LS #41: AI-Era Founder Playbook
Marketing is changing. Where opportunities survive for founders.
Hi there,
I break down viral LinkedIn posts to see what grabs attention - and help you create content that leaves a mark.
In this issue, you'll find:
The 3 high-performing posts in tech this week
AI-Era Founder Playbook
LinkedIn post template and memes
The 3 high-performing posts this week
1. Let’s put the em dash debate to rest—now.
Why this post?
This post went viral, receiving 3.9k likes in 2 days. It received 90-260 more engagement and views than Mia's previous posts.
This post uses an ongoing debate.
BREAKDOWN
Opens with a direct, conversational hook that acknowledges an ongoing debate
Perfectly demonstrates the topic (em dash) in the very first sentence
Cleverly connects the topic to a current trend (AI writing detection)
Establishes historical context that separates myth from reality
Creates a pattern break ("But that's not what I'm here to talk about") to maintain interest
Uses carousel format with a bright pink background with bold white text for high visual impact
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN POST:
Choose a niche, specific topic that showcases your expertise
Open by acknowledging a debate or confusion around the topic
Demonstrate the technique/concept in your opening sentence
Create a carousel with a bold, attention-grabbing cover slide
Connect your niche topic to a trending conversation (like AI)
POST IDEAS FOLLOWING THIS TEMPLATE:
Let's settle the Oxford comma debate once and for all.
Are bullet points killing your engagement? Here's what to use instead.
The real reason your headlines aren't converting (and it's not what you think).
The "Three Sentence Rule" for emails that actually get responses.
Let's talk about why your first paragraph is sabotaging your content.
TOGETHER WITH POSTHERO
Grow your audience faster on LinkedIn. With an AI-powered tool that helps you create content and grow on LinkedIn.
Create high-converting content that helps you grow on LinkedIn
Create a weekly content in 76 seconds
AI Voice assistant for creating content in seconds
2. One packaging style sells 30% more.
Why this post?
Another post that went viral this week—it got 2k likes in 3 days and performed 5-100 times better than Armon’s other posts this week.
Visual evidence with actionable marketing insights.
BREAKDOWN:
Opens with an attention-grabbing hook (30% more sales) followed by a curiosity gap ("Can you guess?")
Uses a clean side-by-side visual comparison that perfectly illustrates the concept
Creates engagement through a quiz-like format that invites comments
Reveals the answer with authoritative phrasing ("Science shows...")
Adds credibility by citing specific research with precise data points (65% of participants, 12.3% more effective)
Includes concrete examples across multiple product categories (sunscreens, serums, shampoos)
Provides both the rule and the exception, showing nuanced expertise
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN POST:
Start with a surprising statistic or claim that creates curiosity
Use a clear visual that allows immediate comparison
Structure as a question-answer format to boost engagement
Include specific research data to build credibility
Provide both the general rule and its exceptions
POST IDEAS FOLLOWING THIS TEMPLATE:
One pricing strategy increases conversions by 40%. Can you spot it?
This button color gets 27% more clicks. Which one is it?
One headline format drives 35% more engagement. Can you guess?
This email subject line style gets opened 22% more. Which one?
One product image type increases add-to-carts by 31%. Can you tell which?
3. AI Gone Wild: Mona Lisa preparing to get painted, as imagined by AI
Why this post?
This post performed 20-240 times better than Ken’s other posts this week.
BREAKDOWN:
Uses a concise, intriguing title ("AI Gone Wild") that immediately communicates the content theme
Features an AI-generated video still that reimagines a cultural icon (Mona Lisa)
Minimal text lets the visual content be the star of the post
Properly credits the original creator
Creates engagement through the "behind the scenes" method
POST IDEAS FOLLOWING THIS TEMPLATE:
AI Reimagined: The making of Starry Night, visualized by AI
Behind the scenes: AI envisions how the Mona Lisa sitting ended
AI Time Travel: Ancient sculptures come to life in modern settings
Famous paintings extended: What's happening just outside the frame
AI Art History: Famous artists in their studios, as imagined by AI
AI-Era Founder Playbook
White Collar Is the New Blue Collar
AI is gobbling up jobs faster than we can say "unemployment benefits." Office workers are feeling the heat.
Lawyers? AI can review contracts in seconds. Doctors? AI spots diseases in scans with scary accuracy. Engineers? AI writes code while they're still setting up their development environment.
But try getting AI to clean your teeth. Good luck with that. Dentists and surgeons can breathe easy—for now.
