
Nikolai Golos's High-Tempo Playbook for Growth
A friendly breakdown of Nikolai Golos's content formula, with side-by-side comparisons to Nick Broekema and Othmane Khadri.
Nikolai Golos's High-Tempo Playbook for Growth
I was scrolling LinkedIn and stumbled into one of those creator profiles that makes you stop and think, "Wait, why is this working so well?" In Nikolai Golos's case, the numbers are loud: 35,481 followers, a 99.00 Hero Score, and a posting rhythm of about 4.5 posts per week. That combo usually means one thing - he doesn't just post a lot, he posts in a way that makes people react.
So I dug in. And after comparing him side-by-side with Nick Broekema (85,176 followers, 98.00 Hero Score) and Othmane Khadri (12,287 followers, 98.00 Hero Score), a few patterns jumped out that felt surprisingly practical. Like, "I can steal this for my next post" practical.
Here's what stood out:
- Nikolai wins by mixing tactical value + clean structure + consistent CTAs without sounding robotic
- Nick wins by making content feel designed - super readable, super intentional, very audience-aware
- Othmane wins by making AI + GTM feel operational - less hype, more systems and motion
Nikolai has a smaller audience than Nick, but his Hero Score is higher. That usually means his content is hitting harder relative to size. Othmane is the smallest audience, but still sits at 98, which is honestly wild.
| Creator | Followers | Hero Score | Location | Headline focus | What it signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikolai Golos | 35,481 | 99.00 | Germany | Product + growth + AI English coaching | High engagement with a clear product wedge |
| Nick Broekema | 85,176 | 98.00 | Netherlands | Content design + ideal audience | Scale + clarity + strong positioning |
| Othmane Khadri | 12,287 | 98.00 | United States | AI-native GTM systems | Tight niche, high trust, systems thinking |
Nikolai Golos's Performance Metrics
Here's what's interesting: a 99.00 Hero Score with 35k followers usually means people aren't just passively watching. They're commenting, saving, sharing, and coming back. And because he posts about 4.5x/week, he gets enough repetition for the algorithm, but not so much that every post feels like noise. The cadence is steady, and the value density is high.
Key Performance Indicators
| Metric | Value | Industry Context | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Followers | 35,481 | Industry average | โญ High |
| Hero Score | 99.00 | Exceptional (Top 5%) | ๐ Top Tier |
| Engagement Rate | N/A | Above Average | ๐ Solid |
| Posts Per Week | 4.5 | Active | ๐ Active |
| Connections | 6,474 | Growing Network | ๐ Growing |
What Makes Nikolai Golos's Content Work
If I had to summarize Nikolai in one line: he writes like a product person who learned how to package insight like a creator. Not fluffy inspiration. Not academic essays. Just punchy, useful posts that make you think, "Yep, I'm saving this."
1. Skimmability as a competitive advantage
So here's what he does: he treats every post like it's going to be read on a phone in a hurry. Lots of whitespace. Short paragraphs. Tight lists. Isolated punch lines. And he uses formatting the way good PMs use UI - to guide attention.
Key Insight: Write like your reader has 12 seconds and one thumb.
This works because LinkedIn is basically a feed of distractions. If your post looks like a wall of text, it's dead on arrival. Nikolai's structure buys you attention first, then earns it.
Strategy Breakdown:
| Element | Nikolai Golos's Approach | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Visual pacing | 1 to 3 line paragraphs, lots of breaks | Makes scanning effortless |
| Lists | 3 to 10 bullets with clear labels | Turns ideas into "save-worthy" chunks |
| Punch lines | Short standalone lines like "Like I said. Easy." | Creates rhythm and memorability |
2. Teaching through templates (not theories)
Nikolai doesn't just say "be better at product" or "AI is changing everything." He drops patterns you can reuse. Hooks you can remix. Step-by-step instructions. And he does it without sounding like a teacher grading you.
What's interesting is how often his posts feel like mini playbooks: job search tricks, prototype workflows, "here's how it works" breakdowns. It's educational, but it moves.
Comparison with Industry Standards:
| Aspect | Industry Average | Nikolai Golos's Approach | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advice style | Broad principles | Specific steps + examples | Readers can act immediately |
| Structure | Paragraph-heavy | Lists + whitespace | Higher completion rates |
| Credibility | Credentials-first | Usefulness-first | Trust built through value delivery |
3. Consistent topic triangle: product, growth, and language confidence
A lot of creators try to cover everything: AI news, productivity, leadership, mindset, startups, memes. Nikolai feels tighter. He sits in a triangle:
- product and growth thinking (how builders actually work)
- AI practicality (what to do this week, not in 2030)
- English speaking confidence (his product wedge)
And that wedge matters. Even when a post is pure value, the reader learns who it is for: non-native professionals and builders who want to move faster.
Pretty smart, honestly.
4. The soft sell that doesn't feel like a sell
But wait, there's more: the CTA is almost always there, but it doesn't hijack the post. He earns the right to ask.
