David Arnoux, Helping GTM Leaders & Founders Grow With GTM x AI | Fractional CxO | Building Linkedin Tools @ humanoidz.ai, recently posted something that made me stop scrolling: "we analyzed 62,130 linkedin posts in jan. here's what we learned about going viral in 2026... (this took months. sharing it for free.)"

That mix of scale, specificity, and generosity is exactly why the post traveled. But the bigger takeaway is what David claims is happening under the hood: "the algorithm changed" and a new unified system (he calls it "BREW360") now places you into a "circle of interest" where your profile becomes a classifier and posts can resurface days later.

I want to expand on what David shared, not as a promise of some secret hack, but as a practical framework you can apply if your posting feels consistent yet your growth feels stuck.

"there is no silver bullt on linkedin (apart from consistency)" - David Arnoux

The big shift: distribution is now identity-driven

David's "circle of interest" idea is a useful mental model whether or not you accept the internal name. The implication is clear: LinkedIn is less about one post, and more about how the system predicts who should care about you.

If your profile acts as a classifier, then your banner, headline, about section, featured section, and even the topics you consistently comment on become signals. When your reach drops, it may not be that your post is "bad". It may be that the system is less confident about which audience bucket to place it in.

Practical profile moves that match this model

If you want to benefit from interest-based distribution, make it easy for the platform (and humans) to label you:

Clarify your topic triangle: 2-3 themes you always come back to (example: GTM, AI workflows, sales leadership).
Align your proof: featured posts, case studies, and a pinned example that matches the topics you want to be known for.
Reduce random detours: occasional variety is fine, but whiplash topics train ambiguous classification.

What the January dataset suggests (and what it really means)

David shared several findings that are more actionable when you translate them into intent.

1) Curiosity gap hooks win (66% win rate)

A curiosity gap is not clickbait. It is a clear promise with an incomplete loop. It signals value without explaining everything upfront.

Examples you can model (without copying):

"I tested three outreach angles for 30 days. One felt wrong, but doubled replies."
"Our pipeline problem was not lead volume. It was this meeting habit."

The key is that the reader can predict the category of value, but not the conclusion.

If your first two lines fully explain your post, you remove the reason to expand "see more".

2) "7 ways to..." lists are last

This surprised David, and it matches what many readers feel: generic listicles are easy to skim and easier to ignore. They often lack specificity, tension, and a lived point of view.

If you like lists, keep them, but anchor them in a story:

Bad: "7 ways to write better cold emails"
Better: "We rewrote one cold email 7 times. Here are the 3 changes that actually moved reply rate."

3) Carousels get 4.1x more reach than text

Carousels create "dwell time" and sequential engagement (swipes). But the deeper reason they work is clarity: you must simplify your point to fit slides.

If you are not a designer, you can still use carousels effectively:

One idea per slide
A bold claim on slide 1
Proof or steps on slides 2-7
A single call to action on the last slide (comment, save, or try something)

The mistake is turning a carousel into a PDF. The win is making a mini-lesson.

4) Small accounts (<10K) show 369% higher engagement rate

This is not magic. Smaller accounts often have tighter relevance and stronger community density. They also tend to be closer to the daily problems of their audience.

If you are under 10K followers, this is good news: you can out-engage big accounts by being more specific.

Try this constraint: write for one person you know. Name their role, their current frustration, and the decision they are stuck on.

5) Sunday beats everything, Monday is worst

Timing is never universal, but David's point is useful: fewer competing posts can mean more attention. Sundays may be lower volume, higher focus.

Instead of obsessing over one perfect time, test two consistent slots for four weeks:

One high-competition day (midweek)
One low-competition day (Sunday)

Then compare not just likes, but comments per impression (quality signal) and profile views (intent signal).

6) 3+ hashtags perform 70% worse

Hashtags can look spammy when overused. More importantly, they can signal that the post is trying too hard to be categorized.

A modern approach:

Use 0-2 hashtags max
Put them at the end
Make them specific if you use them (example: #GTMStrategy, not #Business)

The format rules David shared (and how to apply them without hating your life)

David listed several "what actually works" patterns. Here is how I interpret them in practice.

1) 1,250-3,000 characters performs 31% better

This range forces enough depth to be meaningful, while staying short enough to read in one sitting.

A simple structure that fits:

Hook (1-2 lines)
Context (why this matters now)
3-5 insights (each with an example)
A clear takeaway
A question for comments

2) Personal stories drive viral patterns

This is the most important point in David's post. Stories create credibility and emotion without needing credentials.

To make a story useful (not just vulnerable), include:

The moment you realized something was wrong
The constraint you faced (time, budget, ego, team pressure)
The decision you made
The measurable result or lesson

A story is not "what happened". It is "what changed".

3) 14+ short paragraphs improves performance by 71%

David admitted he hates it, and I sympathize. But short paragraphs work because they match mobile reading, create pace, and make your post feel easy.

If you want the benefit without the gimmick:

Keep paragraphs 1-2 sentences
Use occasional single-line emphasis (sparingly)
Avoid filler lines that add no meaning

4) Grade 5-7 reading level wins

This is not about talking down. It is about removing friction.

Replace:

"leverage" with "use"
"utilize" with "use"
"synergy" with "working together"

When the idea is complex, the language should be simple.

A practical 2026 posting checklist (based on David's insights)

If I were applying David Arnoux's findings as a weekly system, it would look like this:

Pick one core topic per week to reinforce your "circle of interest".
Write one story-based post in the 1,250-3,000 character range.
Open with a curiosity gap hook that hints at the lesson.
Format for mobile: short paragraphs, clear pacing, no clutter.
Test one carousel per week if you can package the idea visually.
Post once on Sunday for four weeks and compare results.
Use 0-2 hashtags, or none.
Measure what matters: comments, saves, profile visits, and qualified inbound.

The real point: use the data, keep your voice

David's disclaimer matters. There is no permanent trick. But there are patterns that reduce guesswork.

The best creators treat these findings like guardrails, not a personality transplant. Use the formats that help your ideas travel, then keep your perspective sharp enough that people remember it came from you.

This blog post expands on a viral LinkedIn post by David Arnoux, Helping GTM Leaders & Founders Grow With GTM x AI | Fractional CxO | Building Linkedin Tools @ humanoidz.ai. View the original LinkedIn post →