Jay Clouse's Best X Posts

@jayclouse

Talks about content creation and monetizing your expertise with communities

Jay Clouse has grown a big (and profitable) audience on X.

One of the reasons? The ability to create engaging content that got a lot of engagement.

Here are the 10 best posts (and why they worked):

Post #1

Jay Clouse

@jayclouse

I earn $50,000+ per month as a solo creator. If I was starting over in 2024, here's what I'd do: --- 1.) Choose a word or phrase to become associated with Every creator business needs a premise – a differentiated perspective on an idea. • James Clear: Habits • Codie Sanchez: Boring businesses • Nick Huber: Sweaty startups • Brené Brown: Vulnerability • Ryan Holiday: --- 2.) Create a free email-based course Every creator should use email as part of their strategy. Email-based courses are incredible lead magnets. They also build a relationship with both 1.) the reader and 2.) their inbox. A well-written, multi-day email course that serves the --- 3.) Choose a Discovery Platform Discovery Platforms have a mechanism for connecting NEW consumers to your content (social media, YouTube, etc). Relationship platforms are distribution you own (in our case, email). First decide: Do you want to focus on video or writing? If --- 4.) Align your digital footprint with your premise Whatever discovery platform(s) you choose, design your profiles to speak to your premise. Your profile should tell people: • What you talk about • Why they should care • Why you're legitimate and trustworthy --- 5.) Study, study, study Whether you're starting from zero or already have experience in your niche, become one of the most knowledgeable people IN THE WORLD on that subject. The better you know a subject, the more unique, insightful, and compelling your work. So you should read – a LOT. --- 6.) Go HARD on your discovery platform Become a student of the best accounts on that platform. Figure out why they are successful and model after them. Turn on notifications for big accounts in your niche to become visible (and appreciated) by being an early value-add in their

Why This Post Performed Well

Jay reuses the same hook that worked for another viral post of his. The opening hook talks directly to the key aspirations of the target audience: solopreneurs. Who wouldn't make to make "$50,000+ per month as a solo creator."? This specific number feels both aspirational and believable - it's high enough to be impressive but not so high that it seems unreachable. The post's first complete section about choosing a word or phrase is brilliant because it reveals an insider secret that feels both obvious in hindsight and profound in its simplicity. By providing concrete examples like "James Clear: Habits" and "Codie Sanchez: Boring businesses," it transforms an abstract concept into something immediately actionable. This section alone provides enough value that readers would want to share it. Also, the name-dropping directly resonates with the audience. These are figures the target audience knows, likes, and trusts. The sections about digital footprint alignment and studying your craft are complete and provide immediate, practical value. The three bullet points about profile design are especially powerful because they give readers a clear framework they can implement immediately. The post succeeds because it combines high-level strategy (choosing a word to be known for) with tactical advice (profile optimization), while maintaining an authoritative yet accessible tone throughout. The structure itself - using clear numbering and frequent line breaks - makes the content highly scannable and easy to digest, which is crucial for social media success. Each section feels like its own mini-lesson, making the post feel dense with value even if some sections aren't complete.

Post #2

Jay Clouse

@jayclouse

This idea from @JamesClear is something that I think about all the time. Just the second episode of my podcast and it's still one of my all-time favorites.

Why This Post Performed Well

This post succeeds because it crystallizes a profound insight about creating transformative value in a highly quotable way. Let me explain the multiple layers that make it resonate. First, the post gains immediate credibility by attributing the quote to James Clear, a respected authority in the digital creator space. The personal framing ("something that I think about all the time") adds social proof and suggests this insight has proven valuable over time. The quote itself is powerful because it reframes content creation from a technical exercise into an emotional transformation. Clear articulates what many creators intuitively seek but struggle to express: the ability to create watershed moments in their audience's lives. The repetition of "before and after" creates a memorable rhythm while emphasizing the profound impact great content can have. What makes this particularly compelling is how Clear scales the concept across different content formats - from books to tweets. This suggests that transformative value isn't limited to long-form content, making the insight feel actionable for creators at any level. The progression from larger formats (books) to smaller ones (tweets) also implies that even small pieces of content can create meaningful change. The post succeeds by combining aspiration with practicality. While it sets a high bar ("something that is so good"), it also provides a clear metric for success: can your audience divide their experience into "before" and "after" encountering your work? This gives creators both an inspiring goal and a concrete way to evaluate their output. The podcast episode context adds another layer of value, suggesting there's more depth to explore beyond just this quote, potentially driving further engagement with the original content.

Post #3

Jay Clouse

@jayclouse

My success as a creator traces back to one pivotal moment in 2017. I was lost in a job I didn't enjoy. I desperately wanted to do something out on my own – but I couldn't get myself to move forward. So I hired a coach who gave me a simple exercise: Go for a walk. No phone, no music, and no distraction. He told me to bring a pen and notebook and to listen to whatever voice was playing in my mind. Below is a photo of what I was telling myself over and over again: I am not an artist. I don't have good ideas, I can't do creative work, and I am less valuable because of it. I truly believed that I wasn't creative. I wanted to do creative things, but I felt like I couldn't. The next day, to prove myself wrong and start letting go of this limiting belief, I began writing a daily newsletter. After a full year of writing a daily newsletter, I no longer believed this. Even better – I kept creating. Now, my entire livelihood (which is much more lucrative than that job) is based on my creativity. YOU can change your beliefs. And by changing your beliefs, you can change your reality.

