Who are the most influential voices in B2B copywriting & messaging?

    Updated September 7, 2026
    CONSENSUS
    April Dunford

    Answer summary

    The top 10 individual people who are the most influential voices on B2B copywriting and messaging include April Dunford, Peep Laja, Ann Handley, and Dave Gerhardt, among others. However, the ranking of these individuals varies across different sources. Some sources consider Emma Stratton, Steve Slaunwhite, and Diane Wiredu to be highly influential, while others prioritize Joanna Wiebe, Andy Raskin, and Chris Walker.

    Your presence

    Sign in to check whether you are mentioned or cited in this prompt.

    Where each engine placed them

    #VoiceChatGPTGemini logoGeminiPerplexityAI ModeCopilot logoCopilotMention rateShare of VoiceCiteRankCitabilitySentiment
    1DGDave Gerhardt11 / 157% -
    ChatGPTGeminiPerplexityAI ModeCopilot
    Mention rate 11 / 15Share of Voice 7%CiteRank - Citability Sentiment
    2JWJoanna Wiebe11 / 157% -
    ChatGPTGeminiPerplexityAI ModeCopilot
    Mention rate 11 / 15Share of Voice 7%CiteRank - Citability Sentiment
    3ADApril Dunford12 / 156% -
    ChatGPTGeminiPerplexityAI ModeCopilot
    Mention rate 12 / 15Share of Voice 6%CiteRank - Citability Sentiment
    4AHAnn Handley9 / 156% -
    ChatGPTGeminiPerplexityAI ModeCopilot
    Mention rate 9 / 15Share of Voice 6%CiteRank - Citability Sentiment
    5PLPeep Laja12 / 159% -
    ChatGPTGeminiPerplexityAI ModeCopilot
    Mention rate 12 / 15Share of Voice 9%CiteRank - Citability Sentiment
    6RFRand Fishkin6 / 154% -
    ChatGPTGeminiPerplexityAI ModeCopilot
    Mention rate 6 / 15Share of Voice 4%CiteRank - Citability Sentiment

    What the models searched first

    The sub-queries each engine actually searched before answering.

    Unlock the full picture

    The sub-queries each engine actually searched before answering.

    Your tracked entities

    Save a voice, brand or tool and see where it stands on this question.

    Full responses

    5 of 5 engines that answered. Full stored text as captured, with dashes shown as hyphens. Nothing is summarised.

    ChatGPT331 characters · September 7, 2026

    1. April Dunford 2. Joanna Wiebe 3. Dave Gerhardt 4. Peep Laja 5. Ann Handley 6. Robert Rose 7. Chris Walker 8. Katelyn Bourgoin 9. Andy Crestodina 10. Ross Simmonds [7 Top Message Strategy Experts to Learn From (2026) | Salesmotion](https://salesmotion.io/blog/message-strategy-experts?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

    Copilot3,986 characters · September 7, 2026

    Here’s a ranked list of the **top 10 most influential individual voices in B2B copywriting and messaging for 2025**, based on industry-recognized lists and thought leadership presence: ### 🔝 Top 10 Influential Voices in B2B Copywriting & Messaging (2025) 1. **Stefan Georgi** – Renowned for his RMBC method and high-converting direct response copy.[The Top 25 in 25 – Copywriters Who Will Dominate 2025](https://frontnews.deskstories.com/press-release/2025-02-21/16079/the-top-25-in-25-copywriters-who-will-dominate-2025) 2. **Dave Gerhardt** – Founder of Exit Five, leading B2B marketing communities and messaging strategies.[2025 Top B2B Digital Marketing Influencers | Clutch.co](https://clutch.co/resources/top-b2b-digital-marketing-influencers-2025?trk=public_post_comment-text)[Digital marketing influencers](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-digital-marketing-influencers-ivan-brice%25C3%25B1o-zgpif/) 3. **Chris Walker** – CEO of Passetto, widely followed for his B2B demand generation and messaging insights.[2025 Top B2B Digital Marketing Influencers | Clutch.co](https://clutch.co/resources/top-b2b-digital-marketing-influencers-2025?trk=public_post_comment-text) 4. **Alex Cattoni** – Known for charisma-driven copywriting and persuasive brand messaging.[The Top 25 in 25 – Copywriters Who Will Dominate 2025](https://frontnews.deskstories.com/press-release/2025-02-21/16079/the-top-25-in-25-copywriters-who-will-dominate-2025) 5. **Rand Fishkin** – Co-founder of SparkToro, influential in audience research and B2B positioning.[2025 Top B2B Digital Marketing Influencers | Clutch.co](https://clutch.co/resources/top-b2b-digital-marketing-influencers-2025?trk=public_post_comment-text)[Digital marketing influencers](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-digital-marketing-influencers-ivan-brice%25C3%25B1o-zgpif/) 6. **Justin Goff** – High-ticket copywriter, respected for conversion-focused messaging.[The Top 25 in 25 – Copywriters Who Will Dominate 2025](https://frontnews.deskstories.com/press-release/2025-02-21/16079/the-top-25-in-25-copywriters-who-will-dominate-2025) 7. **Eddie Shleyner** – Founder of VeryGoodCopy, a leading voice in short-form persuasive B2B copy.[The Top 25 in 25 – Copywriters Who Will Dominate 2025](https://frontnews.deskstories.com/press-release/2025-02-21/16079/the-top-25-in-25-copywriters-who-will-dominate-2025)[Top 10 Marketing Strategists Shaping the Future (2025 Edition) - Melissa Stefani-Bolin](https://www.melissabolin.com/blog/2025/6/13/top-10-marketing-strategists-shaping-the-future-2025-edition) 8. **Joanna Wiebe** – Founder of Copyhackers, pioneer in conversion copywriting for SaaS and B2B.[The Top 25 in 25 – Copywriters Who Will Dominate 2025](https://frontnews.deskstories.com/press-release/2025-02-21/16079/the-top-25-in-25-copywriters-who-will-dominate-2025) 9. **Ross Simmonds** – Founder of Foundation, expert in B2B content distribution and messaging strategy.[Top 10 Marketing Strategists Shaping the Future (2025 Edition) - Melissa Stefani-Bolin](https://www.melissabolin.com/blog/2025/6/13/top-10-marketing-strategists-shaping-the-future-2025-edition) 10. **Katelyn Bourgoin** – Creator of _Why We Buy_, specializing in customer psychology and positioning.[Top 10 Marketing Strategists Shaping the Future (2025 Edition) - Melissa Stefani-Bolin](https://www.melissabolin.com/blog/2025/6/13/top-10-marketing-strategists-shaping-the-future-2025-edition) ✅ This list blends **direct-response copywriting legends** (like Stefan Georgi, Alex Cattoni, Eddie Shleyner) with **modern B2B messaging strategists** (like Dave Gerhardt, Chris Walker, Rand Fishkin, Ross Simmonds), giving you the most influential voices shaping B2B communication today. Would you like me to also break down **what each of these experts is best known for in practical B2B messaging** (e.g., email, positioning, community building, funnels)? That way you’ll know exactly _where_ to follow them for the most value.

