Dave Gerhardt
Founder: Exit Five. Top community for B2B marketing professionals. Former CMO in tech. Author: Founder Brand.
Dave Gerhardt focuses on B2B marketing leadership, sharing his experiences and opinions. He's known for his direct, no-nonsense style and using bold statements to grab attention, like "Let's make the CMO be the CMO again."
15.4/wk
200 posts in 30d
271
avg per post
25.1%
comments / total
0.8%
reposts / total
story
Sun · 2 PM CET
Voice & tone
Dave's voice is direct, opinionated, and conversational. He comes across as a seasoned mentor who isn't afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. He uses short sentences and blunt language, often ending with a casual "(my opinion)" or "Full stop." This makes his content feel authentic and relatable.
Signature phrases
- “Full stop.”
- “That's my bias, but I'm sticking with it.”
- “The story is the strategy”
- “Here are X timeless lessons for...”
- “I miss the early days of...”
Top 3 posts, dissected
Their highest-engagement posts, broken down line by line. Steal the structure.
Let's make the CMO be the CMO again. Your CMO should be the best storyteller at your company. Full stop. That's my bias, but I'm sticking with it. The CMO is not the CFO (crazy, right?) The CMO should be company's best storyteller. Is the other stuff important? Of course it is. You need metrics. You need reporting. You need data. You need so many things. But if you don't nail the story to your market, a clear POV, and true differentiation -- none of the other stuff will matter. And if the CMO can't get the company (internal team) excited and rallied around the company mission, how will you ever be able to get strangers (customers) onboard? The most valuable asset in any company is its story. And the CMO must be the chief custodian of that story. Not a bean counter. Not a data wrangler. A storyteller. (my opinion) A CMO who cannot craft a compelling story - who cannot articulate a clear point of view or highlight what truly sets the company apart - will find that all the data in the world won’t move the needle. PS. This is more important now than ever. In a world of AI slop and sameness and customers who don’t actually believe your claims in marketing - you need a strong POV and great storytelling. Led by a human.
The hook is a strong, declarative statement that challenges the status quo. It immediately positions the CMO as a storyteller, not just a data analyst.
The post is structured as an opinion piece with short paragraphs and clear, concise sentences. It uses repetition to emphasize key points.
- Direct address – speaks directly to the reader using "Your CMO"
- Repetition – repeats the phrase "best storyteller" for emphasis
- Short sentences – keeps sentences punchy and easy to read
The post ends with a PS that hints at the importance of the topic in the age of AI, creating curiosity and driving comments.
Take a strong stance on a key issue in your industry to spark debate and engagement.
I’m excited to share an important update about the leadership structure at Exit Five. After two years running our business as COO, I’ve promoted Dan Murphy to CEO. My role as Founder & Owner does not change; more on that in a bit. This promotion isn’t a shift in how we opera…
The hook uses excitement and importance to draw the reader in. Announcing a leadership change immediately signals a significant update.
The post tells a story about a promotion and explains the reasoning behind it. It uses the framework of "Visionary" and "Integrator" from the book Traction to add credibility.
- Storytelling – frames the announcement as a narrative
- Third-party validation – references the book Traction
- Personal touch – shares personal feelings about the partnership
The post continues the story, leaving the reader wanting to know more about the future plans.
Frame important announcements as stories to make them more engaging and relatable.
If you only read one post about marketing this week it should be this one. We are drowning in AI slop. But I am going to throw you a life jacket. ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, this agent or that. It's all great. But here's what you really need to know about the craft of…
The hook uses a contrarian claim to grab attention. It suggests that the post contains essential information that the reader cannot afford to miss.
The post is structured as a numbered list of principles. It starts with a problem (AI slop) and offers a solution (timeless marketing principles).
- Problem/solution – identifies a pain point and offers a solution
- Numbered list – presents information in an easily digestible format
- Relatability – reminds the reader that people are selfish
The post lists five principles and then elaborates on the first one, creating curiosity and encouraging the reader to continue reading.
Use numbered lists to present actionable advice in a clear and concise manner.
What drives their engagement
Dave's opinionated posts and bold statements, like "Let's make the CMO be the CMO again," often spark debate and discussion in the comments.
His posts that offer timeless lessons and actionable advice, such as "Here are 16 timeless lessons for B2B marketers," are more likely to be reposted.
Low — this creator optimizes for reach not saves
Content pillars
CMO Leadership
30%Advice and opinions on the role and responsibilities of a CMO in today's B2B landscape.
B2B Marketing Principles
25%Timeless marketing strategies and tactics that cut through the noise of trends and AI.
Exit Five Updates
15%News, announcements, and insights related to his company, Exit Five.
Social Media Commentary
15%Observations and critiques about the current state of social media and its impact on marketing.
Personal Anecdotes
15%Relatable stories from his career and life that illustrate marketing lessons.
Hook patterns
Bold Declaration
Statement of strong belief about [topic]
“Let's make the CMO be the CMO again.”
→ Immediately establishes a strong point of view and invites agreement or disagreement.
Nostalgic Opening
I miss the early days of [topic]
“I miss the early days of social media.”
→ Taps into shared memories and creates a sense of connection with the audience.
