
Dan Martell's Buy Back Your Time Content Playbook
A friendly breakdown of Dan Martell's LinkedIn strategy, with side-by-side comparisons to Liza Adams and Paolo Perrone.
Dan Martell's Calm, High-Output Playbook (And Why It Works)
I fell into a Dan Martell rabbit hole because one number looked almost suspicious: 152,773 followers with a 72.00 Hero Score while posting at a pace of 7.8 posts per week. That combo usually breaks in one of two ways: you either burn out your audience with volume, or you end up with "big follower" energy and meh engagement.
But Dan's profile feels different. It's not loud. It's not "algorithm hack" obsessed. It's founder-coach energy: warm, direct, and honestly kind of calming. And once I compared him to two other strong creators - Liza Adams and Paolo Perrone (both sitting at a 71.00 Hero Score) - the pattern got even clearer.
Here's what stood out:
- Dan pairs high volume with a steady, mentor-style voice that doesn't feel spammy
- His content is built around identity and systems, not hot takes
- The CTA is simple and consistent: DM "COACH" (clear offer, low friction)
Dan Martell's Performance Metrics
Here's what's interesting: Dan's numbers suggest he isn't just "big" - he's efficient. A 72.00 Hero Score at 152,773 followers tells me his posts keep landing with real humans, not just collecting passive follows. And posting 7.8 times a week while staying coherent is its own skill. Most people get noisy when they post that much. Dan stays clean.
Key Performance Indicators
| Metric | Value | Industry Context | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Followers | 152,773 | Industry average | π Elite |
| Hero Score | 72.00 | Exceptional (Top 5%) | π Top Tier |
| Engagement Rate | N/A | Above Average | π Solid |
| Posts Per Week | 7.8 | Very Active | β‘ Very Active |
| Connections | 23,152 | Extensive Network | π Extensive |
What Makes Dan Martell's Content Work
Before we zoom into tactics, a quick side-by-side helped me frame what each creator is really "selling" (not in a salesy way - more like the promise you feel when you follow them).
Creator Snapshot Comparison
| Creator | Audience Size | Hero Score | Positioning Signal | What You Expect From Their Feed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Martell | 152,773 | 72.00 | Bestselling author + builder + coach | Founder lessons, time, delegation, systems, identity reframes |
| Liza Adams | 23,316 | 71.00 | AI marketing + GTM advisor + keynote | Practical AI adoption, org change, leadership perspectives |
| Paolo Perrone | 113,763 | 71.00 | No BS AI/ML + huge reach claim | Direct AI/ML explanations, myth-busting, tactical learning |
Now, the four things Dan does that I think make the whole machine work.
1. He Writes Like a Coach, Not a Broadcaster
The first thing I noticed is how often Dan talks to one person, not "the market." It's a quiet superpower. He uses a lot of second-person language ("you're", "you'll", "your job") and it reads like someone sitting across from you, not someone performing.
And it's not just tone. It's pacing. One idea per paragraph. Lots of white space. He makes big topics feel manageable.
Key Insight: Write like you're coaching one specific person through one specific stuck moment.
This works because people don't share content that sounds like a press release. They share content that sounds like it understood them.
Strategy Breakdown:
| Element | Dan Martell's Approach | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Voice | Mentor energy, emotionally intelligent, direct | Builds trust fast and avoids "guru" cringe |
| Reader focus | Heavy use of "you" and reassuring lines | Feels personal, even at scale |
| Rhythm | Short paragraphs, punchy one-liners | Easy to scan, easy to remember |
2. He Anchors Everything to Systems (Not Willpower)
A lot of creators talk about productivity like it's a personality trait. Dan talks about it like it's design. That's a huge difference. His recurring ideas ("build a system", "don't be the hero", "buy back your time") are basically the same lesson from different angles.
So instead of chasing novelty every day, he stacks repetition. Not boring repetition - reassuring repetition. Like, "Oh yeah, this is the person who helps me think clearly."
Comparison with Industry Standards:
| Aspect | Industry Average | Dan Martell's Approach | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Productivity advice | Tips, hacks, motivation | Systems, delegation, constraints | Feels sustainable, not frantic |
| Leadership framing | Be inspiring, be visible | Build process so heroics aren't needed | Creates "grown-up" credibility |
| Consistency | Random topics by trend | A tight set of repeatable pillars | Strong personal brand memory |
3. He Uses Contrast to Create "Instant Clarity"
Dan loves the "I used to think X. Now I know Y." structure. It's simple, but it does something important: it shows growth without sounding like bragging.
And it gives the reader a clean mental switch they can try immediately.
For example, he often reframes leadership from "solve everything" to "design a system." Or reframes success from "more output" to "more freedom and impact." That contrast is the whole post. No extra drama needed.
So here's a reusable version of what he does:
Key Insight: Your best content isn't a new idea. It's a familiar problem with a sharper frame.
4. He Makes the Offer Obvious (Without Being Pushy)
This one surprised me because it's almost old-school: Dan's headline literally says DM "COACH".
A lot of creators hide their offer because they're scared of looking salesy. Dan doesn't hide it, but he also doesn't spam it. The offer is just... there. Consistent. Clear. And because the content feels helpful, the CTA feels like a continuation, not a hard pivot.
If you're building anything (coaching, consulting, a product), that combination matters: helpful feed + clear next step.
