IR Playbook: Measuring the success of your shareholder communications

Keeping up with the ever-changing demands of an international investor poses a challenge to even the most well-resourced of IROs, as the rate of technological advancement continues to accelerate. Many IR teams may feel overwhelmed by the breadth of communication platforms now available to them. But which should you prioritize? And how do you make sure you’re keeping up with any changing investor preferences?

This playbook examines these pivotal changes and offers crucial insights into how leading IR professionals are optimizing their communication strategies to enhance efficacy and stimulate engagement.

It contains a breakdown of a poll of select IROs that reveals the communication channels they prefer, the changes they have seen in recent years and details of the feedback mechanisms they have in place already. It is packed with practical advice on how IROs can effectively gather and use feedback to refine their strategic work, ensuring their efforts yield a tangible return on investment in terms of both time and resources.

Key findings

  • When asked to list the communication channels they find most effective today, IROs say in-person events are by far the most impactful of any method, with direct calls and virtual events also ranking highly.
  • This compares with three years ago, when live video and IR blogs both ranked as important tools for reaching investors.
  • When constructing feedback loops with investors, most IROs consider qualitative and quantitative data to be of equal importance.
  • Among the metrics IROs consider most important when evaluating their communications success are direct feedback via calls or email, a measure of the quality of follow-up engagements and analyst notes.
  • The largest proportion of respondents say they review the metrics they use on a quarterly basis, with a smaller cohort doing so less frequently.

Click here to read this playbook

Upcoming events

  • Briefing – Lessons from the 2025 Proxy Season
    Tuesday, July 22, 2025

    Briefing – Lessons from the 2025 Proxy Season

    In partnership with WHEN 8.00 am PT / 11.00 am ET / 4.00 pm BST / 5.00 pm CET DURATION 45 minutes About the event The 2025 proxy season was influenced by several key issues, including changes announced in Staff Legal Bulletin 14M regarding the interpretation of Rule 14a-8, and…

    Online
  • Briefing – Effective earnings preparation amid macro volatility
    Thursday, August 07, 2025

    Briefing – Effective earnings preparation amid macro volatility

    In partnership with WHEN 8.00 am PT / 11.00 am ET / 4.00 pm BST / 5.00 pm CET DURATION 45 minutes About the event Amid constant tariff news, geopolitical upheaval and other developments stemming from the new US administration, IR teams have their work cut out as they prepare…

    Online
  • IR Impact Forum – AI & Technology
    Wednesday, November 12, 2025

    IR Impact Forum – AI & Technology

    About the event As more investors, governance and corporate communicators teams embrace AI, machine learning and emerging technologies to inform their decision-making, investor relations professionals are facing a pivotal moment: adapt and lead, or risk falling behind. At this early but fast-moving stage of adoption, IR teams are asking important…

    New York, US

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