I love Schlumberger’s website navigation. Too bad it doesn’t extend to the IR section
The US based oil field Services Company uses what’s known as a ‘breadcrumb trail’ to help users navigate efficiently between the many sections of its website. In addition to the standard ‘You are here’ feature, which is great for navigating within a particular section of the website, a simple but important ‘Recently viewed pages’ helps users navigate between sections easily by showing the last four pages viewed. Too bad it doesn’t extent to the IR section.
What upsets me is that this last feature other seven sections, but not the IR section of the website. Apparently, the IR section has been outsourced to a third party, and while almost every effort has been made to give the impression that users haven’t left the site, they have left out this one key element.
- Published:
- May 21, 2009 – 8:00 am
For yet another inspiring example of an online annual report, here’s Adidas’ 2008 report.
The German sports apparel manufacturer was recently awarded Best Online Annual Report 2008 in the IR Global Rankings. The jury cited both navigability and interactivity as reasons for their decision.
View the Adidas 2008 Online Annual Report
- Published:
- May 19, 2009 – 8:00 am
Using the web for shareholder Q&A
Companies are using the web to give their shareholders opportunities to pose questions to directors and executives at their annual meetings.
Large companies like Google and Barclays are spearheading the practice of using the web to give their shareholders an opportunity to pose questions to directors and executives at their annual meetings.
Last year, less than 5% of shareholder accounts in US companies actually participated in AGMs, so anything that can add convenience to the process of asking questions of public company executives should be welcomed.
It remains to be seen what effect the added convenience of online question submission will have.
View Barclay’s Annual Report site
- Published:
- May 18, 2009 – 8:00 am
Companies all over the world are making drastic cutbacks these days. Now that investors are being more thorough in searching for those elusive gains, it’s the perfect time to increase your IR efforts.
Some companies show they have their priorities right. Continental Airlines for instance are taking advantage of the possibilities offered by heightened investor scrutiny by increasing the amount of information they offer their investors, including the introduction of monthly key performance indicators (KPIs).
As companies look for ways to save on the bottom line, investor relations is probably the last area where cuts should be made. When revenue figures look bleak, companies need to get investors behind their long-term strategy. IR needs to tell the story of the company and explain the philosophy behind the numbers. An economic crisis like the one the markets are experiencing now is the when companies truly need to build enduring support from their shareholders and convince them to stay behind their strategy with a long term perspective. It is the duty of IR to show investors there’s a plan for getting out of the current situation.
Continental’s KPIs
- Published:
- May 16, 2009 – 7:34 pm
Diageo shows a creative way to present your management and board online, rather than the typical scroll-down lineup.
The British software manufacturer shows thumbnails of each manager and director along with a brief list of qualifications. Clicking a thumbnail opens the expanded profile of each individual. Clicking on a new individual in the handy list of names changes the biography without opening additional pages.
Management profiles can be incredibly tedious. Typically they list each manager’s experience and education, without showing how it benefits the company and their responsibilities. Showing how each member can contribute to the company should be the focus of the profiles, just as it is the focus of any job interview.
The next time you revamp your management profiles, also consider how to make it look more attractive on your website.
Visit Diageo’s management page
- Published:
- May 5, 2009 – 9:01 am
Using your IR website to give details is one thing. Roche have centered their homepage around the company’s core image.
One of the many advantages of the IR website is that it allows you to put virtually unlimited amounts of information on it, to suit every kind of audience. A major challenge is to give your visitors the big picture introduction – your company’s reason for existing.
The picture that welcomes visitors to the homepage clearly illustrates Roche’s core asset – excellence in biotechnology research. The picture shows a lab technician holding a test tube, with the caption “What is biotechnology.” The front page even includes an interactive quiz under the heading “Test your knowledge about the future of medicine”.
Key to my admiration for this site: navigation is not compromised in any way. The standard navigation headings including a search box are prominently featured.
Visit Roche’s Website
- Published:
- May 4, 2009 – 11:12 am
Simple language is key to effective communication. This video shows us how difficult terms can be made simple to explain a difficult subject, in this case the credit crisis. Its excellent use of simple language supported by clear graphics should serve as an inspiration before the oncoming annual report season.
I’ve often complained about companies that complicate their IR through the use of jargon, financial terms and generally complicated language that doesn’t seem to serve any function except to confuse the reader.
This unnecessary use of flowery language is perhaps most noticeable in Letters to Shareholders. The best letters are written in a conversational style and leave the reader feeling he’s just had a one-on-one talk with management. They aim to appeal to all readers and don’t assume any prior knowledge of what happened to the company in the past year. Warren Buffett’s legendary letters are great examples.
The video was created by Jonathan Jarvis as part of his graduate thesis in Media Design.
The Crisis of Credit Visualized
- Published:
- April 30, 2009 – 1:26 am
