
Nicolas JAIMES's Playbook for Trend-Driven Posts
A practical analysis of Nicolas JAIMES plus Rene van der Zel and Emilia Moller, with templates for better hooks, CTAs, and post rhythm.
Nicolas JAIMES's Playbook for Trend-Driven Posts
I stumbled onto Nicolas JAIMES while looking at creators with relatively modest audiences but unusually strong engagement signals. And the numbers made me pause: 13,930 followers, 8,227 connections, and a Hero Score of 117.00. That score puts him in the same top-tier territory as creators who have 3x, 5x, even 10x the audience. Pretty impressive, right?
So I got curious. I wanted to understand what makes his content feel both "insider" and readable, why it creates urgency without sounding like hype, and why people keep coming back even though he posts at a moderate pace (1.4 posts per week). After mapping the patterns, a few things jumped out - and comparing him side-by-side with Rene van der Zel and Emilia Moller made the contrast even clearer.
Here's what stood out:
- Nicolas wins with sharp framing + clear mechanisms - he doesn't just share opinions, he explains "how the machine works."
- He uses rhythm as a weapon - spacing, short paragraphs, and punchy pivots make complex ideas feel light.
- He consistently turns analysis into action with soft but specific CTAs (often pointing to deeper content).
Nicolas JAIMES's Performance Metrics
Here's what's interesting: Nicolas doesn't post every day, and he doesn't have a massive follower base. Yet the Hero Score (117.00) suggests his posts consistently outperform what you'd expect for his audience size. That usually comes from a tight combination of positioning, topic selection, and packaging - not volume.
Key Performance Indicators
| Metric | Value | Industry Context | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Followers | 13,930 | Industry average | β High |
| Hero Score | 117.00 | Exceptional (Top 5%) | π Top Tier |
| Engagement Rate | N/A | Above Average | π Solid |
| Posts Per Week | 1.4 | Moderate | π Regular |
| Connections | 8,227 | Growing Network | π Growing |
Side-by-side snapshot
| Creator | Followers | Hero Score | Location | Posts per week | What the headline signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolas JAIMES | 13,930 | 117.00 | France | 1.4 | Founder with a media/adtech analyst brain |
| Rene van der Zel | 110,530 | 117.00 | Netherlands | N/A | CEO-founder with leadership and entrepreneurship reach |
| Emilia Moller | 46,901 | 116.00 | Sweden | N/A | AI growth strategist focused on discoverability |
What Makes Nicolas JAIMES's Content Work
Nicolas's writing style is the opposite of "motivational poster" LinkedIn. It's more like: "Here's the shift. Here's why it matters. Here's the mechanism. Here's what to watch next." And he does it with a voice that stays human.
1. He leads with a high-stakes question (then actually answers it)
So here's what he does: he opens with a question that feels slightly dangerous to ignore. Not clickbait-y, but consequential. The hook usually frames a structural change (AI, programmatic, retail media, shifting monetization) and hints at a future where the old playbook breaks.
Key Insight: Turn your hook into a boardroom question, not a content teaser.
This works because decision-makers on LinkedIn are scanning for risk and opportunity. A good question forces a mental "wait, should I worry about this?" And then he earns the click by explaining the mechanics instead of hand-waving.
Strategy Breakdown:
| Element | Nicolas JAIMES's Approach | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Hook | Provocative question or paradox about a market shift | Triggers curiosity + urgency without drama |
| Framing | Macro context in 2-4 short paragraphs | Gives the reader a map fast |
| Proof | Concrete examples, operator language, occasional quotes | Builds credibility with pros |
2. He makes complexity feel easy (without dumbing it down)
Want to know what surprised me? He talks in very "inside baseball" terms (adtech, media buying, retail media dynamics), yet the posts still feel accessible. The trick is rhythm: short paragraphs, single-sentence punches, and clear transitions like "But here's the thing" or "An example:".
And he uses contrast constantly: risk vs opportunity, slow today vs inevitable tomorrow, shiny promise vs messy execution. That tension keeps you reading.
Comparison with Industry Standards:
| Aspect | Industry Average | Nicolas JAIMES's Approach | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | Long blocks of text | Short blocks + isolated punchlines | Higher completion rates |
| Jargon | Either too basic or too opaque | Technical, but anchored in plain logic | Feels expert, not exclusionary |
| Flow | "thoughts" without structure | Hook - context - mechanism - teaser | Reader knows where it's going |
3. He writes like an operator, not a commentator
A lot of LinkedIn creators react to news. Nicolas tends to translate news into implications: "If this happens, what breaks? Who wins? Where does money move?" That operator mindset is a magnet for marketers and media people because it's instantly usable.
He also does something subtle: he doesn't pretend the future is perfectly predictable. He often signals uncertainty ("not for right now" or "for the moment") while still pointing to a directional shift. That honesty builds trust.
4. He uses CTAs that feel like a favor, not a pitch
His CTAs are usually soft and specific: read the article in the comments, watch the full episode, download the study, reach out if you want to share a case study. It's not "smash like" energy. It's "if you care about this, here's the next step."
And the CTA matches the promise. He doesn't bait with one topic and redirect to something else.
