Insights from MUSKLY


MUSKLY-Public-Relations-Content-Marketing

 

In today’s competitive business landscape, PR and brand storytelling have become indispensable tools for success. This article explores the crucial role these strategies play in helping companies stand out, connect with audiences, and drive growth. Drawing on insights from industry experts, we’ll examine how authentic narratives and purposeful communication can transform a brand’s market position and customer relationships.

 

 

  • Align Internal Team with Brand Narrative
  • Authenticity Fuels Growth in Saturated Markets
  • Storytelling Opens Doors Traditional Marketing Can’t
  • Emotional Connections Drive Brand Loyalty
  • Craft Relatable Stories to Stand Out
  • Hook Readers with Compelling Brand Narratives
  • Shape Perception Through Purposeful Storytelling
  • Rise Above AI-Generated Noise with Authenticity
  • Control Your Narrative in a Crowded Space
  • Build Trust Before Customers Reach You
  • Humanize Brands for Higher Conversion Rates

 

 

Align Internal Team with Brand Narrative

 

PR and brand storytelling, for us, are less about promotion and more about alignment. I realized early on that if our internal team isn’t fully behind the story we’re telling, the outside world can tell.

 

There was a time when we were putting out messaging that sounded polished, but it didn’t reflect how our team genuinely talked about our work. Clients could sense the gap. So, we changed direction. We started pulling in our developers, project leads, and even support staff to shape the narrative. Their input made the messaging grounded and real.

 

That shift made a big difference. Journalists engaged more. Clients said things like, “You sound like people, not marketing copy.”

 

So to me, brand storytelling works best when it starts internally. When your people believe in the story, it naturally shows up in your PR.

 

– Vikrant Bhalodia, Head of Marketing & People Ops, WeblineIndia

Authenticity Fuels Growth in Saturated Markets

 

We’re living in a time where consumers are savvier than ever–they don’t just buy products; they buy into stories, values, and trust. That’s why PR and brand storytelling aren’t just nice-to-haves in today’s landscape–they’re non-negotiable. At Custom Neon, we’ve seen firsthand how weaving our narrative into everything we do has fueled our growth, from a maternity-leave side hustle to a market leader that has the likes of Paris Hilton sliding into our DMs!

 

Social media is flooded with ads and influencers pushing products, and people are tired of it. Our story at Custom Neon resonates because it’s real: Jake spotting a gap in the market while hunting for a sign for his son, or Jake the high school dropout overcoming dyslexia, finding his way in entrepreneurship. Jess is burning out as a new mum while building the business. Sharing that raw journey builds a connection that ads can’t. In a world where trust is currency, authenticity is how you earn it.

 

Storytelling amplifies your unique edge. Every brand’s got a product, but not every brand’s got a “why” that sticks. For us, it’s not just about selling neon signs–it’s about the family feel we’ve kept alive, the community we’ve built, the personal triumphs, not just ours but our customers’. We are lighting up their milestone moments, and we love to celebrate this. Today’s consumers want to root for brands with soul, and storytelling turns your USP into a headline.

 

PR stretches your reach. We’ve built relationships with journalists, tapped into local networks like the chamber of commerce, and jumped on podcasts to share insights–positioning Custom Neon as the go-to neon sign specialist. Paired with user-generated content (UGC)–customers tagging us with their signs–and you’ve got organic credibility that money can’t buy. One customer’s post about a sign commemorating a loved one sparked a feature that drove massive traffic. In a crowded digital space, PR and storytelling don’t just get you seen–they get you remembered.

 

It’s about longevity. Trends fade, but a solid story endures. We’ve learned that reflecting our values (passion, integrity, community) in every campaign keeps us relevant, whether we’re celebrating a small business’s foot traffic boost or our own team’s glowing reviews. Today’s audience demands that brands stand for something, not just sell something. With attention spans shrinking and skepticism rising, PR and storytelling bridge that gap by making you human, not just a logo.

