Corporate websites 'need usable IR sections'

27th May 2009

Businesses should ensure the investor relations (IR) sections on their sites provide easily understandable financial data and information on their successes to date to offer the best user experience, it has been advised.

Jakob Nielsen, usability expert and principal of Nielsen Norman Group, said that his company's research shows individual investors are often left feeling confused by the sheer wealth of financial data available on corporate IR websites.

He also noted that investment professionals, journalists and analysts tend to access such data through services like Reuters rather than directly through the respective company website.

All categories of web users want the same thing from IR sections, however, with information on the company's achievements and plans for the future seen to be particularly pertinent, Mr Nielsen said.

"Companies can help individual investors by presenting simplified views of financial data and summarising the highlights," he stated.

Royal Dutch Shell was recently ranked as having the best performing FTSE 250 corporate website in the first quarter by the Investis Quarterly benchmark service.

 

Category: Bespoke Web Design

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