Physical skills beat silicon brains.
Marketing Is Changing
Hubspot's traffic dropped 80% last month. SEO isn't what it was. Google's new AI search is reshuffling the internet deck.
Copywriters are watching AI craft compelling headlines in seconds. Ad specialists see AI optimizing campaigns better than humans.
Marketing departments that once needed ten people now need two - one to prompt the AI and one to approve its work.
Give AI two more years and it will be insane. What we see today is just an appetizer.
Where Opportunities Survive for Founders
Health and finance have a safety cushion. Nobody wants AI mistakes with their heart surgery or retirement fund - yet.
YouTube still loves real faces and voices. People connect with people, not algorithms pretending to be people.
Personal brands stand strong when built on authentic human experience. We trust people with stories.
Physical jobs - from plumbers to personal trainers - remain human territory. AI can't unclog your sink or spot your bench press.
And someone needs to build and maintain these AI systems. The irony: AI creates jobs destroying other jobs.
Founder's Corner: Content Creation in the AI Age
As a founder in content creation, these shifts aren't threats—they're rocket fuel.
Stop competing with AI on tasks it does better. Use AI as your production assistant while you focus on strategy and creativity.
The content game is changing from quantity to quality. While everyone else floods the internet with AI-generated fluff, create content with human insight and personality that AI can't fake.
Consider building in spaces where trust matters most. Finance and health content has staying power because people want human expertise backing important decisions.
YouTube and personality-driven platforms let you showcase what AI can't—your unique perspective and charisma.
The future belongs to those who partner with AI rather than compete against it.
Post Template: Growth Strategy Template
You can use the template below to create content faster with AI. Just provide your context and copy the template. It will help you create content following a viral post structure.
Template:
Good news! I made a 7-day [PLATFORM] plan for you.
Actually... [NUMBER] plans for [NUMBER] stages → find yours.
(Save this post + [SHARE_ACTION] before continuing)
Beginner: Needs [BEGINNER_NEED] (first [BEGINNER_TIMEFRAME])
Day 1: Spend the day [BEGINNER_ACTION_1]
Day 2: [BEGINNER_ACTION_2]
Day 3: [BEGINNER_ACTION_3]
Day 4: [BEGINNER_ACTION_4]
Day 5: [BEGINNER_ACTION_5] Day 6: [BEGINNER_ACTION_6]
Day 7: [BEGINNER_ACTION_7]
Intermediate: Needs [INTERMEDIATE_NEED] ([INTERMEDIATE_TIMEFRAME])
Day 1: [INTERMEDIATE_ACTION_1]
Day 2: [INTERMEDIATE_ACTION_2]
Day 3: [INTERMEDIATE_ACTION_3]
Day 4: [INTERMEDIATE_ACTION_4]
Day 5: [INTERMEDIATE_ACTION_5]
Day 6: [INTERMEDIATE_ACTION_6] Day 7: [INTERMEDIATE_ACTION_7]
Pro: Needs to [ADVANCED_NEED] ([ADVANCED_TIMEFRAME])
Day 1: [ADVANCED_ACTION_1]
Day 2: [ADVANCED_ACTION_2]
Day 3: [ADVANCED_ACTION_3]
Day 4: [ADVANCED_ACTION_4]
Day 5: [ADVANCED_ACTION_5]
Day 6: [ADVANCED_ACTION_6]
Day 7: [ADVANCED_ACTION_7]
Whatever stage you're at, remember:
[KEY_PRINCIPLE_1]
[KEY_PRINCIPLE_2]
[KEY_PRINCIPLE_3]
Who knows, maybe you can even mix-and-match these [NUMBER] approaches for your situation.
There is no one-size-fits-all [PLATFORM] strategy.
(This is just what I'd recommend at each stage)
But there are proven steps you can't miss! All here.
Hopefully, this helps. ([SHARE_ENCOURAGEMENT])
P.S. [ENGAGEMENT_QUESTION]
LinkedIn Memes
That's a wrap for today.
See you next week! If you want more LinkedIn tips, be sure to follow me on LinkedIn (link).
If you love this episode and want to support us, spread the word about us by sharing The LinkedIn Secrets with colleagues. I really appreciate it!
Thank you for reading!
What'd you think of today's edition?
Help me to understand what you think about this episode. Just reply with a number (1, 2, or 3) to this email.
1 - Damn good
2 - Meh, do better
3 - You didn't cook it
Your compadre,
Anton "LinkedIn growth strategies" Cherkasov