Dave Gerhardt, CEO of Exit Five and one of the most well-known voices in B2B marketing, joins the show to talk about building a founder brand, why every founder should be on LinkedIn, and how AI is shaping content creation. Dave shares his personal journey, the tactics that helped Drift and Privy scale, and his daily writing habits. Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or executive, this episode is packed with actionable insights on leveraging LinkedIn, storytelling, and content creation to build authority and drive growth.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Dave helped shape the founder-led marketing strategy at Drift
• Why storytelling is the key to building a strong brand
• The unexpected benefits of posting on LinkedIn (beyond sales)
• Dave’s approach to writing and content creation (and how he stays consistent)
• Why AI is a powerful tool for structuring content (even if you still write manually)
• The secret to stockpiling content ideas so you never start from scratch
• How just one post can change the trajectory of your brand (with examples)
• Dave’s advice for founders who struggle to post on LinkedIn

Memorable Quotes:

1. "Drift had a vision, and we used LinkedIn as the conduit to shape and share that story. Every founder should do the same."
2. "Suck it up, buttercup—posting on LinkedIn does more than sell. It attracts talent, builds awareness, and delivers audience feedback."
3. "If I were running your business or ghostwriting, I’d absolutely be using AI tools. I even helped a founder build some Claude recipes for content."
4. "Writing is easier when you’ve stockpiled ideas. You need to gather wood before winter so you’re never out of fuel."
5. "It only takes one post to pop. Just look at Ding Zheng—one viral moment put him on the map. The opportunity is still there."

Tactical Takeaways You Can Apply Today:

• Start posting on LinkedIn—even if it feels awkward. The benefits go beyond sales.
• Use storytelling to make your content more compelling. People connect with narratives, not product pitches.
• Stockpile content ideas separately from your writing time to keep your creative flow consistent.
• Experiment with AI for structuring and brainstorming content—it won’t replace you but can enhance your workflow.
• Don’t overthink LinkedIn. You’re already sharing valuable insights internally—just share them publicly.
• Consistency beats perfection. Show up every day, and your personal brand will grow.

People, Tools, and Resources Mentioned:

• Exit Five (Dave’s B2B marketing community)
• AI tools like Claude for content creation
• Google Docs for stockpiling content ideas

Follow Dave Gerhardt:

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davegerhardt/
• Exit Five: https://www.exitfive.com/

Stay Connected 

Want to connect or share feedback? Brad welcomes connection requests from listeners—reach out on LinkedIn and share your thoughts!

• Brad Zomick’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bzomick
• Spectamur website: https://spectamur.com
• LinkedIn Famous LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/linkedinfamous

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