Column Five vs. Storyarb: Choosing The Right Partner Column Five vs. Storyarb

Picking a content marketing partner is a big move. The right firm shapes how your company is understood in-market, how clearly your GTM story lands with buyers, and how effectively you earn trust in a crowded B2B landscape. So how do Column Five and Storyarb compare—and which approach aligns with your goals?

Column Five is a long-established B2B brand storytelling agency with more than 15 years of experience working with mid-market and enterprise SaaS companies. Their work centers on brand storytelling as a GTM system: narrative positioning, research-driven thought leadership, and content programs designed to support category leadership, demand generation, and long-cycle buying committees. The emphasis is on strategy, narrative clarity, and scalable content systems—not just execution.

Storyarb, founded in 2023, takes a productized approach. The company specializes in executive ghostwriting, editorial newsletters, and LinkedIn thought leadership. They have a narrower focus and outputs.

This comparison breaks down how each company operates, the services they prioritize, their respective strengths and limitations, who they’re best suited for, and how customers describe their experience—so you can decide which model fits your organization’s stage and ambition.

Company Snapshot: Column Five

Column Five was founded in 2009 and initially gained recognition for data-driven storytelling and infographics. Over time, the firm evolved into a senior-focused B2B brand storytelling agency working with mid-market and enterprise SaaS companies, as well as finance and large technology brands. Their client roster includes companies like Microsoft, Adobe, Instacart, and Zendesk.

Today, Column Five positions storytelling as a core GTM system, not a creative add-on. Their work focuses on helping high-growth SaaS and B2B companies clarify their narrative, strengthen positioning in crowded markets, and build trust with complex buying committees. The belief is simple but opinionated: strong narratives don’t just support marketing—they shape categories, guide GTM alignment, and influence how brands are understood and recommended in-market.

Column Five’s services are designed to support that system-level approach:

Content Strategy
Research-driven strategy that defines category narrative, differentiation, and messaging architecture—built to scale across channels and teams.
Brand Identity
End-to-end brand development, including purpose, positioning, voice, and visual identity, designed to support long-term GTM clarity rather than short-term campaigns.
Content Creation
High-quality, multi-format content production (articles, reports, video, motion, data storytelling) aligned to broader story arcs and demand objectives.
AI-Assisted Content Systems
Custom AI-enabled workflows that help teams increase output without sacrificing narrative quality, governance, or brand integrity.

Their process typically begins with deep research and auditing, followed by narrative and GTM strategy, and then execution across content and brand systems. Research informs every stage, with an emphasis on producing content that earns attention rather than forcing it.

Culturally, Column Five emphasizes partnership over vendor execution. They describe their work as purposeful, optimistic, and curious, and clients often characterize the relationship as a strategic collaboration rather than a transactional engagement.

Pricing varies based on scope and depth of engagement:

Brand strategy and development typically starts around $20,000–$30,000
Brand identity engagements often range from $50,000 to $150,000
Ongoing retainers for strategic content and narrative work generally begin around $10,000–$15,000 per month

This structure reflects Column Five’s focus on foundational narrative work and long-term GTM impact rather than one-off content production.

Company Snapshot: Storyarb

Storyarb opened in 2023 in New York. The agency took shape on the Morning Brew podcast and now works with up-and-coming brands looking for sharper content.

The name “Storyarb” pulls from “story arbitrage.” They spot gaps in brands’ messaging and fill them with content. They make leaders the face of the brand with executive ghostwriting, newsletters, and long-form work.

Here’s how working with Storyarb runs:

Set goals
Create a content strategy
Gather expert insights
Write and publish
Distribute in a few key channels
Track how these efforts help the pipeline
Then, update and repeat

Clients get a dedicated strategist, a writer, and a customer success contact. First drafts usually take about four or five weeks after kickoff. The first piece typically goes live within two months.

Pricing can vary. Reports say packages start at $10,000 to $14,000 monthly, but exact numbers aren’t always posted publicly.

Column Five vs. Storyarb: Core Services

How do these agencies actually work in practice?

Column Five gives you the whole package as a creative studio. They handle brand building, content, and getting your message out, all under one roof. Services include:

Structured brand development
Creative systems built to last
Thorough content strategies
Lead generation and SEO
Web, video, and motion design
Data storytelling
Content for sales and enablement

When it comes time to share that content, Column Five covers owned, earned, and paid platforms. Their team does planning, outreach, paid social, and campaign support. They use analytics tools like Google Analytics and HubSpot with clear, easy-to-understand reporting. The idea is to get ongoing feedback and improve results session by session.

They’ve met some crazy deadlines, too. When Instacart needed more than 100 unique ad assets in under two weeks across multiple channels—from TV to direct mail—Column Five delivered.

