John Hu
daily journal building a $BN company | ex-Goldman, Stanford MBA
John Hu documents his startup journey and founder lessons through narrative-driven posts that blend personal vulnerability with tactical advice, using bold opening statements and story formats to achieve 3.5x average engagement on his best-performing content. His most distinctive move is the 'credibility by association' hook—landing meetings with high-profile figures (Alex Hormozi, Mark Cuban) and turning those moments into teachable posts that prove his methods work.
15.4/wk
6 posts in 30d
238
avg per post
8.7%
comments / total
1.6%
reposts / total
numbered list
Fri · 10 AM CET
Voice & tone
John writes like a founder talking to other founders over coffee—direct, slightly self-deprecating, and unafraid to admit mistakes. He uses casual language ('😳😳😳', 'y'all', 'blah blah blah') and short punchy sentences to feel accessible despite his pedigree. The tone balances ambition with humility: 'Part of this is because we're still not very good at hiring (😅😅😅)' shows he's not performing perfection.
Signature phrases
- “This is how you write a good cold email that people respond to 👇”
- “Find this leverage in your business!!!”
- “ask yourself this question:”
- “So many salespeople and tech bros are all business - and forget to genuine human connections”
- “Keep going y'all”
- “Here's how we did it:”
Top 3 posts, dissected
Their highest-engagement posts, broken down line by line. Steal the structure.
This is the viral video I made to land a pitch meeting with Alex Hormozi. If you want to learn how to shoot your shot with anyone, this is the video to watch. 250k+ views and 750 people tagging Alex later, we landed a meeting with someone we had no business being in the room with. If you want to see what the full process of scripting, filming, and then producing this viral video looks like... I documented the whole process on my YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gaxw29VF Hope you get a laugh + inspo from all of it! #entrepreneurship #viralvideo #hormozi #sales #marketingtips #viralmarketing
The hook 'This is the viral video I made to land a pitch meeting with Alex Hormozi' works because it stacks three attention triggers: (1) 'viral video' signals social proof, (2) 'Alex Hormozi' is a recognizable high-status name, (3) the implicit claim is 'I figured out how to get unreasonable access.' The reader immediately wants to know the mechanism.
Story format with a clear narrative arc: (1) Hook with outcome, (2) Context and scale ('250k+ views and 750 people tagging Alex'), (3) Reframe as teachable moment ('If you want to learn how to shoot your shot with anyone'), (4) Call to YouTube for full process, (5) Soft close with hashtags for discoverability.
- Emoji usage (none here, but the exclamation marks create energy)
- Specific numbers (250k views, 750 tags) to anchor credibility
- Conversational language ('shoot your shot') to feel peer-to-peer
- Hashtag clustering (#entrepreneurship #viralvideo #hormozi #sales #marketingtips #viralmarketing) for algorithmic reach
Directs readers to YouTube for the full process, which extends engagement beyond LinkedIn and builds his YouTube audience. The 'Hope you get a laugh + inspo' closing is warm and non-pushy, lowering resistance to the CTA.
Lead with the outcome (the meeting), not the effort (the video), then tease the process elsewhere to drive traffic and deepen engagement.
I cold emailed Mark Cuban and he actually responded. This is how you write a good cold email that people respond to 👇 🪝 Your Subject Line Needs to Hook How many times have you seen boring email subject lines like “Informational Interview Request”? People immediately delete …
The hook 'I cold emailed Mark Cuban and he actually responded' uses surprise and social proof. The word 'actually' signals that this is harder than it sounds, making the reader curious about what made it work. Mark Cuban is a recognizable figure, so the achievement feels significant.
How-to guide with numbered sections (🪝 Hook, 🤗 Rapport). Each section has a problem statement ('How many times have you seen boring email subject lines'), a counterintuitive principle ('opening with Hope you are doing well is a waste'), and a specific example ('Fellow [College Alum] Reaching Out'). The structure is scannable and actionable.
- Emoji section headers for visual breaks and quick scanning
- Rhetorical questions to create agreement before the lesson
- Contrasts (what NOT to do vs. what TO do) to clarify the principle
- Specific language examples in quotes so readers can copy-paste
- Criticism of competitors ('So many salespeople and tech bros are all business') to position John as the alternative
The post cuts off mid-sentence ('So many salespeople...'), which is a cliffhanger that forces readers to click 'see more' and increases time-on-post. This is a subtle but effective engagement tactic.
Break tactical advice into emoji-labeled sections, use rhetorical questions to create agreement, and provide copy-paste-ready examples so readers can implement immediately.
My mantra going forward. Keep going y’all.
The hook 'We just hit $5M ARR!!! ...and unintentionally became profitable... 😳😳😳' uses triple exclamation marks and repeated emoji to signal excitement and surprise. The word 'unintentionally' is the key—it implies the achievement was almost accidental, which makes it feel more credible and less like bragging.