 

Clare Jones, PR & Outreach Manager, Custom Neon

Storytelling Opens Doors Traditional Marketing Can’t

 

People want to connect with real experiences and values, not just products or services. I’ve seen firsthand how a well-told story can open doors that traditional marketing cannot. Many years ago, I helped a nonprofit share the story of one family impacted by their work. That single story was picked up by a local news outlet, which led to increased donations and several new partnership opportunities. The numbers followed the narrative, not the other way around.

 

My advice is to stop thinking of PR as a tool for damage control or announcements only. Use it to build long-term trust by showing who you are and what you stand for. Whether it’s a founder’s journey, a behind-the-scenes look at your process, or a spotlight on customer success, storytelling builds credibility and connection. The media and your audience both want stories with substance. Give them something worth remembering.

 

Jenn Greenleaf, Managing Editor, nDash

 

 

Emotional Connections Drive Brand Loyalty

 

PR and brand storytelling are crucial in today’s business environment for several key reasons:

 

Building Emotional Connections: Consumers are bombarded with information, and storytelling helps create emotional ties. Brands that tell authentic and compelling stories resonate more with audiences, leading to higher engagement and loyalty. For example, Nike uses stories about athletes overcoming challenges, which emotionally connect with people and strengthen brand loyalty.

 

Establishing Credibility and Trust: PR campaigns that focus on authentic, transparent storytelling help brands build trust. When consumers believe in a brand’s mission and values, they are more likely to engage with its products. Patagonia, known for its commitment to environmental sustainability, uses storytelling to showcase its environmental efforts, earning consumer trust and respect.

 

Enhancing Brand Visibility: PR and storytelling allow brands to be noticed in a crowded market. Crafting engaging narratives helps get media coverage and enhances brand visibility. For instance, Apple generates buzz through storytelling around its product launches, keeping its brand top of mind.

 

Differentiating from Competitors: In competitive industries, storytelling helps brands stand out by emphasizing their unique values and mission. Coca-Cola uses storytelling to evoke feelings of nostalgia and happiness, setting it apart from other soft drink brands.

 

Improved Media Relationships: Well-crafted stories appeal to journalists and secure more media coverage. Tesla, for example, integrates its sustainable energy mission into its story, generating positive media attention that reinforces its brand leadership.

 

In summary, PR and storytelling create emotional connections, establish trust, and differentiate brands, ultimately driving success.

 

– Subhendu, Digital Marketing Strategist, EDS FZE

Craft Relatable Stories to Stand Out

 

PR and brand storytelling matter now more than ever because people crave authenticity in a world overwhelmed by noise. It’s not enough to say what you do or sell anymore; you have to show why it matters to someone’s life.

 

Stories allow brands to be more than just a name. They become relatable and human. A story can spark curiosity, shift perception, and inspire action in a way that facts and figures can’t.

 

I recall helping a startup struggling to gain traction in a crowded market. Instead of pushing out generic advertising, we encouraged them to share how their journey began, a story of a founder who quit a stable job to follow their passion, faced setbacks, and finally brought their vision to life. This wasn’t just a tale; it was a connection point for their audience.

 

Customers saw themselves in the struggle and triumph, and suddenly, the product was more than an offering; it was a reflection of perseverance.

 

Erin Siemek, CEO, Forge Digital Marketing, LLC

Hook Readers with Compelling Brand Narratives

 

Today’s digital customer dynamic has changed drastically from only a few years ago, and we are all inundated with content that is typically more targeted to our interests. For this reason, making your content stand out and have value quickly to the reader is essential. You have to hook them and then keep them being reeled in by the storytelling, or their busy and short attention spans will be lost quickly.

 

People want to feel connected to brands. Telling stories makes your brand easy to understand and harder to forget. Stories stick more than the brand – think M&S Christmas TV Adverts in the UK. Each year they nail an emotional story that gets talked about and remembered to the point that now each year there is speculation and forward asking of ‘what will they do this year?’