List Teaser
Here are [number] timeless lessons for [audience]
“Here are 16 timeless lessons for B2B marketers:”
→ Promises valuable, actionable advice in an easily digestible format.
Contrarian Claim
If you only read one post about [topic] this week it should be this one.
“If you only read one post about marketing this week it should be this one.”
→ Positions the content as essential and creates a sense of urgency.
Vulnerable Question
Question that exposes a common struggle or insecurity about [topic]
“N/A”
→ N/A
Story Opening
I’m excited to share an important update about [topic]
“I’m excited to share an important update about the leadership structure at Exit Five.”
→ Signals a significant announcement and draws readers into the narrative.
Top-performing hooks
“Let's make the CMO be the CMO again.”
→ The post takes a strong, opinionated stance on the CMO's role, which resonates with leaders and marketers. The emphasis on storytelling taps into a current trend and provides a clear, memorable messag
“I’m excited to share an important update about the leadership structure at Exit Five.”
→ The post announces a significant leadership change, immediately establishing authority. It combines a professional update with a personal story, making it relatable and engaging, while also highlighti
“If you only read one post about marketing this week it should be this one.”
→ The post leverages a strong contrarian hook, addresses a common problem (AI overload), and provides actionable, timeless marketing principles. The numbered list format makes the content easily digesti
“Here are 16 timeless lessons for B2B marketers:”
→ The post provides a clear, actionable list of lessons learned from the author's career, offering valuable insights for B2B marketers. The numbered list format makes the content easy to digest, and the
“I miss the early days of social media.”
→ The post taps into a shared sentiment of missing simpler times on social media, making it relatable. The humorous exaggeration and prediction of AI comments add to its appeal and encourage engagement.
“I’m solo parenting this week and my wife didn’t need to give me an instructional manual on how to take care of my children.”
“Stop think of "getting your CEO to post on LinkedIn" and start thinking about it like "this is the new PR channel for our company."”
→ The post challenges the conventional view of CEO social media presence as a direct lead generation tool, reframing it as a PR channel. This contrarian approach, combined with relatable arguments about
“Please don't get mad about this, but here's the truth I've learned: you get freed up to do great marketing when you are not under constant pressure to deliver a direct response on everything you do.”
→ The post challenges the common obsession with immediate ROI in marketing, resonating with marketers who face pressure to deliver short-term results. It offers a solution by advocating for internal edu
“The CEO should put the Product team and Marketing team together.”
→ The post presents a clear solution to a common problem (siloed product and marketing teams) and offers a tangible benefit (company momentum). The exclusive community CTA adds scarcity and appeals to a
“I spent the entire weekend in Claude Code.”
→ The post uses a relatable, albeit controversial, personal story to grab attention. It highlights a common struggle (work-life balance) while subtly promoting the benefits of a specific tool or strateg
What works
- Bold statements: Posts with bold statements as hooks average 344 engagements.
- Numbered lists: Lists like "Here are 16 timeless lessons..." perform well, averaging 340 engagements.
- Story format: Sharing stories, like the leadership update, resonates with his audience, averaging 300 engagements.
- Direct language: He uses short, punchy sentences and phrases like "Full stop." to emphasize his points.
- Opinionated content: He isn't afraid to share his strong opinions, which sparks debate and engagement.
- Sunday posting: Posting on Sundays seems to yield higher engagement.
Steal this for your own LinkedIn
- Start with a bold statement to grab attention and establish your point of view.
- Use numbered lists to present actionable advice in a clear and concise format.
- Share personal stories and anecdotes to make your content more relatable.
- Don't be afraid to express your opinions, even if they are controversial.
- Post consistently to stay top of mind with your audience. Aim for 15+ posts per week.
- Experiment with posting on Sundays to see if it improves your engagement.
Compare Dave with…
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Dave Gerhardt vs Peep Laja: Leadership voice beats data authority on LinkedIn
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Walker vs Gerhardt: Data-driven confrontation beats storytelling on LinkedIn
vs Ross Simmonds
Dave Gerhardt vs Ross Simmonds: Authority versus Niche Expertise
vs Luke Matthews
Dave Gerhardt vs Luke Matthews: Volume beats virality on LinkedIn
vs Matt Barker
Dave Gerhardt vs Matt Barker: Authority vs Accessibility on LinkedIn
vs Chamath Palihapitiya
Chamath vs Dave: Authority through systems or conversation through stories
Get the full Dave Gerhardt playbook
Hook templates, content calendar, posting cadence, and the exact frameworks they use - delivered to your inbox.
Posting patterns
Dave posts frequently, averaging 15.4 posts per week, demonstrating a commitment to consistent content creation.
His posts perform best when published on Sundays, around 1 PM UTC.
Very long posts (350+ words) perform best, averaging 378 engagements, suggesting his audience appreciates in-depth content.
Engagement by day
Content mix
avg 300 engagements per post
avg 281 engagements per post
avg 340 engagements per post
avg 151 engagements per post
avg 319 engagements per post
avg 167 engagements per post
Dave's content mix works because it balances thought leadership (CMO advice, B2B principles) with personal connection (stories, social commentary). This combination keeps his audience engaged and coming back for more.