Why This Post Performed Well

The post succeeds through masterful storytelling that follows the classic hero's journey structure, but with a deeply personal twist. It opens with "one pivotal moment in 2017," immediately creating intrigue while anchoring the story in a specific time, lending credibility and relatability. The narrative hooks readers emotionally by describing a universally relatable struggle: feeling trapped in an unfulfilling job while harboring dreams of independence. The phrase "desperately wanted to do something out on my own" speaks directly to the anxieties and aspirations of many knowledge workers and potential creators. The coach's exercise introduces a powerful pattern interrupt - the simple act of walking without digital distractions. This suggestion feels both novel and achievable, making readers more likely to engage with and share the content. The mention of "pen and notebook" adds a tangible element that makes the exercise feel more real and actionable. The post's emotional core lies in revealing the limiting belief: "I am not an artist." This vulnerable admission creates deep resonance with readers who likely harbor similar self-doubts. The transformation from this belief to successful creator builds a compelling arc that gives readers hope for their own journey. The conclusion masterfully bridges from personal story to universal truth with "YOU can change your beliefs." This shift from narrative to direct address makes the post's message feel personally relevant to each reader, while the final line about changing reality provides the aspirational punch that drives sharing and engagement. What makes this post particularly effective is how it combines vulnerability, specific detail, and actionable insight while telling a complete story of transformation. It's both inspiring and practical, making readers feel they've gained both emotional encouragement and concrete guidance.

Post #4

Jay Clouse

@jayclouse

I earn $40,000+ per month as a solo creator. If I had to start over, here's what I'd do: --- 1.) Start an weekly newsletter If you have experience in a particular industry or niche, start there and position yourself as an expert. If you don't have experience, pick something you're obsessed with and position yourself as a curious learner. --- 2.) Study, study, study Whether you're starting from zero or already have experience in your niche, become one of the most knowledgeable people IN THE WORLD on that subject. The better you know a subject, the more unique, insightful, and compelling your work. So read – a LOT. --- 3.) Go HARD on Twitter There's still a lot of opportunity on Twitter – especially with Threads. Turn on notifications for big accounts in your niche and become visible (and appreciated) by being an early value-add in their replies. Tweet daily and publish 1-2 threads per week. --- 4.) Repurpose your best threads There's a huge arbitrage opportunity for turning your best threads into carousels on LinkedIn and Instagram. You can use Tweetpik or go the extra mile and use a design template from @canva. --- 5.) Direct social followers to your newsletter Append every Thread and every carousel with a Call To Action to subscribe to your newsletter for more. This is a slow drip, but it's consistent. And every subscriber counts! --- 6.) Start offering 1:1 consulting Your subscribers will look at you as more knowledgeable than them. Offer hourly 1:1 consulting to your readers – start at $100/hr and add a booking link to your email signature. Increase the price $100/hr every 10 bookings. --- 7.) Cross-promote with other newsletters The best way to get new subscribers is to put your newsletter in front of other newsletter subscribers. Cross-promote with other related newsletters or purchase paid advertisements in them. --- 8.) Roll out newsletter sponsorship It's pretty common to get ~$30 per CPM ($30 per 1,000 subscribers) in newsletter sponsorship. At 10,000 subscribers, that's $300 per newsletter advertisement which is $1200-1500 per month! This can really add up.

Why This Post Performed Well

The opening line ("I earn $40,000+ per month") serves as a powerful credibility hook by presenting a specific, impressive but not unbelievable income figure. The "solo creator" directly talks to the target audience. And "If I had to start over" frames this as battle-tested wisdom from someone who's succeeded that the reader can model. The post's structure brilliantly builds a complete business model, with each step flowing naturally into the next. It starts with the foundational newsletter (low barrier to entry) and culminates in multiple revenue streams: - sponsorships - consulting - cross-promotion. This progression creates a compelling narrative arc that feels both comprehensive and achievable. The writing style employs several key persuasive techniques. Short paragraphs and frequent line breaks make it highly scannable. The numbered format provides clear structure while implying a complete system. The use of capitalization ("Go HARD on Twitter") and specific numbers ($100/hr, 10,000 subscribers) adds emphasis and credibility. Each section provides immediately actionable advice rather than vague suggestions. For instance, instead of just saying "use Twitter," it gives specific strategies like monitoring big accounts and posting 1-2 threads weekly. This concrete tips makes the roadmap feel real and implementable. And it's increasing its perceived value and shareability. The post's mix of strategic overview and tactical detail. And it makes it valuable for both beginners and experienced creators.