Kelder Public Relations & Communications

07/15/2025

Authentic Brand Storytelling Isn’t a Trend—It’s the Expectation.

In 2025, audiences are tuning out polished perfection and leaning into something far more powerful: real stories, told with heart.
A recent study found that 63% of consumers choose brands that align with their values, and 88% say authenticity matters when deciding what to support.

What does that mean for us in PR and communications? It means canned messaging and one-size-fits-all content won’t cut it anymore. People want to see the faces behind the brand. They want stories that reflect shared values, lived experiences, and actual impact.

It’s not just B2C. In B2B, authenticity builds trust, drives long-term engagement, and even shortens the sales cycle. Because no matter your audience, they’re human first.

For those of us in PR and communications, the message is clear: scripted, overly produced content won’t cut it anymore. People want transparency, emotion, and purpose they can feel.

Here’s what’s working:
• Employee voices — Let your team be the storytellers. It builds trust and gives your message depth.
• Show, don’t tell — Go beyond mission statements. Share behind-the-scenes moments, impact stories, and lessons learned.
• Own your evolution — Vulnerability is powerful. Audiences appreciate when a brand admits where it’s grown or still needs to.
• Keep it human — Less corporate speak, more real talk. Think conversations, not campaigns.

The best stories are the ones your audience sees themselves in. Authenticity isn’t a PR strategy; it’s a business imperative.

Let’s start telling better stories.

07/12/2025

PR in a global crisis era? It’s a whole new ballgame.

Geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, cultural divides, and social media reactions make today’s communications landscape incredibly complex. What once felt like a local issue can now become an international headline in no time.

For communicators, that means the stakes are higher and so is the need for thoughtful, strategic messaging. It’s not just about what we say, but how, when, and where we say it.

We’re being asked to bring clarity in chaos, align messaging with values, and engage diverse audiences with empathy and credibility. That takes more than good copy. It takes real listening, strong partnerships across the organization, and the confidence to lead hard conversations.

The upside? Comms has never been more essential. It’s an opportunity to help shape how organizations respond, rebuild trust, and show up meaningfully in the world.

How are you navigating it? What’s working for you right now?

07/12/2025

07/12/2025

Balancing Internal and External Communications

One of the most common questions I’m asked by clients is: How do we balance internal and external communications? 50/50, 70/30?
The answer: It depends on the outcome you're trying to evoke.

Internal and external communications are not competing priorities—they’re married. They support each other, share the same strategic messaging platform, and are tailored to different audiences through different channels. Whether you're launching a new initiative, navigating change, or managing reputation, your messaging must be aligned from the inside out.

Strong internal communications ensure employees understand, believe in, and can articulate your mission and priorities. That foundation builds trust and clarity, internally first, then externally. And in today’s environment, that order matters. Authenticity starts within.

Employees are your most valuable brand ambassadors. When they’re informed and engaged, they extend your story in every interaction—on social media, with customers, in their communities. Their voices bring credibility no press release ever could.

Ultimately, the “right balance” isn’t a formula. It’s about strategic intent: what you’re trying to achieve, and which audiences need to hear and believe it first. Start there. Align your messages. Then activate every voice, internal and external, to deliver them.

02/04/2023

Andrew M. Levine and Chana Zuckier of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP discuss compliance best practices in managing off-system communications in light of regulatory scrutiny on retention of business records.

01/26/2023

Internal Communications took a seat at the table.

The pandemic pushed the skills of comms professionals into the spotlight, says Jennifer Oliver – and these are now more important than ever

01/25/2023

“We’ve been taught to think of leadership strategy communications as “statements”: mission statements, vision statements. But if leadership is the act of inspiring others to make a story come true, then the ideal form of such directives is narrative — a simple story (pitch) about a new way to win in the world, and why the old way is a road to ruin.”
-Andy Raskin

01/25/2023

Bad team outcomes usually aren't the product of incompetence. It's the process that talented people are at the mercy of.