to be: More followers = more baseline reach = better chance of moving followers → subscribers. That's not really true anymore. Baseline reach across social medi…
Acknowledging his recent absence immediately grabs attention. The phrase "quick update" promises efficiency and respect for the reader's time.
The post is structured as a numbered list, making it easy to scan and digest. Each point addresses a different aspect of his life and business.
- Vulnerability - Shares his feelings of self-doubt and lack of confidence.
- Numbered List - Uses numbers to organize information and improve readability.
- Relatable Struggles - Discusses common challenges like social media changes and personal insecurities.
The post ends mid-sentence, creating a sense of anticipation and encouraging readers to engage in the comments. He asks for input.
Be open about your struggles to build trust and encourage engagement.
Coming this Fall: Baby Boy Clouse! 🥰
The phrase "LinkedIn secrets" immediately piques interest. It suggests insider knowledge that readers can use to improve their own performance.
The post follows a problem-solution format. It identifies a common problem (declining engagement) and then offers a specific solution (the Selfie Reset).
- Named Strategy - Gives his strategy a catchy name: "The Selfie Reset."
- Humor - Uses self-deprecating humor with the phrase "Please clap."
- Actionable Advice - Provides concrete steps that readers can take to implement the strategy.
He ends with his standard signature and a call to action to get his help. The "Please clap" adds a touch of humor.
Package your advice into easily digestible, named strategies.
What drives their engagement
Jay's vulnerability and willingness to share personal stories encourages comments. He also poses questions and asks for input, prompting readers to share their own experiences.
Reposts are low at 0.5%. Jay's content is more focused on driving conversation and building relationships than on going viral.
High. His posts often contain actionable advice and strategies that creators want to reference later.
Content pillars
Content Strategy
30%Tactical advice on creating engaging content and growing an audience.
Creator Business
25%Insights on monetization, memberships, and building a sustainable creator business.
Personal Updates
20%Sharing personal experiences and lessons learned as a creator and entrepreneur.
Platform Tips
15%Strategies for using specific platforms like LinkedIn and Circle effectively.
Mindset
10%Addressing the mental and emotional challenges of being a creator.
Hook patterns
Intriguing Question
Question that hints at a hidden strategy or secret about [topic].
“Let me tell you one of my LinkedIn secrets.”
→ Curiosity makes readers want to know the answer.
Direct Announcement
Simple statement announcing a new product, event, or personal milestone.
“Coming this Fall:”
→ Cuts through the noise with clear information.
Quick Update
Acknowledge absence, then provide a numbered list of updates.
“You haven't heard from me much lately, so here's the quick update:”
→ Provides value quickly and efficiently.
Bold Statement
Start with a confident, attention-grabbing statement about [topic].
“New Year new me!”
→ Grabs attention and sets a strong tone.
Story Opening
Begin with a relatable anecdote or personal story.
“How cool is this??”
→ Draws readers in with a human connection.
Vulnerable Question
Pose a question that reveals a personal struggle or insecurity.
“I've been feeling *way* less confident day-to-day, which has made it harder to publish.”
→ Builds trust through honesty and relatability.
Top-performing hooks
“How cool is this??”
→ The post leverages a personal success story and strong endorsement of a platform (Circle) to build credibility. The combination of a relatable achievement and a clear call to action makes it compellin
“You haven't heard from me much lately, so here's the quick update:”
→ The post combines industry insights with personal vulnerability, making it relatable and engaging. The numbered list format makes it easy to digest, and the honesty about struggles with confidence res
“Coming this Fall:”
→ The post announces a significant personal event, which naturally elicits positive emotions and congratulations from the network. The use of an emoji further enhances the celebratory tone and encourage
“New Year new me!”
→ The post uses a relatable and vulnerable personal story about aging and self-acceptance, which resonates with a broad audience. Mentioning a well-known figure like Noah Kagan adds credibility and inte
“Let me tell you one of my LinkedIn secrets. It's my strategy for turning things around if it's starting to feel like interaction is trending in the wrong direction.”
