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    Who should a b2b content marketer follow for B2B Content Marketing?

    Updated October 18, 2026

    Key takeaway

    There is no single agreed top 10, but Ann Handley (Perplexity, ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode), Ross Simmonds (Perplexity, ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) and Rand Fishkin (Perplexity, ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode) come up most often. Most engines favour classic content-marketing authors and practitioners. Engines mostly lean on listicle sources such as MarketingProfs, Maven Collective Marketing and a B2B SaaS roundup. They pick well-known authors and speakers who focus on content strategy, distribution and audience research.

    Mostly agree

    Ross Simmonds is a key voice on content distribution.

    Where they differ

    Type of expert chosen

      Who ranks first

        Inclusion of Joe Pulizzi

          Disagreement (3)

          Ann Handley is a top voice to follow.

          Rand Fishkin belongs in the top 10.

          Dave Gerhardt belongs in the top 10.

          Verdict

          There is no single agreed top 10, but Ann Handley (Perplexity, ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode), Ross Simmonds (Perplexity, ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) and Rand Fishkin (Perplexity, ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode) come up most often. Most engines favour classic content-marketing authors and practitioners.

          What engines actually searched

          The sub-queries each engine actually searched before answering.

          Cited, but not mentioned

          3 sites cite this answer without naming anyone

          Full responses

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

          ChatGPT333 characters · October 10, 2026
          1. Joe Pulizzi
          2. Ann Handley
          3. Robert Rose
          4. Marcus Sheridan
          5. Jay Baer
          6. Rand Fishkin
          7. Andy Crestodina
          8. April Dunford
          9. Dave Gerhardt
          10. Ross Simmonds

          MarketingProfs

          Gemini logo Gemini2,916 characters · October 10, 2026

          Here are the top 10 individual people a B2B marketer building a content program from scratch should follow on B2B content and thought-leadership marketing, ranked from most to least influential based on industry impact, thought leadership, and practical applicability:

          1. Ann Handley Top B2B Marketers to Follow - Maven Collective Marketing

          2. Ross Simmonds 15 Content Marketing Experts B2B SaaS Teams Should Follow

          3. Andy Crestodina 15 Content Marketing Experts B2B SaaS Teams Should Follow

          4. Dave Gerhardt 15 Content Marketing Experts B2B SaaS Teams Should Follow

          5. Michael Brenner Top 30 Marketing Experts & Influencers to Follow in 2026 | CDP.com

          6. Amanda Natividad 15 Content Marketing Experts B2B SaaS Teams Should Follow

          7. Chris Walker 15 Content Marketing Experts B2B SaaS Teams Should Follow

          8. Ardath Albee Top B2B Marketers to Follow - Maven Collective Marketing

          9. Rand Fishkin 15 Content Marketing Experts B2B SaaS Teams Should Follow

          10. Lee Odden Top B2B Marketers to Follow - Maven Collective Marketing

          Google AI Mode570 characters · October 10, 2026
          1. Seth Godin
          2. Ann Handley
          3. Rand Fishkin
          4. Dave Gerhardt
          5. Jay Baer
          6. Andy Crestodina
          7. Mark Schaefer
          8. Neil Patel
          9. Lee Odden
          10. April Dunford Top B2B Marketing Influencers to Follow in 2026 - LinkedIn

          If you'd like, let me know:

          • Your industry or niche
          • Your primary target audience/persona

          I can help you tailor the strategies of these experts to your specific content program.

          Perplexity147 characters · October 18, 2026

          Ann Handley
          Joe Pulizzi
          Andy Crestodina
          Lee Odden
          Rand Fishkin
          Ross Simmonds
          Jay Acunzo
          Devin Reed
          Dave Gerhardt
          Christopher Penn

          Copilot logo Copilot4,632 characters · October 10, 2026

          Top 10 most influential individuals for B2B marketers to follow in 2026 (ranked):

          1. Seth Godin – Legendary marketing thinker, bestselling author, and daily blogger shaping the vocabulary of modern marketing.25 Marketing & Brand Strategy Leaders in 2026 | The Industry Leaders

          2. Mark Ritson – Respected marketing educator and columnist, known for rigorous commercial insights.25 Marketing & Brand Strategy Leaders in 2026 | The Industry Leaders

          3. April Dunford – Leading B2B positioning expert, author of Obviously Awesome, helping companies clarify product-market fit.Top 26 B2B Marketing Experts to Follow in 2026

          4. Jon Miller – Co-founder of Marketo and Engagio, pioneer in marketing automation and account-based marketing.Top 26 B2B Marketing Experts to Follow in 2026

          5. Ross Simmonds – Founder of Foundation, expert in B2B content distribution and repurposing strategies.B2B Marketing Influencers: 10 Experts to Follow in 2026

          6. Chase Dimond – Email marketing strategist with $200M+ in attributed revenue, highly relevant for B2B retention and growth.B2B Marketing Influencers: 10 Experts to Follow in 2026

          7. Devin Reed – Content strategist, founder of The Reeder, known for executive thought leadership and storytelling.B2B Marketing Influencers: 10 Experts to Follow in 2026

          8. Elena Verna – Product-led growth authority, advisor to Dropbox, Miro, and MongoDB, shaping PLG frameworks.25 B2B Marketing Architects Defining 2026 | utm.one

          9. Chris Walker – Founder of Refine Labs, contrarian voice on demand generation and “dark social” strategies.50 Best B2B Marketing Influencers to Follow in 2026

          10. Dave Gerhardt – Former Drift CMO, founder of Exit Five community, influential in B2B marketing and demand generation.50 Best B2B Marketing Influencers to Follow in 2026

          Why these 10 matter

          • Seth Godin & Mark Ritson: Provide foundational thinking and frameworks every marketer should internalize.

          • April Dunford & Jon Miller: Offer practical, battle-tested strategies for positioning and martech adoption.

          • Ross Simmonds & Chase Dimond: Focus on distribution and retention - critical for scaling B2B content.

          • Devin Reed: Bridges content strategy with thought leadership, helping brands build authority.

          • Elena Verna: Essential for SaaS and PLG-driven B2B companies.

          • Chris Walker & Dave Gerhardt: Represent the new wave of demand-gen and community-led B2B marketing.

          Quick Comparison Table

          RankNameSpecialtyWhy Follow Them
          1Seth GodinMarketing philosophy, storytellingShapes core marketing vocabulary
          2Mark RitsonMarketing education, strategyRigorous, evidence-based insights
          3April DunfordPositioning, product marketingClear frameworks for B2B positioning
          4Jon MillerMarketing automation, ABMDefined multiple generations of martech
          5Ross SimmondsContent distributionPractical systems for scaling content
          6Chase DimondEmail marketing, retentionProven revenue-driving strategies
          7Devin ReedContent strategy, thought leadershipHelps leaders build recognizable POV
          8Elena VernaProduct-led growthPLG frameworks used by top SaaS firms
          9Chris WalkerDemand generation, dark socialContrarian insights on modern B2B growth
          10Dave GerhardtCommunity-led B2B marketingBuilds strong B2B communities

          👉 If you’re building a B2B content program from scratch, start with Godin and Ritson for foundational thinking, then layer in Dunford, Miller, and Verna for positioning and growth frameworks, and use Simmonds, Dimond, Reed, Walker, and Gerhardt for execution and distribution strategies.

          Would you like me to also suggest the best platforms (LinkedIn, newsletters, podcasts) to follow each of these leaders on, so you can build a daily content feed around them?