 

In all this noise, you have moments to make an impact, to catch initial attention and to keep it. A good tale cuts through the noise and catches notice quicker than a dull sales or product messaging piece. Today’s folks seek brands that mean something and give them feeling, not facts. Telling stories lets you show your goal, mission, green practices, values, and how you want the buyer/consumer to engage with you at a deeper level.

 

PR and tales help feed your content machine to make it engaging and to attract repeat followers – blogs, podcasts, videos, social media all need rich content again and again, and this content also helps search engine visibility and organic reach.

 

PR builds a reputation, whilst storytelling gives it a heart and soul.

 

Ian Moyse, Industry Influencer, Ian Moyse

Shape Perception Through Purposeful Storytelling

 

Trust, credibility, and authenticity matter more than ever in a time of information overload. People naturally connect with brands that have a compelling narrative and a clear purpose. PR helps shape public perception, build relationships with key audiences, and position businesses as industry leaders. A strong brand story cuts through the noise, making companies more memorable and influential–whether it’s to increase visibility or attract clients and investors.

 

Jane Griffin, Chart.PR, Founder and CEO, Jane Griffin PR

Rise Above AI-Generated Noise with Authenticity

 

In 2025, where generative AI floods every corner of the internet with content, PR and brand storytelling are no longer “nice to have”—they’re how you rise above the noise. Great brand storytelling builds emotional resonance, not just visibility. It answers the question: Why should I trust you? At Centime, we’ve learned that when you’re in a complex, B2B fintech space, facts alone aren’t enough. You need a narrative that connects your product to real-world impact, especially if you’re asking someone to rethink how they manage cash.

 

PR extends that story to places your ads can’t reach. A well-placed thought leadership piece, customer success story, or podcast guest spot doesn’t just generate awareness—it gives your brand credibility through association. And in today’s landscape, trust is the currency. Your story isn’t what you say about your brand—it’s what others say when you’re not in the room. PR helps you shape that conversation.

 

Aimie Ye, Director of Marketing, Centime

Control Your Narrative in a Crowded Space

 

Because customers now relate to authenticity rather than simply things, public relations and brand storytelling are essential. Storytelling humanizes a business, fosters trust, and elicits emotional responses in a congested digital environment. It enables businesses to control their narrative, react transparently to crises, and differentiate themselves with a message that is motivated by purpose. Social media amplifies all voices, so a compelling narrative draws advocates and fosters loyalty. Public relations and storytelling are strategic assets that determine how a company is perceived and remembered in a rapidly changing environment. They are not merely promotional tools.

 

Faizan Khan, Public Relations and Content Marketing Specialist, Ubuy UK

Build Trust Before Customers Reach You

 

These days, people don’t just buy services – they buy the story behind them. Running a WordPress development agency, I’ve learned that PR and storytelling do something Google Ads can’t do on their own; they build trust before someone even lands on your site.

 

We used to rely purely on ads, and while they brought traffic, the leads felt cold. Once we started sharing real stories, like how we helped a local gym shift to online bookings during lockdown, something changed. That story got picked up by a local blog, and suddenly our ads started performing better without tweaking a thing. People would click and say, “I saw what you did for them.” It’s a warmer entry point.

 

PR isn’t fluff; it gives your brand context and credibility. In a space where everyone’s shouting, a good story makes people lean in. And honestly, it’s what has helped us go from just being seen to actually being remembered.

 

Nirmal Gyanwali, Founder & CMO, WP Creative

Humanize Brands for Higher Conversion Rates

 

In affiliate marketing, integrating Public Relations (PR) and brand storytelling is crucial for building trust and credibility. As consumers become increasingly skeptical of traditional advertising, compelling narratives that highlight a brand’s values and authenticity can enhance customer perception and engagement, leading to higher conversion rates. Effective storytelling humanizes a brand, making it more relatable and impactful in a crowded digital landscape.

 

Michael Kazula, Director of Marketing, Olavivo\