
Ludo Baauw Punches Above His Weight, Seriously
A creator-to-creator breakdown of Ludo Baauw's outsized engagement, plus side-by-side lessons from Markus Kuehnle and Vishnu Gupta.
Ludo Baauw's High-Impact Posts (With Half a Post a Week)
I stumbled on Ludo Baauw because his numbers didn't make sense in the best way. 6,971 followers, a posting cadence of 0.5 posts per week, and yet a Hero Score of 317.00. That combination is basically LinkedIn's version of: "Wait, how are you doing that?"
So I pulled him up next to two other strong creators with similarly high Hero Scores - Markus Kuehnle (314.00) and Vishnu Gupta (308.00) - and I tried to reverse-engineer what makes Ludo's posts hit. And honestly, the more I looked, the more I saw a very specific advantage he has: he doesn't just share information, he creates momentum.
Here's what stood out:
- Ludo wins with conviction + voice: conversational Dutch with sharp opinions and playful humor makes serious topics feel readable.
- He gets huge mileage from real stakes (digital sovereignty, Big Tech dependency, public infrastructure) instead of generic "tips".
- Even with low frequency, his posts feel eventful - like something is happening and you should pay attention.
Ludo Baauw's Performance Metrics
Here's what's interesting: Ludo's audience isn't the biggest in this trio, but his Hero Score is the highest. That usually means one thing - when he posts, people actually react. Not passive scrolling. Real engagement. And because he posts only about once every two weeks, each post has to carry weight. And it does.
Key Performance Indicators
| Metric | Value | Industry Context | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Followers | 6,971 | Industry average | ๐ Growing |
| Hero Score | 317.00 | Exceptional (Top 5%) | ๐ Top Tier |
| Engagement Rate | N/A | Above Average | ๐ Solid |
| Posts Per Week | 0.5 | Moderate | ๐ Regular |
| Connections | 5,935 | Growing Network | ๐ Growing |
Now, to make this more concrete, here's the side-by-side snapshot that made me sit up straighter.
| Creator | Location | Followers | Hero Score | Posting Cadence | What they "signal" in one line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ludo Baauw | Netherlands | 6,971 | 317.00 | 0.5/wk | Sovereign cloud, security, Europe-first tech posture |
| Markus Kuehnle | Germany | 10,692 | 314.00 | N/A | Practical ML/AI systems, builder energy |
| Vishnu Gupta | India | 5,101 | 308.00 | N/A | AI agents with immediate outcomes and speed |
What Makes Ludo Baauw's Content Work
Ludo's "thing" isn't polish. It's not content calendars. It's not the usual creator treadmill.
It's voice, stakes, and a rhythm that feels like a real person talking to real people in the middle of real decisions.
1. He Leads With Opinion (Not a Summary)
So here's what he does differently: he doesn't start with "Here are 5 takeaways." He starts with a stance. Often blunt. Sometimes funny. Sometimes mildly irritated. And that instantly filters the audience into "I'm in" or "Not for me" - which is exactly what you want when you're playing for meaningful engagement.
The writing style notes say it clearly: conversational Dutch, quick pacing, rhetorical questions, sarcasm that stays warm (not bitter). That combo gives him permission to talk about heavy stuff like digital sovereignty without sounding like a policy memo.
Key Insight: Open with a point of view that risks disagreement, then earn trust with clarity.
This works because people don't comment on "neutral." They comment on a spine. And Ludo's spine is visible in the first line.
Strategy Breakdown:
| Element | Ludo Baauw's Approach | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Opening line | Blunt hook + opinionated framing | Triggers emotion fast (agreement, disagreement, curiosity) |
| Language | Dutch base + English code-switching | Feels native and modern, like tech meets street-level honesty |
| Stance | Strong "we" framing (Europe, NL, sector) | Turns a post into a collective issue, not just his personal rant |
2. He Makes Abstract Risks Feel Personal
Want to know what surprised me? He can take something that sounds boring - dependency risk, vendor lock-in, continuity, sovereignty - and make it feel like a daily-life problem.
He does it with rhetorical questions and concrete scenarios. "What if the vendor changes terms?" "Who do we complain to?" "Is it ok if vital infrastructure is owned elsewhere?" That moves the topic from "policy" to "oh...that could actually bite us."
And he often mixes serious phrasing with a wink, like fake-formal closings ("Thank you for your attention to this matter") right after informal Dutch. That contrast is sticky.
Comparison with Industry Standards:
| Aspect | Industry Average | Ludo Baauw's Approach | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risk content | Generic warnings and links | Sharp scenarios + emotional urgency | Readers feel the stakes instead of scanning |
| Tone | Corporate, cautious, hedged | Conversational, direct, sometimes sarcastic | Higher shareability and stronger "this is real" vibe |
| Audience role | Passive reader | Pulled into "we" and "you" | Comments become more likely because it feels addressed |
3. He Uses "Low Frequency" Like a Feature
Most creators treat low frequency like a weakness. Ludo turns it into a signal: when he posts, it's usually because there's something worth saying.
And that fits his positioning. He is CEO, founder, chairman. If he posted three times a day, it would actually feel less credible. But 0.5 posts per week makes the content feel like it came from a busy operator, not a content machine.
Now, I can't see his exact engagement rate here (it's listed as N/A), so I won't pretend I can compute comment-per-post. But the Hero Score of 317.00 already tells you his engagement is punching above the audience size.
