AROUND this time 10 years ago, I began writing about investor relations communications on the web for an email newsletter that I sent to a handful of client companies. A few months later, in February 2001, I launched IRWebReport.com
The site as it looked in October 2007
A couple years later, Pam Agnew, ABC joined me and has been the steady hand behind the scenes making sure that everything else still gets done when I’m “tilting at windmills.” People often think of IR Web Report as just me, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Today, IR Web Report has an online readership that is the equal or better of IR Magazine or any of the investor relations associations. That’s the power of the web. You don’t need a lot of money or a big staff to be effective, just a ton of passion for your subject, the knowledge of how to get your message out, and many, many hours to work at it.
Looking to the future
Upon reflection of the past 10 years, we’ve started to think about the future. Where should IR Web Report go next?
We’ve decided to offer this platform to other industry professionals who have important viewpoints and deep knowledge to share. We see IR Web Report becoming a collective platform for independent consultants, specialist vendors, and for corporate IROs.
When you are a small independent operation, you don’t have advertising budgets or sales forces and every hour you put into profile-building is time taken away from revenue generating activities, or just having a life.
We know IR Web Report can lessen the burden on the independents by giving them a ready platform to share their knowledge and expertise, which in turn will increase their profile in the industry and hopefully make it easier for them to attract new business. We also recognize that corporate IROs should have an equal opportunity to present their perspectives on the issues we cover.
The new look introduced in October 2009
Of course, IR Web Report will benefit from having new contributors with unique information and perspectives to share. We will be able to publish a greater variety of content more regularly, which in turn will strengthen the site’s offering.
If you have something to say, get in touch
Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve approached several people who own and operate their own businesses and who we know have valuable contributions to make. We’ll be announcing new contributors shortly.
But we haven’t been able to reach out to everyone. We will be approaching more people in the coming weeks, but we also want to invite you to get in touch with us if you’d like to become a contributor.
Send us an email at irwebreport@gmail.com letting us know what you’d like to write about and we’ll send you a set of simple guidelines that explain how you can contribute. There’s no fee to be a contributor.
Dominic (bio & disclosures) is IR Web Report‘s founder and an online investor relations consultant. He advises leading public companies and investor relations service providers worldwide on using the web for disclosure, engagement and profile building. You can contact him via the contacts page.
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