Emerging Tools and Trends in IR Storytelling

This article is part of our IR Storyteller's Handbook - Download the handbook for a practical guide to crafting and delivering investor communications that resonate.

The communication landscape is evolving faster than ever. After the rapid rise of virtual and hybrid investor events earlier this decade, investors have grown more sophisticated in what they expect from issuers. Social media has become a key channel for sharing IR information, while many IROs are now leveraging AI behind the scenes to enhance their workflows and insights.

Social media for IR

Social media is becoming an increasingly valuable channel for reaching the investment community. Jonathan Paterson, founder and managing partner of Harbor Access Investor Relations, notes that over 80% of investors have made investment decisions based on information they first saw on digital or social media platforms. He cites social media's potential for raising awareness as a positive tool for investor relations:

“It’s always interesting when you present an announcement and an investor says, ‘Oh, I saw this on your social media.’ It’s clearly building awareness — and it’s validating when investors mention posts in meetings or even reach out because of something they saw in their feed.”

As with other mediums, responsible governance is necessary to use social media effectively. Jonathan advises IROs to use graphics and links thoughtfully to ensure clarity and compliance:

“Social media has become much more self-regulated. Professional IR teams stay compliant with fair disclosure rules and avoid anything misleading — even within character limits. Using links, diagrams, or images helps ensure the message is clear, accurate, and not misinterpreted. Always keep good governance and transparency top of mind.”

By approaching social media with the same discipline as traditional channels, IROs can build awareness, engage investors, and reinforce their story — without compromising trust.

AI for sentiment analysis

A recent development in the IR workflow is the emergence of AI tools to streamline internal workflows. Mainstream audiences are noticing massive popularity for large language models (LLMS) to assist with writing, however, IR experts like Gregg Lampf, Vice President of Investor Relations at Ciena, urges IROs to use caution with these tools, especially when handling material non-public information (MNPI). He notes that some, but not all, enterprise level LLMs are secure enough to handle MNPI. Instead of using LLMs for content development, Gregg suggests using AI tools to help you summarize public information and disclosures from your peers:

“When you use generative AI to analyze dozens of companies while preparing for your own earnings, it helps you synthesize information much faster — and from multiple perspectives. It’s a really interesting and efficient way to leverage these tools.”

AI is also proving valuable for interpreting investor sentiment. By aggregating data across sources, AI can help IROs quickly categorize feedback and uncover actionable insights. Krishna Rangarajan, founder of BigPi Ventures, suggests that if your LLM is secure enough for MNPI, you can use it to test out your messaging by training your LLM to act as a focus group:

“IR teams don’t have the luxury of focus groups to test how a message will land — how it might be interpreted or whether it could cause confusion. Marketing does this all the time. But with digital agents, you can start simulating and mimicking how your message might be received.

“We’ve seen a case where a consumer company had one of the best quarters in its 30-year history, yet the stock dropped — not because of expectations, but because confusing language in the press release led the market to misinterpret the results.
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“So you can use AI to get technical and ask: will this message confuse? Will it land properly? Does it actually say what I intend? It’s essentially a form of quality assurance.”

Key Takeaways

The IR communications landscape evolves rapidly, requiring professionals to adapt to new technologies while maintaining governance standards. Strategic adoption of social media and AI tools can enhance storytelling effectiveness when used responsibly.

Social Media for IR: Over 80% of investors say social media influences their decisions. Use it to build awareness and validate your messaging. Stay compliant by using graphics, links, and clear disclosures to avoid confusion in character-limited formats.

AI for Workflow Enhancement: Use AI to synthesize public peer information and streamline earnings prep. Secure, enterprise-grade LLMs can even act as “digital focus groups” to test messaging for clarity before release. Always safeguard MNPI and ensure your tools meet strict security standards.

Strategic Implementation: Leverage AI for sentiment analysis, benchmarking, and message testing — not for generating sensitive content. Use social media thoughtfully to extend your reach, while staying true to good governance and core storytelling principles.