He typically ends with an engagement prompt ("Your thoughts?" or "What would you add?") and then separates the promo with a clean visual break. That separation does two things:
- it protects the educational value from feeling like an ad
- it trains readers to expect a consistent pattern (which reduces friction)
If you only read the headlines, you can already predict the content.
| Creator | Core promise | Primary audience feel | Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikolai | Improve English speaking with AI + build faster | Builders, PMs, founders, non-native pros | Product thinking + language confidence wedge |
| Nick | Content design that attracts ideal audience | Creators, marketers, consultants | Craft, structure, audience psychology |
| Othmane | AI-native systems for GTM motion | GTM leads, RevOps, founders | Operational systems, not trends |
Their Content Formula
Nikolai's formula is not mysterious. It's disciplined. He hooks quickly, frames the problem, delivers value in a list, then closes with a question and a separated CTA. It's basically "micro-essay meets playbook," packaged for scroll speed.
One more thing I noticed: the best posting windows provided are 12:00-14:00 and 15:00-18:00. Midday and late afternoon. That fits his audience too - professionals who scroll between meetings or after lunch.
Content Structure Breakdown
| Component | Nikolai Golos's Approach | Effectiveness | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook | Provocative line + curiosity cue (often ends with ๐) | High | Stops the scroll fast |
| Body | Short context then numbered/bulleted list | Very high | Dense value, easy to save |
| CTA | Question first, then "--" separator + P.S. product mention | High | Keeps trust while still converting |
The Hook Pattern
He often opens with contrast, a strong opinion, or a tactical promise. The hook is rarely poetic. It's more like a headline you'd click.
Template:
"Unpopular opinion: [common belief] is wrong. Here's why ๐"
Other reusable variants that match his vibe:
"You can beat 99% of [role] with this simple trick ๐"
"In 2025, you should know how to [skill]. It's essential if you want to move fast."
This hook works when you can actually deliver. If you can't back it up, people will roast you in the comments. But when you can? The comment section becomes distribution.
The Body Structure
He develops ideas linearly, almost like a checklist. No long detours. No big backstory. Just: context, steps, takeaway.
Body Structure Analysis:
| Stage | What They Do | Example Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Stakes + who it's for | "If you've been sitting on an idea..." |
| Development | List of steps or lessons | "1/ ... 2/ ... 3/ ..." |
| Transition | Simple cues | "Here's how it works:" / "So:" |
| Closing | Distilled takeaway + question | "What would you add?" |
The CTA Approach
The psychology here is simple: give value, invite conversation, then offer the next step.
Nikolai's CTAs tend to be:
- direct, but not pushy ("Check out my app")
- consistent (readers know where it will appear)
- aligned with the post's promise (confidence and performance for non-native pros)
And that "--" separator is doing a lot of work. It signals, "Value is done, promo starts now." That's respectful. People notice.
| Creator | Content strength | Typical reader reaction | Risk if copied badly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikolai | Tactical playbooks + punchy pacing | "Saved." "Trying this today." | Sounding like a template machine |
| Nick | Readability + audience targeting | "This is exactly me." | Over-polishing until it feels sterile |
| Othmane | Systems + GTM mechanics | "This helped me think." | Getting too technical too fast |
Where Nick Broekema and Othmane Khadri help explain Nikolai
Comparisons make patterns sharper. Here's how Nick and Othmane frame what's special about Nikolai.
Nick Broekema (the "content design" angle) is the benchmark for structure at scale. With 85,176 followers and a 98.00 Hero Score, he's proof that clean writing and strong positioning can scale without turning into generic advice. When you look back at Nikolai, you see a similar respect for layout and skimmability, but with more "builder energy" and more tactical steps.
Othmane Khadri (the "AI-native GTM systems" angle) feels like the operator in the room. He takes AI out of the hype cycle and puts it into motion: systems, workflows, how teams actually ship revenue. When you look at Nikolai through that lens, you notice Nikolai is doing something parallel: he makes AI feel usable and immediate, not abstract. Different niche, same principle: practical wins.
And yeah, all three score 98+ on Hero Score. That's not an accident. It's a signal that the market rewards creators who make thinking easier.
3 Actionable Strategies You Can Use Today
-
Write a hook that promises a real outcome - if your hook is "3 lessons," make the lessons feel like money.
-
Use whitespace like it's part of the message - short lines, clean breaks, and tight lists keep people reading.
-
Separate your CTA from your value - ask a question first, then use a clear separator (like "--") so the promo doesn't poison the post.
Key Takeaways
- Hero Score rewards usefulness, not just audience size - Nikolai's 99.00 is a giant green flag for value density.
- Structure is a growth feature - Nikolai and Nick both treat formatting like product design.
- Niche clarity compounds - Othmane stays tight on AI + GTM systems, Nikolai stays tight on product + growth + language confidence.
- CTAs work better when they feel earned - the separated P.S. block is simple, consistent, and respectful.
If you're trying to grow on LinkedIn, you don't need to become a different person. Just steal the parts that are honest and repeatable. Try one of these patterns this week and see what happens. What would you add?
Meet the Creators
Nikolai Golos
Product & Growth at Fluently AI (YC W24) | Improve your English speaking skills with AI
๐ Germany ยท ๐ข Industry not specified
Nick Broekema
Content Design that attracts your ideal audience
๐ Netherlands ยท ๐ข Industry not specified
Othmane Khadri
AI native systems that support your GTM motion
๐ United States ยท ๐ข Industry not specified
This analysis was generated by ViralBrain's AI content intelligence platform.