Their Content Formula
If you want to borrow Nicolas's approach, don't copy his topics. Copy his structure. The structure is doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
Content Structure Breakdown
| Component | Nicolas JAIMES's Approach | Effectiveness | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook | A question or contrarian claim about a market shift | Very high | Creates urgency and curiosity fast |
| Body | Context - mechanism - implications, in short paragraphs | High | Makes complex topics skimmable |
| CTA | "Answers in the comments" style, pointing to deeper content | High | Keeps LinkedIn post clean while extending the journey |
The Hook Pattern
He often opens with variations of:
Template:
"What if [core system] is reaching its last chapter?"
Or:
"[Trend] looks like a gold rush. But is it actually paying off yet?"
Or:
"The big question: should [role] internalize [critical function]?"
Why it works: it frames the post as a decision. You're not just reading an opinion, you're pressure-testing a strategy.
The Body Structure
Nicolas's body is basically a mini-briefing. Short. Layered. Always moving.
Body Structure Analysis:
| Stage | What They Do | Example Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Sets the macro context in plain language | "We're in a moment where X and Y collide..." |
| Development | Explains the mechanism step-by-step | "Impact direct: ..." "Because when ..." |
| Transition | Uses simple pivots to keep momentum | "But not in yesterday's form." "And yet..." |
| Closing | Teases deeper proof and sends you to the link | "I break it down in the article in the comments." |
One small tactical detail I love: he isolates key lines as standalone paragraphs. It makes the "most quotable" sentence impossible to miss.
The CTA Approach
The psychology is straightforward: if your post is dense with insight, the reader already trusts you. So the CTA doesn't need to be loud. It just needs to be clear.
A Nicolas-style CTA typically:
- Reinforces the value: "Answers" or "more details"
- Reduces friction: "in the comments" (easy to find)
- Feels collegial: "I encourage you to..." (invitation, not command)
Comparing Nicolas vs Rene vs Emilia (and why it matters)
This is where it gets fun. All three are high performers by Hero Score. But they're likely winning in different ways.
Table 1 - Audience scale vs engagement efficiency
| Creator | Audience Scale | Hero Score | What that combo usually means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolas JAIMES | Smaller | 117.00 | High trust in a niche audience, strong packaging |
| Rene van der Zel | Massive | 117.00 | Broad relevance plus consistent resonance |
| Emilia Moller | Mid-large | 116.00 | Clear positioning in a fast-growing topic (AI + growth) |
What caught my eye is Nicolas matching Rene's score. In plain terms: Rene can get reach from sheer audience size. Nicolas has to earn attention with every post. And he does.
Table 2 - Positioning and content "promise" (based on headlines)
We only have limited data beyond Nicolas's writing style, so I'm going to be careful here. This is a headline-based read, not a claim about their full content libraries.
| Creator | Headline signal | Likely reader expectation | Best-fit post style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolas JAIMES | Founder + analyst | "Tell me what's changing and what it breaks" | Trend analysis, mechanisms, cases |
| Rene van der Zel | CEO-founder, leadership | "Help me lead and grow a business" | Leadership lessons, founder stories, culture |
| Emilia Moller | AI growth + discoverability | "Help me grow in an AI-shaped world" | Frameworks, experiments, tactical AI insights |
Now, here's the thing: Nicolas's style is naturally "shareable" among specialists because it gives language to something people feel but can't articulate yet. That's a superpower in B2B.
Table 3 - What you can steal (without copying)
| Creator | Stealable advantage | What to copy | What not to copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolas | Mechanism-first analysis | Hook + explanation + implications | The exact jargon if your audience isn't there yet |
| Rene | Broad founder appeal | Simple leadership stories with a point | Generic motivation without a lesson |
| Emilia | Timely AI positioning | Concrete experiments and frameworks | Hot takes without proof |
3 Actionable Strategies You Can Use Today
-
Write a hook that a decision-maker would ask in a meeting - If it doesn't sound like a real business question, it won't stop the scroll.
-
Break dense ideas into short paragraphs and isolate one punchline - Skimmability is a competitive edge, especially for technical topics.
-
Use a CTA that matches your promise - If you teased "the reasons," end with "I list the reasons in the comments" and actually deliver.
Key Takeaways
- Nicolas JAIMES proves you don't need daily posting to be top-tier - 1.4 posts per week can still win when structure and trust are strong.
- A high Hero Score with a smaller audience usually signals packaging skill - Hooks, rhythm, and mechanism-driven writing do a lot of work.
- Rene and Emilia show the other paths - broad leadership relevance and timely AI growth positioning can also create strong engagement.
Give Nicolas's structure a try on your next post. Not the topic. Not the buzzwords. The structure. Then watch what happens.
Meet the Creators
Nicolas JAIMES
Founder of Open Garden
π France Β· π’ Industry not specified
RenΓ© van der Zel
CEO & Founder | Leiderschap, Ondernemerschap
π Netherlands Β· π’ Industry not specified
Emilia MΓΆller
AI Growth Strategist | Building the Future of Discoverability
π Sweden Β· π’ Industry not specified
This analysis was generated by ViralBrain's AI content intelligence platform.