Running a business is not just about developing reliable products or services and coming up with smart marketing campaigns. You will also need to take care of your sources of funds: your investors. Such is a concept called investor relations. This refers to the engagement and conversations between the company and the people funding the business. The arrangements take many forms, such as meetings and regular status reports. However, your obligation does not end at these things.
It would help if you built trust and transparency, whether about financial reports or even fiduciary asset management. Trust and transparency are among the things that make your business stronger and much more enduring.
Here are some things you need to bear in mind:
Involve the board members
Investors, now and then, need assurance. They want to feel validated and that their voice and opinion matter. If you want to prove that the company cares about them, it is wise to encourage the primary board members to lead the relationship-building efforts. For one, instead of sending generic reports to your investors, why not make these look like a report written by a primary decision-maker. When you are holding roadshows and investor meetings, make sure that the board members are all present.
Always provide market insights
As mentioned, investors will always look for assurance, especially when it comes to the status of the business. Another way of doing it is to show how well the brand knows the target market. When the company shows that they know the market, the investors tend to trust the business more. At this point, you should also show the possible benefits that investors will get from the market. And who knows, some of your investors even have bright and practical ideas for improving customer relationships and market leadership.
Make communications regular
Consistency in communication is one of the keys to gaining the trust and confidence of your investors. And what better way of doing it than making sure that your correspondences and reports are regularly submitted. When you disclose regular information, not only will your investors know the status of their investments, but they will also remain interested in your business. When it comes to communications, you have to make sure that the materials are easy to understand and digest. This is where you need to work with corporate communications professionals or business writers.
Hire a professional
Sometimes, investor relationship management requires an internal communications campaign. And there’s a great chance that your corporate communication department is already loaded with other tasks. In this case, it would be wise to seek the services of a PR company specializing in stakeholder relationships and corporate communication.
Manage your relationships
Doing business is not just about making money. It is also about managing relationships, which will help you achieve your particular goals, whether corporate or personal. With this, you need to make sure that your investor relationships are part of your list of priorities.