Milestone announcement + tactical breakdown. Opens with the win, then provides 3 labeled sections (🥑 Gross Margins, 👩❤️👩 Hiring) with problem-solution pairs. Each section explains a principle ('Profitable Unit Economics'), gives a concrete example ('90%+ Gross Margins'), and ties it to a larger lesson ('This is the same approach early Google took').
- Emoji as section headers for visual hierarchy
- Italicized key terms ('𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 more money', '𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 more money') to emphasize concepts
- Self-deprecating humor ('we're still not very good at hiring (😅😅😅)') to build trust
- Specific metrics (0.5% acceptance rate) to prove the principle
- Comparison to authority figures (early Google) to validate the approach
The post cuts off mid-sentence again, forcing a 'see more' click. No explicit CTA, but the implicit message is 'read more to understand the full framework.'
When announcing wins, pair the achievement with 3-4 tactical lessons that other founders can steal, and use self-deprecation to make the advice feel earned rather than preachy.
What drives their engagement
John's posts that ask implicit questions or create curiosity gaps drive comments. Posts like 'I cold emailed Mark Cuban' (138 comments) and 'We just hit $5M ARR' (166 comments) prompt readers to ask follow-up questions or share their own experiences. The comment index is low (8.7%), suggesting his audience prefers likes and reposts, but when comments do happen, they're substantive.
Story format and mantra-style posts drive reposts (his top repost rate is 171 reposts on the 'My mantra going forward' post). These are shareable because they feel universal and inspirational. Founders repost them to signal their own values to their networks.
How-to posts with specific frameworks (cold email structure, hiring principles, unit economics) are likely high-save posts, though the data doesn't explicitly track saves. The medium-length posts (80-180 words, avg 314 eng) perform best, suggesting readers save them for reference.
Content pillars
Founder Wins & Milestones
28%Announces revenue, hiring, or product milestones, then extracts 3-5 tactical lessons (gross margins, hiring bar, unit economics) that other founders can apply immediately.
Cold Outreach & Sales Tactics
22%Teaches how to land meetings with high-profile people through email, video, or direct asks, using his own wins (Mark Cuban, Alex Hormozi) as proof of concept.
Personal Lessons & Reflections
20%Shares wisdom from his own journey (birthdays, failures, mindset shifts) framed as 'lessons I wish I'd known' to build relatability and trust.
Tactical How-Tos & Frameworks
18%Numbered lists and step-by-step guides on specific skills (cold email structure, viral video production, hiring) with emoji-marked sections for scannability.
Mindset & Motivation
12%Short, mantra-like posts that inspire action without heavy instruction, often tied to his own emotional journey or company culture.
Hook patterns
Credibility by Association
I [action] with [high-profile person] and [unexpected outcome]
“This is the viral video I made to land a pitch meeting with Alex Hormozi.”
→ Immediately signals that the post contains proof of a method that works, making readers curious about the mechanism.
Bold Claim with Proof Teaser
[Achievement] and here's how we did it:
“We just hit $5M ARR!!! ...and unintentionally became profitable... 😳😳😳”
→ The emoji and ellipsis create surprise and urgency; readers scroll to understand the 'how,' guaranteeing engagement.
Personal Milestone Pivot
I [personal event] and here are [number] lessons:
“I turned 28 today. Here are 3 lessons I wish I had known in my early 20s:”
→ Personal moments lower defenses and make tactical advice feel like mentorship rather than instruction.
Direct Vulnerability Question
How many times have you [negative behavior]?
“How many times have you seen boring email subject lines like 'Informational Interview Request'?”
→ Asks readers to self-identify with a problem, creating immediate mental engagement before the solution arrives.
Mantra / Mindset Anchor
Short, declarative statement + minimal explanation
“My mantra going forward. Keep going y'all.”
→ Brevity and emotional resonance drive high engagement from followers seeking motivation; low friction to repost.
Counterintuitive Lesson
I learned [opposite of conventional wisdom]
“Wealth Does Not Equal Happiness”
→ Challenges reader assumptions and positions John as someone who has tested ideas others only theorize about.
Top-performing hooks
“This is the viral video I made to land a pitch meeting with Alex Hormozi.”
→ The post tells a compelling story of achieving a seemingly impossible goal (meeting Alex Hormozi) through a viral video. It offers social proof (views, tags) and a clear call to action, making it enga
“I cold emailed Mark Cuban and he actually responded.”
→ The post offers immediately actionable advice on a topic relevant to startup founders (cold emailing). The mention of Mark Cuban and securing funding adds credibility and intrigue, while the clear str
“My mantra going forward.”
→ The post is short, relatable, and provides a simple message of encouragement. The brevity and universality of the message make it easy for people to like, comment, and share.
“We just hit $5M ARR!!! ...and unintentionally became profitable... 😳😳😳”
→ The post combines a celebratory milestone with actionable advice and relatable struggles, making it both inspiring and informative. The vulnerability and encouragement resonate with founders, while th
“I turned 28 today.”
