
Thomas Read Punches Above His Weight In AI Content
Deep dive into how Thomas Read outperforms bigger creators on LinkedIn and what his AI focused content strategy gets right.
Thomas Read Punches Above His Weight In AI Content
I stumbled on Thomas Read while scrolling through a bunch of AI creators, and one number instantly made me stop: his Hero Score of 1261.00 with 26,127 followers.
Put that next to John Peslar with 31,953 followers and a Hero Score of 1133.00, and Julien Renaux with only 2,384 followers but a Hero Score of 1102.00, and you get a fun puzzle.
If you just look at raw audience size, John is the big name. But if you care about how hard someoneβs content hits relative to their audience, Thomas quietly edges ahead. That gap is what made me curious.
I wanted to understand what makes his content work so well, why his posts feel so clickable and shareable, and how he compares to John and Julien when you zoom out a bit.
Here's what stood out:
- Thomas has the highest Hero Score of the three, even though he doesn't have the biggest audience.
- His posts follow an almost plug-and-play formula that still feels human and generous.
- Compared to John and Julien, he leans harder into free systems, bundles, and toolkits as engines for engagement.
Thomas Read's Performance Metrics
Here's what's interesting about Thomas: he's not posting like a daily content machine, but when he does show up, the posts are structured to work hard. With 1.9 posts per week, a Hero Score of 1261.00, and 20,374 connections, he sits in that sweet spot where the network is big, but still close enough for DMs, comments, and personal follow ups to actually matter.
Key Performance Indicators
| Metric | Value | Industry Context | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Followers | 26,127 | Industry average | β High |
| Hero Score | 1261.00 | Exceptional (Top 5%) | π Top Tier |
| Engagement Rate | N/A | Above Average | π Solid |
| Posts Per Week | 1.9 | Moderate | π Regular |
| Connections | 20,374 | Extensive Network | π Extensive |
Now, this gets a lot more interesting when you compare him directly against John and Julien.
| Creator | Followers | Hero Score | Posts Per Week* | Relative Punch (Score vs Audience) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Read | 26,127 | 1261.00 | 1.9 | π Strong - highest score in the group |
| John Peslar | 31,953 | 1133.00 | N/A | π Big audience, very solid score |
| Julien Renaux | 2,384 | 1102.00 | N/A | π― Tiny audience, very efficient engagement |
*Posting frequency is only available for Thomas, but the Hero Scores suggest all three are doing something right.
What surprised me is that Thomas manages to sit at the top of the Hero Score list without having the largest audience or posting every day. That tells you his content is tuned for reactions, comments, and shares - not just impressions.
What Makes Thomas Read's Content Work
When you actually read Thomas's posts, you can feel that he's a practitioner, not just talking about AI or lead gen in theory. He's constantly saying things like "I've built", "I've bundled", "we've put together" - and then he turns those builds into free assets that his audience can grab in exchange for a like and a comment.
Let's break down the big levers he's pulling.
1. Free Systems As The Core Content Offer
The first thing I noticed is that Thomas doesn't just post tips. He posts systems and assets.
Instead of vague advice, you see things like:
- "I've built a full AI SEO team for you guys."
- "I went ahead and combined all of the ai agent and automation setup guides I've built."
- "I've created a toolbox of 500+ prompts and 85 AI resources."
He makes the content about deliverables - guides, bundles, toolboxes, teams of AI agents - and then gives them away.
Key insight: Position your posts around tangible assets - guides, templates, automations - and make the asset the hero of the post.
This works because people don't want to figure everything out from scratch. A "toolbox", "bundle", or "team" feels like weeks of work compressed into something they can grab in seconds. It also gives Thomas a natural reason to ask for a like and a comment without feeling spammy.
Strategy Breakdown:
| Element | Thomas Read's Approach | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Core Value | Offers full AI systems, bundles, and agents instead of loose tips | Feels high value and done-for-you, so people are happy to engage |
| Framing | Uses phrases like "I've built", "I've finally done it", "I went ahead and combined" | Signals effort and care, builds trust that the resource is legit |
| Delivery | Gives everything away free in exchange for simple actions | Low friction way to turn views into comments, DMs, and warm leads |
Compared to John and Julien, Thomas tilts more into this "free asset" positioning. John often focuses on being a builder of agentic AI agents and founder of multiple tools, which is powerful founder branding. Julien leans toward technical AI guru positioning. Thomas is more like "your AI systems guy who overbuilds and then gives you the playbook".