Storyarb focuses on executive leadership and editorial stories. Their main services:

Executive ghostwriting
Weekly newsletters
LinkedIn and social media posts
Playbooks and resource guides
Interviews with key experts
Distribution on editorial and personal channels

Their content builds a leader’s voice. Storyarb works with key editorial channels, such as newsletters and LinkedIn.

Put simply, Column Five offers a deep expertise in brand storytelling and content across several channels. Storyarb sticks to a handful of editorial and thought-leadership assets.

Column Five vs. Storyarb: Strengths

Both teams deliver, but each shines in different ways.

Column Five’s strengths revolve around everything working together. Strategy, production, ongoing support—all handled by one core team—brings consistency across channels. Ratings from comparison sites are sky-high for their storytelling and content work.

They’re experts at operationalizing GTM systems that make an impact. For B2B SaaS brands that want to break through the noise, that’s huge. The data backs it up:

Blend saw 183% more traffic after working with Column Five
Dropbox’s brand perception improved by 19%
VideoAmp saw an 850% jump in leads in just a month

The process works for scrappy startups and scaling enterprises because Column Five thinks in systems—not just isolated campaigns. They can flex to your company’s stage and growth goals.

Storyarb’s strengths lie in its executive voice and LinkedIn presence. The agency’s packaged approach means no guesswork or juggling between freelancers.

As for possible drawbacks:

They’re new. Founded in 2023, Storyarb can’t match the depth and volume.
If you need brand narrative, GTM strategy, or other content, such as video, data visuals, or sales materials, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Most of their success stories come straight from the founder’s LinkedIn, rather than detailed, third-party case studies.

Best-Fit Scenarios: Who They Are For

Column Five works best for SaaS and enterprise tech brands looking for one partner to run point on organic GTM strategy and content operations.

End-to-end strategy, content, and distribution in one spot
Unique stories that break away from the crowd
A growth partner for the long haul
Results linked to real-world measures: site visits, reputation, quality leads
A creative team that fits in with your own, not just as outside help

For companies with tricky or big goals, budgets usually start at $10,000–$20,000 each month for the type of retainer that supports longer-term projects.

Column Five is the right call for powerful SaaS companies that want to stand apart not by outspending, but by building trust with genuinely good content.

Storyarb fits brands that want to boost executive presence with a quick turnaround:

LinkedIn leadership
Newsletters that build a loyal readership
Ghostwriting nailed to a particular executive’s style

Companies looking to make a CEO or founder the visible, trusted face of their brand—and do so on channels like LinkedIn—will appreciate the simplicity of Storyarb’s offering.

It’s important to see what these agencies actually achieve. Both show strong results, but you’ll notice a difference in scale and story.

Column Five’s client list reads like a who’s who. You see names like Uber, Netflix, Deloitte, SurveyMonkey, Salesforce, and Microsoft. They support everyone from enterprise leaders to nimble nonprofits in multiple industries.

Clients call out a few things often:

“Some of the smartest, most talented people… taking your ideas and making them far better.” — Amanda Smith, Instacart
“Quick response and speedy turnarounds make them a true partner.” — Keith Messick, Vercel
“Their work feels very personalized—they act as a true extension of our team.” — Joyce Roan, Zendesk

Column Five keeps a 4.8 out of 5 on Clutch, and their wins include honor from Content Marketing Institute and a Breakthrough Culture Award.

Thanks to deep case studies you can actually review, Column Five documents how much they lift everything from web traffic to qualified leads. Each result comes with specifics—the kind of stats you’d need to share results up the ladder.

Storyarb’s proof is building momentum. The agency ranks well in comparisons and gets praise for making executives stand out quickly. Most outcomes show up as founder LinkedIn posts.

Still, the number of formal, outside-documented case studies is smaller. Storyarb’s rep is being built right now.

Which Partner Is Right for You?

The choice comes down to what you actually need—and what feels right for your business.

Column Five is the choice for brands that want a robust, all-in-one team for brand, creative, distribution, and ongoing measurement. If you’re a mid- to large-sized B2B brand and want to get remembered for thoughtful content instead of big ad spends, this is the direction to look.

With Column Five, you get a system, not just disconnected services. They’ll audit your current programs, shape a new strategy, execute rich creative across many formats, share it, and measure progress. It’s an investment, but you gain a partner ready to grow with you for years.

Storyarb clicks with brands looking for executive-focused content in a packaged delivery. Their sweet spot: making your CEO or founder a name people remember and trust.

If your plans revolve around consistent editorial cadence and you’d rather lock in a package than juggle several freelancers, Storyarb’s six- to twelve-month contracts and repeatable approach make managing content stress-free.

Most times, Column Five covers more ground. Their breadth and track record mean you’re prepared as your company’s needs expand.

The smartest bet? Talk with both teams about where your business is headed, what budget is possible, and your biggest content pain points. If your priorities center on results, long-term trust, and a hands-on, proven partner by your side, Column Five is worth a call.