→ The post offers a concrete, actionable tip (the 'Selfie Reset') to combat a common problem (low engagement). The combination of a specific strategy, explanation of the algorithm, and a call to action
“Yesterday marked three years of marriage with Mallory Clouse! We started dating in 2018, and it's no coincidence that our relationship is perfectly correlated with the growth of the business.”
→ The post leverages a personal anniversary to highlight the importance of spousal support in entrepreneurial success. The vulnerability and relatable message, combined with a direct call for shared sto
“New video on our YouTube channel yesterday:”
→ The post uses a relatable personal story about building a home studio to challenge the conventional understanding of 'stay-at-home' parenting. This resonates with solopreneurs and parents seeking work
“This is where my content journey started.”
→ The post uses a relatable personal story to build trust and authority. It offers practical advice on sustainable content creation, making it valuable for aspiring creators.
“The first annual edition of The Lab Offline was a smashing success. Guess we will just have to do another! 🙌”
→ The post celebrates a successful event, creating a positive association. The simple, enthusiastic tone and hint of future events encourage engagement and anticipation.
“Off to LA!”
→ The post combines a professional achievement (keynoting) with a relatable personal story about family travel, making the author seem both accomplished and down-to-earth. The expression of gratitude ad
What works
- Storytelling: Posts that incorporate personal stories perform well, averaging 167 engagement.
- Numbered Lists: These posts are easy to digest and offer clear value, averaging 166 engagement.
- Vulnerability: Sharing personal struggles and insecurities builds trust and encourages engagement.
- Direct Announcements: Clear and concise announcements cut through the noise and grab attention.
- Actionable Advice: Providing concrete steps that readers can take to improve their own content creation.
- Humor: Using self-deprecating humor and casual language makes him relatable.
Steal this for your own LinkedIn
- Open with a question that piques curiosity, like "Let me tell you one of my LinkedIn secrets."
- Use numbered lists to organize your thoughts and make your content more scannable.
- Share personal stories and be vulnerable to build trust with your audience.
- Give your strategies catchy names to make them more memorable and shareable.
- End your posts with a call to action that encourages engagement, such as asking a question or inviting comments.
- Find a casual sign-off that feels authentic to your personality, like "Please clap."
Compare Jay with…
vs Chris Do
Chris Do vs Jay Clouse: Scale versus conversation on LinkedIn
vs Lea 🌈 Turner
Jay Clouse vs Lea Turner: Tactical educator beats vulnerable storyteller on reach
vs Mark A. Pfister - 'The Board Architect'
Jay Clouse vs Mark A. Pfister: Mass appeal beats niche authority on LinkedIn
vs John Hu
Jay Clouse vs John Hu: Community builder or credibility leverager?
vs John Peslar
Jay Clouse vs John Peslar: Creator education versus AI sales automation
vs Tim Keen
Jay Clouse vs Tim Keen: Reach versus Conversion on LinkedIn
Get the full Jay Clouse playbook
Hook templates, content calendar, posting cadence, and the exact frameworks they use - delivered to your inbox.
Posting patterns
Jay posts frequently, averaging 15.4 posts per week, demonstrating a commitment to consistent content creation.
His posts perform best on Sundays around 6 PM UTC, suggesting his audience is catching up on content during their downtime.
Long posts (180-350 words) perform best, averaging 180 engagement. This suggests his audience appreciates in-depth content and storytelling.
Engagement by day
Content mix
avg 107 engagements per post
avg 167 engagements per post
avg 103 engagements per post
avg 166 engagements per post
avg 88 engagements per post
avg 183 engagements per post
The mix of problem-solution, story, and listicle formats caters to different learning styles and keeps the content fresh. The inclusion of personal updates makes him relatable and builds a stronger connection with his audience.
