Why Storytelling PR Is the Most Underrated Growth Strategy in 2025

What Is Storytelling PR?

Storytelling PR refers to the practice of merging PR strategy with a narrative approach. It blends strategic messaging with emotional connection. The goal of storytelling PR is to identify your brand’s voice, clarify your core values, and then turn these foundational ingredients into a cohesive, impactful narrative that acts as the driving force behind future PR campaigns.

Traditional PR often focused solely on forming connections and delivering information through media relations. In this case, a PR team would focus on finding the right journalists, bloggers, and media outlets to feature your brand—and let those outside parties control the narrative.

Storytelling PR is all about taking back this control and reframing it in a more individualized, meaningful way. Instead of letting a third-party decide how to report a product launch or brand expansion, storytelling PR ensures that the story originates from the source: you and your brand.

Effective storytelling PR relies on several key components, including:

• Narrative Arc: Any compelling story has a beginning, middle, and end, and the narratives that are the backbone of storytelling PR are no exception. The narrative should take your audience on a journey—think defining a problem, highlighting the lack of adequate solutions on the market, and presenting your product as a unique answer to the issue at hand.
• Relatability: Whether your product or services have a broad audience or fit a specific niche, the narrative you develop should be relatable. This means understanding your target demographic, the issues they face, and the values that matter most to them. The goal of your story should be to spark or strengthen a connection between your brand and your audience, not to alienate them. There’s a fine-line between story and sales pitch, and it’s essential to land on the side of story.
• Values: Nothing puts a damper on the impact of a PR campaign like inauthenticity. The narrative you choose should emerge from and showcase your brand’s core values. When these values are baked into the narrative, it’s far more likely they will be picked up on by both potential and existing customers who share central concerns with your brand. These values can be the basis of an impactful storytelling experience, fostering lasting connection.
• Voice: One of the most important aspects of storytelling PR is that it draws from your unique, established brand voice. Any media or content that comes out of this storytelling campaign should be recognizable as originating from your brand and your brand alone. The style, tone, content, and perspective of the narrative should all align with your brand identity and values to ensure that your audience will recognize it as your brand’s distinct voice.

Why Storytelling PR Works in 2025

In today’s digital age, consumers and journalists alike are fatigued by corporate speak and generic hype. Authenticity now outperforms polish in both media and social. The average individual isn’t looking for a new product report that provides a technically-perfect account of its specifications, or a concise press release on a merger that can be easily skimmed. Instead, they’re looking for content that will make a lasting impression.

A funny, relatable, or touching piece of content will outperform any traditional PR strategy in 2025. Just as customers are now showing their favor for narrative-based communication, Google’s algorithm now favors human-first, experience-driven content—PR included.

From Pitch to Placement: How Storytelling PR Drives Media Coverage

Narrative-led angles grab media attention and get picked up over formulaic alternatives. Consider, which of these is a more compelling investment for a journalist: a story-led piece about a woman who started out creating vegan, cruelty-free makeup in her basement and turned it into a successful brand that’s going to line store shelves soon, or a press release about a new line of organic lipsticks that will be released in a month?

The first piece is more likely to grab audience attention, providing an intriguing origin story and a peek behind the brand. The second option could easily get lost in the near-constant buzz of new brand and product launches.

At the end of the day, it’s simple: personal, mission-based stories outperform product pushes. With storytelling PR, there is ample opportunity for media coverage to pick up speed and snowball. More generic pieces will likely burn themselves out instead.

Storytelling PR Builds Brand Affinity and Customer Trust

With traditional approaches to PR, there’s little opportunity to truly get to know a brand and its inner workings. Rather than turning them away at the door, storytelling PR invites customers to take a closer look into a brand—from how it started to its future goals. Founder stories, customer journeys, and behind-the-scenes content are all excellent additions to a storytelling PR strategy. These kinds of narratives offer the chance to build memorable connections between brands and customers.

Consumers are more likely to share and engage with story-driven content, especially when it aligns with their own values, interests, and life goals. A good story has the potential to make a lasting, positive impression that will be linked to a customer’s perception of that brand for years to come. As a result, storytelling fosters connection and trust. Earnest, authentic narratives lay the groundwork for emotional brand loyalty.

The Overlooked SEO Power of Storytelling PR

There is much more SEO potential when taking a storytelling approach to PR than the traditional, concise approach of the past. Media placements with rich, keyword-aligned narratives drive backlinks. Authentic content increases time on page and shareability.

Consumers are going to spend more time with this content and are more likely to engage with it in a meaningful way. LaRue PR helps clients turn stories into SEO assets, such as by repurposing them into blogs or newsletters. This can help solidify a brand’s place in the competitive landscape as a thought leader, reliable source, and respected authority.

What Makes a Great Brand Story? LaRue’s Framework

Over the years, LaRue has developed a trademark approach to extracting and crafting compelling, unique stories for each individual client. This framework draws on:

• Origin
• Purpose
• Vulnerability
• Momentum

LaRue tailors messaging for both press and end consumers. LaRue’s approach is based on the belief that brand stories should appeal both to media outlets and target audiences. This encourages additional media coverage opportunities without isolating clients from the narrative.

Why Most Brands Miss the Mark—And How LaRue PR Gets It Right

There are many pitfalls that can get in the way of successful storytelling PR. Common mistakes include failing to develop a clear brand voice, solely highlighting the company to the exclusion of the customer experience, and crafting inauthentic or incomplete narratives. Examples include generic founder bios, vague mission statements, and nonspecific brand highlights. Bad storytelling is no better than a traditional, outdated PR strategy.

With years of experience, LaRue PR is well-versed in avoiding these obstacles to success with storytelling PR. LaRue works with brands to uncover the emotional core that drives a meaningful narrative and the real differentiators that should be featured in content and campaigns to drive engagement.

The LaRue approach to storytelling is not about creating a one-size-fits-all narrative. Instead, it’s all about determining what makes your brand unique, and how these features can best be highlighted in order to garner media attention and reach your target audience.

Ready to Elevate Your Brand with Storytelling PR?

LaRue PR is the go-to agency for story-led, media-savvy growth. With LaRue, storytelling PR is not just another strategy—it is an extension of brand identity, and a bridge to meaningful consumer connection. Reach out to book a discovery call or download a storytelling audit guide to find out how LaRue can help you and your brand get storytelling right.