IR Website Best Practices for UK Companies

by Victoire de Pontbriand on Aug 30, 2024 11:30:00 AM

Despite their potential, some investor relations websites in the UK are still not hitting the mark.

When done right, an IR website is the source of straightforward answers to investor questions. This includes the latest earnings releases and regulatory filings, highlights from executive speeches and even information for current and prospective employees.

In this blog, I’m excited to share six of the top best practices for optimizing an IR website. For more than two decades, our clients have trusted us to design, develop and host their sites and today, I’m excited to share some of our learnings.

1. Get the Basics Right

A strong website starts with the basics. I cannot stress this enough!

According to IR Magazine’s recent research report, nearly 80% of IROs believe IR sites are effective tools for engaging institutional investors. Still, fewer IROs (62%) find them equally effective for retail investors.

These statistics indicate room for improvement. So what can UK companies do to enhance their websites?

In the UK, regulatory compliance is paramount. Companies must ensure IR websites host all required disclosures, such as financial statements, annual reports and regulatory filings while adhering to guidelines set by regulatory bodies such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to maintain transparency and trust.

Here’s a list of foundational elements to include on an IR site:

Financial Disclosures - Ensure all financial filings are accessible.
Future Event Information - Maintain an updated IR calendar.
Marketing Material - Provide clear insights into operations, strategy and financial performance.
Contact Information - Include details for both IR and the transfer agent.
Company News - Publish all press releases and announcements.
Management Overview - Introduce the executive team.
Governance Information - Detail the board, committees and key governance policies.
Corporate ESG Information - Share key metrics, reports and initiatives.
Analyst Information - List all sell-side coverage for independent research access.

2. First Impressions Count

The layout and accessibility of an IR website significantly impacts how users perceive it.

A clean and simple design ensures that users can easily access essential documents, such as quarterly earnings and investor decks. The primary purpose of an IR website is to act as a comprehensive document library, focusing on providing easy access to financial information and avoiding unnecessary elements.

Often, investors and other stakeholders first interact with a company through its IR website. A well-structured site clearly conveys the company’s mission and future direction. It should provide all critical information, ensuring users can easily find what they need.

By designing a simple, organized and user-friendly IR website, UK companies can make a positive first impression and effectively communicate their financial health and strategic vision.

More On Accessibility

Ensuring accessible content on an IR website means providing an equitable experience for all users, particularly those with disabilities.

By adhering to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the foundation for accessibility can be built. However, building true equity requires implementing technology that gives users more control over their experience, empowering them to access information confidently.

For example: During earnings events, your IR technology should allow users to manage playback speed for both live and on-demand content. It should include a text-based Q&A feature and make scripts and materials available as transcripts. Additionally, users should have the option to pause and resume content and enable picture-in-picture features for video.

By integrating these features, you ensure that all users can access the company information and resources they need, creating a more inclusive and engaging experience.

3. Listen To Your Investors

Listening to investor feedback can greatly enhance the effectiveness of IR websites. Investors are the primary audience, and their insights can provide valuable guidance on how to improve sites.

Actively seek out and consider investor feedback. Conduct surveys, hold focus groups or engage with investors through social media and other communications channels. Listen to their suggestions and concerns and use this information to make targeted improvements.

Some practical ways to incorporate investor feedback might include:

Enhancing Navigation: Simplify the layout and make important information easier to find.
Updating Content: If investors request more frequent updates or additional information, provide more detailed and timely reports, press releases and other relevant content.
Adding Interactive Features: If investors express interest in more interactive content, consider adding features like live Q&A sessions, video presentations and interactive financial charts.

This approach not only enhances the user experience but also builds trust and strengthens your relationship with your investors.

FREE GUIDE IR Comms in 2024 Tell a better investment story.

4. Automate and Customize

Aggregating, automating and customizing dynamic content on an IR website can significantly reduce manual work, ensure data accuracy and keep investors informed. By leveraging automation, it becomes easier for investors to find and access essential information.

For example: By providing all key disclosures in a table with a new column for each quarter, investors can easily find relevant documents over a time series. Adding plugins for SEC filings and press release publications allows these updates to happen automatically on an IR website.

Making information easy to find and update is crucial. Investors want information at their fingertips – it’s important to offer subscriptions to news alerts, SEC filings and other corporate developments or changes.

While some published information may be proprietary (i.e. sell-side research reports), much of it is publicly available and can be effectively aggregated through a third-party platform. This allows you to combine public content with customized content, such as investor presentations or management bios.

5. Go Beyond the Basics: Include Multimedia

While covering the basics is essential, IR websites can also serve as a platform for deeper engagement and storytelling. Incorporating multimedia elements such as videos, blogs, podcasts and social media can significantly enhance a site's appeal.

Videos and IR blogs are also excellent tools for engaging investors. Blogging, in particular, allows companies to communicate positive news throughout the year, rather than waiting for the annual report. This continuous communication keeps stakeholders informed.

6. Measure and Refine

Regularly measuring performance and user behavior is necessary for maintaining effectiveness. Use analytics to understand how visitors interact with content, which sections they frequent and what materials they download. This data provides valuable insights that help refine the user experience.

For example: If a particular section receives most of the traffic, consider adding more detailed information or related content to enhance its value. On the other hand, if some sections are underused, reconsider their content or visibility to ensure they meet investor needs.

Regular performance monitoring helps adapt to changing investor preferences and ensures an IR website remains a valuable resource. Continuously updating and optimizing based on user behavior helps keep sites relevant, engaging and user-friendly, ultimately supporting a broader investor relations strategy.

Thanks for reading!

Partner with Notified To Elevate Your IR Website

Go beyond the basics with a solution that addresses specific pain points and supports your long-term IR goals:

Accessibility Expertise: With Notified, you can trust that your website will meet the latest standards, making it accessible to all users.
24/7 Support by IR Pros: You’ll have a dedicated website service manager who you’ll know by name and have access to support for assistance after hours and on weekends.
Streamlined Workflow and Security: Managing an IR website can be complex, but with Notified, it's streamlined. Simplify website management and prioritize data security with robust features, allowing you to focus on what matters most - communicating effectively with stakeholders.

Let us know about your specific needs – we would be happy to chat. Contact us today.

Victoire de Pontbriand

Victoire is a Senior Sales Director at Notified where she oversees sales strategy, revenue growth and market expansion for Notified’s UK operations. Her team of sales and account managers is responsible for growing and managing Notified’s client roster of investor relations and public relations pros. She joined Notified following the acquisition of Nasdaq’s Corporate Solutions business in 2018, bringing deep knowledge of webcasting, IR events and investor communications. Her expertise extends to PR communications, where she provides counsel and strategy to clients looking for press release distribution, media monitoring and measurement solutions. Victoire previously led the Continental European sales team and assumed responsibility for the UK team upon her move to London. She has a degree in International Management, studying in France and Spain.

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