An IR (investor relations) website is a dedicated part of a company’s website that gives investors the information they need to make informed decisions.
IR websites, no matter the company, typically cover the same information. This includes financial data, press releases, and stock information, for example.
What are investor relations?
Before we dive into the specifics of an IR website, it’s good to get back to basics about investor relations.
Investor relations is a specialized part of a company that’s sole focus is to manage relationships with shareholders, current and potential investors, and the financial community.
The primary function is to ensure investors and key stakeholders have access to accurate information about the company’s financial performance, its future plans, and more.
Top 10 things investors expect to see on your IR website
A well-executed IR website builds and nurtures strong relationships between a company and the financial community which can ultimately enhance its overall performance.
These people expect to see certain things on your website to meet their expectations.
Here are the top 10 must-haves on your website:
1. Ease-of-Use
People expect their online experience to be as close to perfection as possible.
Your IR website is no different. It should be user-friendly and easy to navigate. Your audience wants to find the information they’re looking for and quickly.
2. Accurate Information
Help paint a vivid picture of your company and include:
- Mission statement
- Company vision
- Company history
- Bios of your executive team
- Recent achievements, accolades, and milestones.
3. Financial Transparency
To build and nurture investor relationships and confidence, transparency is paramount.
Include all relevant financial statements including:
- Quarterly reports
- Annual reports
- Earnings press releases
Share this information clearly and concisely.
4. Recent News and Press Releases
Create a dedicated news section to share your latest news with your visitors.
This section should include your press releases, earned media coverage, and relevant news announcements.
5. Corporate Governance
Include information about your board of directors and any other ethical guidelines and governance policies.
6. Investor Presentations
Share access to investor presentations, slide decks, audio transcripts, and webcasts from past events, calls, and earnings presentations.
7. Stock Information
Provide real-time access to your company’s stock including stock performance charts, historical data, and other stock fundamentals.
8. SEC Filings
Emphasize your compliance with regulatory requirements by providing access to SEC filings like 10-Ks and 10-Qs.
9. ESG Information
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) information is becoming increasingly important. Investors want to know about a company’s ESG practices and commitments. Be sure to include all relevant ESG information on your IR website.
10. Contact Information
Include multiple ways for investors to reach your investor relations team such as email, phone number, chatbots, and a contact form.
Create and implement internal processes to ensure investor inquiries are promptly addressed and handled.
Including these key aspects in your IR website ensures investors, stakeholders and the investor community have 24/7/365 access to the information they need, when they need it.
IR Website Best Practices
1. Accessibility
When designing your website, prioritize accessibility so everyone, no matter their device or ability, can consume your content.
To do this, optimize your website for screen readers and ensure it uses a mobile-friendly design, for example.
2. Language
Use clear language and avoid jargon. This reduces friction and removes ambiguity in your messaging.
3. Communication
As mentioned before, provide your visitors with multiple ways to connect with your investor relations team. This includes chatbots, phone number, email address, and a contact form. This way, investors can choose the communication method that best fits their preference.
4. Value
Your IR website gives you the platform to put your best foot forward. Include relevant financial metrics, growth strategies, and what makes your company stand out from your competition.
IR Website Example
Our parent company, Issuer Direct, specializes in investor relations solutions that include IR websites and webcasting. Here is Issuer Direct’s IR website. In it, you’ll notice it includes the aspects we covered in this blog post.
Contact us today if you’d like to learn more about how we can build an IR website for your company.
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