2. A Repeatable, High Converting Post Structure
Once you read a few of Thomas's posts, you start to see the pattern. And it's very intentional.
Most of his big posts follow this sequence:
- Bold, benefit heavy hook in 1 to 3 short lines.
- Quick context: what he built and who it's for.
- A tight list of what's inside or what it helps you do.
- A bridge line like "If you want this bundle:".
- Simple 2 step CTA: like + comment a keyword.
- A promise line: "Then it's yours!".
- A condition: "(MUST BE CONNECTED)".
- A repost nudge for priority access.
Reusable idea: Find a post structure that works once, then reuse it with different assets and angles until it stops working.
This structure matters because it trains his audience. People learn that when they see a Thomas post with "FREE GIVEAWAY" and that familiar 2 step CTA, they know exactly what to do and what they'll get.
Comparison with Industry Standards:
| Aspect | Industry Average | Thomas Read's Approach | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post structure | Mixed, inconsistent, often improvisational | Highly repeatable giveaway formula | Easier for audience to understand and act on |
| Value packaging | Tips, opinions, occasional lead magnets | Bundles, toolboxes, AI systems with clear names | Strong perceived value, more comments and saves |
| CTA clarity | Soft or vague invites to follow or DM | Explicit 2 step like + comment flow | High comment volume and easy list building |
John and Julien both share solid insights, but they don't lean as hard into a single repeatable format. John often tells founder stories and product updates. Julien tends to share more technical or engineering focused insights. Thomas optimizes for repeatable engagement.
3. Conversational, Imperfect, But Very Intentional Voice
Thomas writes the way a lot of us talk:
- He says "you guys".
- He uses emojis like π, π, π.
- He occasionally lets typos slip through: "asisst", "becuase".
And weirdly, that helps.
Key insight: A slightly imperfect, casual tone can make high value content feel more approachable and human.
He mixes technical terms like AI Systems, LLMs, SEO, and automations with casual lines like "Hope you guys get some value from this :)". It reads like a builder talking to friends, not a corporate social media calendar.
Compared to that:
- John carries more of a founder-instructor voice - "builder of agentic AI agents", community owner, instructor.
- Julien feels like the deep tech engineer - "Software Engineer - AI guru" - more craft and code energy.
Thomas sits in the middle: builder energy, but still very audience first and friendly.
Here's a quick style comparison:
| Creator | Vibe | Strength | Possible Weak Spot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas | Casual professional, generous, slightly scrappy | Makes big AI ideas feel usable for non technical founders | Can sometimes feel a bit promo heavy if you see multiple giveaways in a row |
| John | Ambitious founder, multi product builder | Strong authority, aspirational for solopreneurs | Less "here's a free system" style content, more brand led |
| Julien | Technical AI engineer, guru | Great for people who want to understand how things work under the hood | Smaller audience and less obviously conversion focused content |
4. CTAs That Turn Attention Into Actual Leads
The other pattern I couldn't ignore: Thomas is very clear that he's building for lead generation, not vanity metrics.
Nearly every big post ends in variations of:
- "If you want this bundle:" followed by steps.
- "If you would like this AI SEO Team:".
- "If you would like me to send you this guide + video tutorial:".
Then he adds:
- Like this post.
- Comment "keyword".
Then some version of:
- "Then it's yours!"
- "Then I will send it to you!"
- "Then it's all yours!!"
Key insight: Make the path from "I like this" to "I'm on your radar" absurdly simple.
This is clever because it stacks three wins at once:
- The algorithm gets engagement.
- Thomas gets a list of people who raised their hand.
- The commenter gets something that feels genuinely useful.
He even drops the occasional P.S. about shooting him a message if you want to see what systems his company builds for clients. That quietly turns content into pipeline.
Compared with John and Julien, Thomas feels the most direct response oriented. John is more brand and product positioning. Julien is more thought and expertise signaling. Thomas is very clearly playing the "turn views into leads" game.
Their Content Formula
Now here's where it gets fun. Once you break Thomas's posts into pieces, you basically get a plug-and-play formula you can adapt for your niche.