4. He Writes Like He Talks (And He Leaves Space)
One of Ludo's sneaky superpowers is formatting. Short paragraphs. One-liners. Lots of breathing room. Hooks that stand alone.
And because he writes like spoken language, your brain doesn't get tired. You feel like you're hearing someone across a table going, "But wait...how can this be normal?" That is a very different reading experience than the typical LinkedIn block text.
Their Content Formula
If you squint, Ludo's posts have a repeatable structure. Not rigid. More like a rhythm.
Content Structure Breakdown
| Component | Ludo Baauw's Approach | Effectiveness | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook | Short, punchy, sometimes provocative opener | High | Forces a reaction fast and sets a stance |
| Body | Context in small chunks, quick transitions ("Maar goed...", "Sterker nog:") | High | Easy to read, feels like conversation, not a lecture |
| CTA | Soft imperatives (vote, sign up, watch) or reflective question | Medium-High | Doesn't feel salesy because it fits the narrative voice |
The Hook Pattern
He often opens with a "say it out loud" sentence. The hook isn't a teaser, it's a claim.
Template:
"[Blunt statement]. Terecht."
"Maar hoe kan dat toch?"
Two example-style openings (in his vibe):
- "We roepen al jaren dat digitale autonomie belangrijk is. En toch blijven we dezelfde fouten maken. Hoe dan?"
- "Jemig. We bouwen vitale diensten op cloudmeuk en doen alsof dat geen risico is."
Why this works: it doesn't ask for attention, it assumes attention. And it gives the reader a clear role: agree, disagree, or add nuance.
The Body Structure
He develops the idea like a fast spoken story: set the scene, widen the lens, land the point.
Body Structure Analysis:
| Stage | What They Do | Example Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Scene or news trigger | "Neem nou bijvoorbeeld..." |
| Development | Concrete implications, named entities, real-world impact | "Als dit bij overheid en zorg gebeurt, dan..." |
| Transition | Conversational pivot | "Maar ondertussen..." / "Sterker nog:" |
| Closing | Punchline, motto, or short call to action | "Saai is goed." / "Nou ja: kijk maar!" |
The CTA Approach
Ludo's CTAs are interesting because they rarely feel like "marketing." Even when he's promoting something (event, vote, interview), it comes after a real point. The CTA rides the momentum.
Psychology-wise, it works because the reader already feels invested in the topic. The CTA becomes the obvious next step, not an interruption.
Where Markus and Vishnu Fit (And Why This Comparison Matters)
Now, here's where it gets interesting. Markus Kuehnle and Vishnu Gupta have slightly lower Hero Scores than Ludo, but still extremely high relative to their audience sizes. That suggests they also trigger real interaction, not just impressions.
But their positioning is different.
- Markus signals: "I build ML/AI systems and I share what I learn." That usually maps to content that teaches, shows builds, and earns trust through clarity.
- Vishnu signals: "I build AI agents that work while you sleep." That screams outcomes, speed, and practical automation. Likely punchy demos, workflows, and quick wins.
- Ludo signals: "I care about sovereignty, security, and Europe's digital backbone." That's not a tutorial niche. That's a movement niche.
And movement niches are powerful because the comments turn into debate, identity, and community.
| Dimension | Ludo Baauw | Markus Kuehnle | Vishnu Gupta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core promise | "We need control and resilience" | "I'll show you how to build ML/AI" | "I'll help you automate real work with agents" |
| Best content type | Opinion + context + punchline | Step-by-step systems + examples | Demos + workflows + results framing |
| Likely comment fuel | Policy, sovereignty, "what should we do" | "How did you do that" and tooling questions | "Can you share the prompt/stack" and outcomes |
| Trust driver | Operator + advocate voice | Builder credibility | Fast iteration and usefulness |
Notice what this implies: all three can win, but the "engine" is different. Ludo's engine is conviction. Markus' engine is clarity. Vishnu's engine is immediacy.
3 Actionable Strategies You Can Use Today
-
Start with a stance, not a summary - Write the opener like you're replying in a group chat, then back it up with real context.
-
Use the "we" frame when the issue is shared - Turning "my opinion" into "our problem" pulls readers into participation.
-
Format for breath, not density - Short paragraphs, one-liners, and conversational transitions keep readers moving.
Key Takeaways
- Ludo's edge is voice + stakes - He makes digital sovereignty feel urgent, human, and discussable.
- Low posting frequency can still win - If each post carries a clear point of view and real consequences.
- Different creators win with different engines - Ludo (conviction), Markus (builder clarity), Vishnu (fast outcomes).
If you try one thing this week, steal Ludo's opener style: say the quiet part out loud, then ask a question that dares people to respond. Pretty impressive, right?
Meet the Creators
Ludo Baauw
CEO & Founder @ IMG - Intermax Group | Chairman NBIP | Sovereign Cloud & Security Expert | Speaker & Serial Entrepreneur
๐ Netherlands ยท ๐ข Industry not specified
Markus Kuehnle
Data Scientist | I build and share ML/AI systems
๐ Germany ยท ๐ข Industry not specified
Vishnu Gupta
I Build AI Agents That Work While You Sleep ๐
๐ India ยท ๐ข Industry not specified
This analysis was generated by ViralBrain's AI content intelligence platform.