The standards of investor relations technology are evolving quickly to keep pace with a rapidly changing world. In the rush to engage investors and study analytics, it isn’t always easy separating fact from fiction — whether you’re a fresh IPO or an experienced listing on the Street. Here to help you keep things straight is a simple list dispelling 4 common myths about IR tools.
4 Common Myths about Investor Relations Tools Debunked
1. You Can’t Consolidate Data Across All IR Tools
A common misconception about investor relations is that tech silos are inevitable. You have a legacy CRM desktop program that’s separate from your IR website that’s separate from your investor relations events, surveillance tools, and targeting solutions.
Corporations rely on this disjointed system all too often at the cost of their performance and their team’s sanity. It disrupts daily workflow and makes business communication between teams and departments all but impossible. With no one on the same page, duplications, mistakes, and even rivalry between teams abound.
If you’re working under a silo, an end-to-end platform from Q4 can unify your IR tools in one place. The Q4 Capital Connect Platform include a suite of fully integrated IR tools, such as events and webcasting tech, shareholder analytics, cloud-based CRM, and targeted websites for IPOs, SPACs, and ESG initiatives.
Connected software means you can easily grab visitor behavior from your IR website and utilize these insights when targeting the ideal investor. It means streamlining communication, workflow, and reporting.
2. You Don’t Need Capital Markets Virtual Events Anymore
Now three years into the gruelling pandemic, you wouldn’t be the only one who’s tired of giving virtual events. Many corporate access heads are looking forward towards the day they can host a completely in-person event safely.
Despite lifting restrictions, that day might not come as soon as you would like. Today, the virtual meeting space is the new-normal of investor conferences, roundtables, and tradeshows.
With this in mind, it’s crucial you invest in sophisticated webcasting and conferencing tools that can support your virtual events — whether you adopt a hybrid model or a completely digital transformation experience. The right IR tools can help you create a fully branded experience with critical analytics for all your hybrid capital markets events.
3. You Don’t Need to Report on ESG if You Aren’t a Green Business
As the single most rapid growing investments in the world, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) has take the Street by storm. Now accounting for more than one-third of global assets, sustainable good investments in particular are worth an impressive $35.5 trillion.
With this kind of sway over the world’s biggest markets, ESG isn’t a fleeting fad, nor is it only the concern of the stereotypical green businesses. Today’s climate crisis and civil unrest are influencing investors of all kinds, making sustainable and ethical businesses practices the new yardstick of success.
As the SEC moves to standardize its ESG climate disclosure rules, it’s important for any company to tighten its ESG reporting methods. If you aren’t sure how you can showcase your initiatives positively while maintaining compliance, speak with an ESG consultant for guidance. They can help you build an ESG website that adheres to current best practices.
5. You Don’t Need Social Media if You Have an IR Website
While your IR site is the first and most important stop for investors, it is the only way they’ll engage with your brand online. Social media still plays an vital role in your IR strategy, especially now that retail traders make up 18% of overall trading activity. These non-institutional investors are known for using unconventional sources to learn about your stock.
Keeping your socials current with relevant, branded information can help you tap into this opportunity. For an added boost, make sure you share excerpts and links to your capital markets virtual events, as many retail investors can’t attend in person.