Annual Reports are changing in the new normal where digital communication channels are increasingly preferred over traditional ones. As investors are more online now, companies are addressing the digital demand for information with new opportunities to get their messages across, even with their annual reports.

However, selecting the best annual report format can be tricky. Should you go for a printed document, an online interactive version, or a combination of both? Which medium is best for your organisation?

Australian companies and investors are embracing the digital shift to virtual annual general meetings (AGMs). In fact, 68% of AGMs in 2020 were online or hybrid, according to Computershare’s 2021 AGM Intelligence Report.

Running an effective virtual AGM will largely depend on several components, like your webcast, as Boardroom.Media discusses in its article, “2021 Annual General Meetings - virtual, physical or both?”. Whether it’s a live broadcast or a video-recorded presentation, webcasting is crucial for well-organised communications in AGMs.

Has a website ever required you to give your email address so you can download a document or register for an event?

I actually saw this on an IPO site days ago. The website required people to provide their email address before getting through to download the prospectus. And my immediate reaction was, "Yeah, great idea. Get lots of email addresses. Why didn't we think of that?"

With today’s digital-first environment, investors have high expectations for online access to information. As you can probably tell, this digital acceleration is largely fueled by remote work in the new normal.

Undoubtedly, investors are using online content more than ever before. In fact, 73% of investors depend on digital tools for communications, according to a recent research.

Are you blogging about your business? It’s a simple yet powerful move to share relevant information with your stakeholders in a way that engages them.

A business blog is like a digital journal about your company that’s written for your investor community. It’s an excellent strategy to increase your organisation’s visibility online as it provides insights about your industry and answers questions shareholders may have.

Make your investor welcome page a game-changer with must-have elements and great examples to draw from.

Amid lockdowns and pandemic concerns this earnings season, companies and investors continue to adopt the digital shift to virtual and hybrid annual general meetings (AGMs).

Though in-person meetings have been possible in some states with less restrictions, businesses still need to be prepared for unexpected changes.

In the corporate world, successful companies don’t just run the business. They’re also expected to maintain communications with investors as their organisation grows.

Keeping investors in the loop is a smart move that leads to substantial results. It strengthens the bond with stakeholders and unlocks opportunities to draw in more funding.

Investors just want the facts, right? So, is design really necessary for investor communications?

Typically, listed companies provide investors numbers and data in compliance with regulation. In the process of conveying facts, key information are usually sent out despite their complex form. Seemingly as though businesses were messaging robots, not investors.

Are you creating a new investor website or revamping your current one? Well-written website content is key to capturing the attention of investors and keeping it.

Good website writing not only holds the interest of investors. It also tops search results on the web, enabling stakeholders to quickly find your site and access information for their investment decisions.

Whether this is your first annual report as a listed company or you’ve been doing it for many years, you know investors eyeing your company use this document to get information on your business. They tap into your yearly report and other financial statements to assess an investment.

Aside from financial facts, investors will also draw on your annual report to learn the framework in which your business operates. They make it a starting point to look for signals about your organisation’s leadership and culture.

Ensure your prospectus has the right look and feel to engage your investor audience.

Producing your annual report each year can be a challenge, especially if you wish to improve on your previous document.

You don’t only want to state the facts and figures, listing all the numbers, you also want to tell a story that features your accomplishments and your plans for the following year. You want to share how you hurdled the headwinds and continue to forge ahead with confidence.

Has your company’s news delivery been affected by Facebook’s news restrictions?

Under Facebook's new rules, Australian users will now be barred from finding or sharing local and international news content on their social network. Australian news outlets are also restricted from posting links on their pages.

This major move from the tech giant is in response to the Australian government’s proposed Media Bargaining Law that will make tech firms such as Facebook and Google pay for news content. It has been suggested, Google has reportedly already entered into agreements with major Australian news outlets.

It’s almost the end of the financial year. For June year-enders, it’s annual report time!

Whether you’re an early starter or a bit of a crammer, one thing’s for sure, your annual report will take time and effort to prepare. Perhaps it can even get overwhelming at times.

But it is well worth the effort when properly executed. Your annual report will give a considerable return on investment when it showcases your company’s achievements.

With the recent market rally, a window to list is evident and the pipeline for initial public offerings (IPOs) is surging. Thanks to the synergy of companies’ capital raising needs and investors’ drive for investment profitability.

As markets have regained confidence, many up-and-coming companies are snapping up the opportunity to offer shares in the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). New listees have joined the bourse in the past months and more are scheduled to list soon.

Consider a pre-IPO website that's simple yet scalable to support you through the entire process.

When you think about it, your ASX announcements do not only fulfill mandatory requirements. They also draw attention to your business as your updates are posted to the market.

Your ASX releases bring your company profile to investors as you broadcast your successful ventures, leadership appointments, financial reports and other news. These announcements provide information that will encourage stakeholders to join your share registry.

When was your last health check? That is, for your website?

Yes, you read it right. Your website needs health checks. Much like how people need check-ups from their doctor. Just to ensure everything’s in tip-top shape.

After your website goes live, don’t expect it to work perfectly for always. In truth, websites break down when unattended. Often they become outdated, take longer to load and incur other technical problems.

Your annual report is an extension of your brand. More than a legal requirement, it’s a unique communication tool that connects with investors and stakeholders.

Beyond mere facts and figures, your annual report is an excellent opportunity to create a lasting impression through your company’s story. Enabling your business to stand out from the crowd.