→ The post is relatable and offers valuable life lessons framed around a personal milestone (birthday). The numbered list format makes it easy to digest, and the concluding question encourages engagemen
“This post is going to ruffle some feathers… but I gotta do it for my fellow Startup Founders.”
→ The post uses a contrarian viewpoint to grab attention and spark debate among founders. The numbered list format makes the content easily digestible, and the call to action encourages community engage
“We grew this quarter from $15M to $27M ARR. 😳”
→ The post combines impressive growth metrics with vulnerable insights into the challenges of scaling a startup. The numbered list format makes the key takeaways easily digestible, while the honest refl
“We hit a really, really big milestone today.”
→ The post celebrates a significant milestone ($100M for creators), immediately grabbing attention. It highlights the positive impact on creators' lives, making the achievement relatable and inspiring,
“Was hesitant to share this at first - but realizing that I should.”
→ The post leverages a relatable immigrant success story and vulnerability to connect with the audience. The aspirational message and clear mission resonate, fostering engagement and creating a sense of
“The little kid version of me is smiling. 🤗”
→ The post combines a vulnerable personal story with a significant achievement, creating an emotional connection with the audience. The message of overcoming adversity and inspiring others resonates str
What works
- Story format with a credibility anchor (Alex Hormozi, Mark Cuban) achieves 450 avg engagement vs. 158 for problem-solution posts. Pairing a personal win with a high-profile figure creates FOMO and curiosity.
- Bold statement hooks (322 avg engagement across 88 posts) are his most reliable format. Statements like 'I cold emailed Mark Cuban and he actually responded' and 'We just hit $5M ARR' stop the scroll because they promise proof of a counterintuitive method.
- Numbered lists with emoji headers (27% of posts, 220 avg engagement) are his workhorse format. They're scannable, actionable, and easy to repost. The emoji breaks up text and signal that each section is a discrete lesson.
- Personal announcements as hooks (779 avg engagement on 2 posts) massively outperform other hook styles. Birthdays, milestones, and reflections lower defenses and make tactical advice feel like mentorship.
- Cliffhanger endings that cut off mid-sentence force readers to click 'see more,' increasing time-on-post and algorithmic distribution. His top posts use this tactic.
- Specific numbers and metrics (0.5% hiring acceptance rate, 250k views, 90%+ gross margins) anchor credibility and make abstract concepts concrete. Readers trust numbers more than claims.
Steal this for your own LinkedIn
- Start your next post with a credibility-by-association hook: 'I [did something hard] with [recognizable person] and here's how.' Then explain the mechanism. This works because it promises proof, not just theory.
- Use emoji as section headers to break up text and signal that each section is a discrete, scannable lesson. This increases readability and makes posts feel less dense.
- Pair every win announcement with 3-4 tactical lessons that other founders can implement. Don't just celebrate; teach. This positions you as generous and increases shares.
- End your post mid-sentence or with a cliffhanger to force a 'see more' click. This increases time-on-post and signals to the algorithm that your content is engaging.
- Use self-deprecating humor when sharing wins ('we're still not very good at hiring'). This makes you feel relatable and prevents the post from reading as pure bragging.
- Include specific, copy-paste-ready examples in your how-to posts (e.g., 'Fellow [College Alum] Reaching Out' as an email subject line). Readers will implement immediately if you remove the friction of interpretation.
Compare John with…
vs Jay Clouse
Jay Clouse vs John Hu: Community builder or credibility leverager?
vs Brynne Tillman
Brynne Tillman vs John Hu: Algorithm insider vs founder proof
vs Beatrice Vladut
Beatrice Vladut vs John Hu: Personal brand coach or founder playbook teacher
vs Aaron Reeves
Aaron Reeves vs John Hu: Contrarian tactics versus founder credibility
vs Tim Keen
John Hu vs Tim Keen: Reach versus Conversation on LinkedIn
vs Shoaib Ahmed
John Hu vs Shoaib Ahmed: Reach versus conversation on LinkedIn
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Posting patterns
John posts 15.4 times per week on average, but has slowed to only 6 posts in the last 30 days, suggesting a shift toward quality over quantity or a change in priorities.
Friday at 9 AM UTC is his best performing window. This aligns with end-of-week reflection and planning mindset when founders are reviewing the week.
Medium-length posts (80-180 words) perform best at 314 average engagement, followed by very long posts (350+ words) at 433 engagement. Short posts (30-80 words) underperform at 134 engagement. The data suggests John's audience wants substance, not soundbites.
Engagement by day
Content mix
avg 220 engagements per post
avg 158 engagements per post
avg 450 engagements per post
avg 73 engagements per post
avg 84 engagements per post
avg 24 engagements per post
John's mix of 27% numbered lists and 20% stories works because his audience (early-stage founders) wants both tactical frameworks and proof that the methods work. The numbered lists are reference-able and shareable; the stories with credibility anchors (Alex Hormozi, Mark Cuban) prove the tactics aren't theoretical. This combination builds trust through both instruction and social proof.