    Gemini899 characters · September 7, 2026

    1. Joanna Wiebe [Copywriting Thought Leaders - Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/1g7mlob/copywriting_thought_leaders/#:~:text=Personally%2C%20I%20think%20Joanna%20Wiebe%20is%20one,check%20them%20out.%20kalimdore.%20%E2%80%A2%202y%20ago.) 2. Peep Laja 3. April Dunford 4. Andy Crestodina [Top B2B Marketers to Follow - Maven Collective Marketing](https://mavencollectivemarketing.com/insights/blog/b2b-marketers-to-follow/#:~:text=*%20Andy%20Crestodina%20%E2%80%93%20%40crestodina.) 5. Ann Handley [Top B2B Marketers to Follow - Maven Collective Marketing](https://mavencollectivemarketing.com/insights/blog/b2b-marketers-to-follow/#:~:text=A%20writer%2C%20a%20digital%20marketing%20pioneer%2C%20Ann,articles%20about%20marketing%20practices%20and%20engaging%20webinars.) 6. Claire Suellentrop 7. Joel Klettke 8. Kevin Indig 9. Kaleigh Moore 10. Wes Bush

    Google AI Mode887 characters · September 7, 2026

    # Shared 0 files 1. _Joanna Wiebe_ 2. _Ann Handley_ 3. _Emma Stratton_ 4. Dave Gerhardt 5. _Ross Simmonds_ 6. _Erin Balsa_ 7. _Chris Walker_ 8. _Devin Reed_ 9. Diane Wiredu 10. _Jay Acunzo_ [About Punchy | B2B Positioning & Messaging](https://punchy.co/about/)[About Joanna (Jo) Wiebe, your messaging strategist](https://copyhackers.com/about-joanna-jo-wiebe/)[The top B2B content creators you should follow - Contentoo](https://www.contentoo.com/blog/best-b2b-content-creators-to-follow)[Top 25 Demand Gen Voices of 2026](https://demandgeninsider.com/voices/)[B2B Marketing Influencers: 10 Experts to Follow in 2026](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/b2b-marketing-influencers-10-experts-follow-2026-efpac) Would you like a brief breakdown of **why each of these experts** earned their spot or specific resources/newsletters they recommend for B2B messaging?

    Perplexity808 characters · September 7, 2026

    Here are 10 real individuals commonly regarded as influential voices in B2B copywriting and messaging, ranked from most to least influential based on industry presence, reach, and impact: 1. Dave Gerhardt 2. Ann Handley 3. Rand Fishkin 4. April Dunford 5. Peep Laja 6. Amanda Natividad 7. Ash Maurya 8. Joe Chernov 9. Noah Kagan 10. Michael Brenner Notes: - This list reflects widely recognized names across B2B messaging, positioning, and content strategy rather than a single publication or company’s endorsement. Influence can vary by subfield (copywriting, messaging framework, positioning, content strategy, etc.). If you’d like, I can tailor the ranking to a specific niche (e.g., messaging frameworks, product marketing, or enterprise B2B) or provide sources that readers in the field commonly cite.