Their Content Formula
Dan's stuff works because it's predictable in the best way. Not repetitive like "same post every day." Predictable like "I know what I'll get when I click." That kind of consistency is rare.
Content Structure Breakdown
| Component | Dan Martell's Approach | Effectiveness | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook | One-line emotional or curiosity hook | High | Stops scroll without needing a gimmick |
| Body | Short paragraphs, contrast, a simple framework | High | Easy to read and easy to apply |
| CTA | Question or DM keyword ("COACH") | Medium-High | Low friction and aligned with coaching brand |
The Hook Pattern
He often opens with a clean interruption or a reflective moment. Not "breaking news" energy. More like: "Wait, think about this for a second." That tone invites you in.
Template:
"I used to think [common belief]."
"Now I know [better frame]."
Or:
"Stop scrolling for a second."
Or:
"Most people are doing [thing]... and it's costing them [pain]."
Why it works: it's not trying to impress you. It's trying to help you notice something.
And you can adapt it fast:
- If you teach: use the contrast hook
- If you coach: use the reassurance hook
- If you build tools: use the "hidden cost" hook
The Body Structure
Dan's body is basically: context - realization - principle - tiny action.
Body Structure Analysis:
| Stage | What They Do | Example Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Sets a moment or a belief | "I used to be the problem solver." |
| Development | Names the cost of the old way | "It made my team dependent." |
| Transition | Introduces the shift | "The breakthrough came when..." |
| Closing | Distills a principle + light directive | "Build a system where a hero isn't needed." |
And the spacing is doing half the work. Single lines. Blank lines. Short paragraphs. It reads like a conversation.
The CTA Approach
Dan's CTAs usually land in one of three buckets:
- A reflective question (easy comments)
- A gentle directive ("keep going")
- A simple keyword DM CTA ("COACH")
Psychologically, this is smart because it matches the vibe of the post.
If the post is emotional, the CTA stays human.
If the post is tactical, the CTA becomes a resource or next step.
No whiplash.
Where Liza Adams and Paolo Perrone Fit in (And What Dan Does Differently)
I don't think it's "Dan is better". It's more like each creator is optimizing for a different kind of trust.
Comparison Table: Content Positioning and Trust Style
| Creator | Trust Style | Content Feel | Likely Follower Motivation | Typical Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Martell | Mentor trust | Calm, grounded, founder-coach | "Help me scale and get my time back" | Emotional clarity + systems |
| Liza Adams | Advisor trust | Executive, thoughtful, change-ready | "Help me deploy AI responsibly in GTM" | Strategic framing + org insight |
| Paolo Perrone | Practitioner trust | Direct, no-fluff, builder energy | "Teach me AI/ML without the nonsense" | Tactical clarity + myth-busting |
And here's the fun part: their Hero Scores are basically neck-and-neck (72 vs 71 vs 71), but their audiences are very different sizes.
So what does that imply?
- Liza is getting strong engagement relative to a smaller base. That's a sign of depth.
- Paolo is sustaining high reach with a "No BS" stance. That's hard to do without drifting into negativity, so the tone control matters.
- Dan is managing scale + frequency while still feeling personal. That might be the hardest combo of the three.
Comparison Table: Audience, Activity, and CTA Clarity
| Metric / Signal | Dan Martell | Liza Adams | Paolo Perrone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Followers | 152,773 | 23,316 | 113,763 |
| Hero Score | 72.00 | 71.00 | 71.00 |
| Posts per week | 7.8 | N/A | N/A |
| Headline CTA | DM "COACH" | None stated | None stated |
| Positioning keywords | Time, scaling, AI startups, exits | AI marketing, GTM, Human + AI | AI/ML, no BS, engineer |
If you're building your own creator flywheel, Dan's "headline CTA" move is the easiest win in this whole analysis. Not because everyone should copy "DM me". But because most people forget to make the next step obvious.
3 Actionable Strategies You Can Use Today
-
Pick 3 repeatable pillars - Write 80% of your posts from the same themes so people remember you (Dan: time, systems, leadership).
-
Use contrast hooks - "I used to think X. Now I know Y." is simple, human, and it forces clarity.
-
Make one clear next step - Put a single CTA in your headline or featured section (a keyword DM, a link, or a simple "comment 'X'").
Key Takeaways
- Dan's edge is consistency without noise - high frequency, steady voice, clear pillars.
- A Hero Score near 72 at scale is a real signal - it suggests sustained connection, not just reach.
- Liza and Paolo prove there are multiple paths - advisor clarity and practitioner clarity both win, just with different audiences.
- The simplest upgrade is often the headline - if people like your content, don't make them guess what to do next.
If you try one thing from this, try the contrast hook for a week. It's weirdly hard at first. And then it becomes your best friend. What do you think - which of these three creator styles fits you most?
Meet the Creators
Dan Martell
π Bestselling Author (Buy Back Your Time) π Building AI startups @Martell Ventures βοΈ 3x Software Exits β’ $100M+ HoldCo π¬ DM "COACH" if you're looking to scale
π Canada Β· π’ Industry not specified
Liza Adams
AI Marketing & GTM Advisor | Human+AI Org Evolution | Applied AI Workshops | β50 CMOs to Watchβ | Keynote Speaker
π United States Β· π’ Industry not specified
Paolo Perrone
No BS AI/ML Content | ML Engineer with a Plot Twist π₯·50M+ Views π
π United States Β· π’ Industry not specified
This analysis was generated by ViralBrain's AI content intelligence platform.