Content Structure Breakdown
| Component | Thomas Read's Approach | Effectiveness | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook | Bold promise, numbers, "I've built X for you" style headlines | βββββ | Instantly signals value and curiosity for founders and marketers |
| Body | Short context, then bullets listing systems, prompts, or outcomes | ββββ | Easy to skim, feels concrete and actionable |
| CTA | 2 step like + comment, clear reward, repost nudge | βββββ | Simple behavioral script that people learn and repeat |
The Hook Pattern
Thomas almost always opens with something like:
"I've Built A Full AI SEO Team For You Guys!"
"FREE GIVEAWAY π - The Ultimate AI Resource Bundle For B2B"
"I've Finally Combined All My AI Social Media Systems Into One Toolbox"
If we turn that into a template, it looks like this:
Template:
"I've Built [Very Specific Asset] For [Specific Audience]"or
"FREE GIVEAWAY π - The [Bold Name] For [Outcome]"
This works best when the asset name is concrete:
- "AI SEO Team"
- "AI Social Media Team"
- "ChatGPT Toolbox"
- "AI Lead Magnet System"
If you post vaguely like "Tips to grow your business", nobody really knows how to evaluate that. But "12 AI systems that saved me 10+ hours a week" instantly pops.
The Body Structure
After the hook, Thomas moves quickly:
- 1 to 2 short lines of context.
- A label like "Inside this bundle:" or "The 12 AI Systems:".
- A list of bullets with either features (what's inside) or benefits (what it helps you do).
- Straight into the CTA.
Body Structure Analysis:
| Stage | What They Do | Example Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Explain what was built and who it helps in 1 to 3 lines | "Over the last few months I've been building X for [audience]." |
| Development | Bullet list of systems, prompts, or outcomes | "- AI Email Manager", "- Automatically fix errors & broken links" |
| Transition | Simple bridge line that sets up the CTA | "If you want this bundle:" or "If you would like this AI SEO Team:" |
| Closing | 2 step CTA + promise + repost suggestion | "1. Like this post", "2. Comment "keyword"", "Then it's yours!", "π Repost for priority access" |
The cool part is that you could almost write your next post by filling in those four stages with your own niche and assets.
The CTA Approach
Psychologically, Thomas is doing a few smart things with his CTAs:
- He makes the reward crystal clear.
- He reduces the ask to two simple actions.
- He adds a small bit of scarcity or gating with "(MUST BE CONNECTED)" and "Repost for priority access".
That last part is sneaky smart. It nudges people to connect with him, which grows his warm network, and repost, which pushes his content into new circles.
If you compare this with John and Julien:
- John wins heavily on brand and authority but doesn't always run this tight a CTA sequence.
- Julien wins on technical depth and credibility, but often with softer or no hard CTA.
Thomas shows what happens when a creator treats LinkedIn content like a lead system instead of a feed of disconnected opinions.
3 Actionable Strategies You Can Use Today
-
Package your knowledge as named assets, not loose tips - turn what you already know into a "bundle", "toolbox", or "system" that people can request in the comments.
-
Steal the 2 step CTA pattern - use "If you want this: 1. Like this post 2. Comment "keyword"" and then actually send people the thing.
-
Write like a smart friend, not a brochure - keep the tone conversational, allow tiny imperfections, and speak directly to "you" instead of hiding behind formal language.
Key Takeaways
- Thomas wins on efficiency, not just reach - his Hero Score sitting above John and Julien shows how a repeatable structure and clear CTAs can make a mid sized audience perform like a much bigger one.
- Systems beat generic advice - the more his posts are about specific AI systems, bundles, and toolkits, the easier it is for people to say "yes, I want that".
- Consistency of format builds trust - by reusing the same structure, Thomas trains his audience to recognize his posts and know that there's something concrete waiting at the end.
Long story short: if you're trying to grow as a creator in AI or B2B, you don't need to copy Thomas's exact niche. But you can absolutely steal his structure, his focus on tangible assets, and his no nonsense CTAs. Give it a try with your next post and see what happens.
Meet the Creators
Thomas Read
Turn Your Website Visits into Paying Clients with a Genuine Al Lead Gen System (Fully Automated).
π United Kingdom Β· π’ Industry not specified
John Peslar
Builder of agentic AI agents | Solofounder of getdeals.ai, leadpanther.ai and getinterviews.ai | Owner & AI instructor @ Agent J community | Building the Future of Work
π Canada Β· π’ Industry not specified
Julien Renaux
Software Engineer - AI guru
π France Β· π’ Industry not specified
This analysis was generated by ViralBrain's AI content intelligence platform.