Annual reports
Engaging your stakeholders and investors
There is a new and intense focus on the role and value of annual reports. The investment community is increasingly global and nowadays information is available in moments to investors of every kind, anywhere in the world. In this competitive climate, the need is to produce more detailed information on results and management strategy faster than ever before. Fifth Ring has a strong track record in the delivery of annual reports for a number of companies – on time, on budget and fulfilling the requirement to inform and stimulate. It follows a tried-and-tested process of objectives, strategy, ideas, execution and measurement.
Objectives
You need to be clear about the purpose of the annual report. Customers and investors may want a more substantial document highlighting your key differentiators and corporate reputation. The design can incorporate more detail on the company’s strengths and future prospects to add brand value. If time and financial resources are limited, your focus will be to achieve the maximum impact within budget.
Strategy
The range of information covered by the annual report is steadily increasing and draws on the knowledge of a wide range of in-house and external personnel including directors, the company secretary, project managers, marketing and corporate communications strategists and auditors. With lots of experience behind it, Fifth Ring can:
Ideas
The design of the annual report can contribute to the perception of your company. Good design brings the document to life and delivers clear, logically presented information. You should have a consistent design style in all your corporate reporting so that your investor material – the annual report, interim report, investor relations website and investor presentations – all look and feel similar.
Execution
The production process begins after the design layout style has been approved and includes formatting of content, artworking, proofing and print management. Once the document has been artworked it must be proofread and sent back to you to check. When the final proof is signed off by you the artwork will be thoroughly reviewed one last time to ensure the document is ‘print ready’.
Measurement
So has your annual report met its objectives? If so, it should answer these questions easily:
You should also ask yourself the following questions to measure the success of the finished project:
The future – online financial reporting
Online reporting allows immediate information and easy and efficient audience reach. As electronic media continues to advance, even greater communication benefits are expected. However it is unlikely to replace the printed word completely. It is still the printed annual report that potential investors, lenders, suppliers and major customers want to see before making major commitments. The better the corporate brand story is communicated to all your audiences, the better the corporate brand will be established and respected in the global marketplace.
There is a new and intense focus on the role and value of annual reports. The investment community is increasingly global and nowadays information is available in moments to investors of every kind, anywhere in the world. In this competitive climate, the need is to produce more detailed information on results and management strategy faster than ever before. Fifth Ring has a strong track record in the delivery of annual reports for a number of companies – on time, on budget and fulfilling the requirement to inform and stimulate. It follows a tried-and-tested process of objectives, strategy, ideas, execution and measurement.
Objectives
You need to be clear about the purpose of the annual report. Customers and investors may want a more substantial document highlighting your key differentiators and corporate reputation. The design can incorporate more detail on the company’s strengths and future prospects to add brand value. If time and financial resources are limited, your focus will be to achieve the maximum impact within budget.
Strategy
The range of information covered by the annual report is steadily increasing and draws on the knowledge of a wide range of in-house and external personnel including directors, the company secretary, project managers, marketing and corporate communications strategists and auditors. With lots of experience behind it, Fifth Ring can:
- Advise on the report’s content and structure
- Offer innovative suggestions regarding messaging
- Establish or evolve a visual style
- Format the text quickly and provide accurate proofs
- Create high-quality artwork files
- Supervise third parties such as printing, photography and copywriting
- Manage the project to fit the timetable and budget
Ideas
The design of the annual report can contribute to the perception of your company. Good design brings the document to life and delivers clear, logically presented information. You should have a consistent design style in all your corporate reporting so that your investor material – the annual report, interim report, investor relations website and investor presentations – all look and feel similar.
Execution
The production process begins after the design layout style has been approved and includes formatting of content, artworking, proofing and print management. Once the document has been artworked it must be proofread and sent back to you to check. When the final proof is signed off by you the artwork will be thoroughly reviewed one last time to ensure the document is ‘print ready’.
Measurement
So has your annual report met its objectives? If so, it should answer these questions easily:
- What are your principal activities?
- What are your key strengths?
- What are your main market sectors?
- What are your principal geographic regions?
- What are the key factors affecting demand levels in your main markets?
- What are your operational highlights of the year?
- What are the main financial highlights of the year?
- What are the main components of your strategy to achieve its stated objectives?
You should also ask yourself the following questions to measure the success of the finished project:
- Has it added value to your brand?
- Was the brief met?
- Was it delivered on time?
- Have we done something innovative?
- Am I happy with the level of creativity?
The future – online financial reporting
Online reporting allows immediate information and easy and efficient audience reach. As electronic media continues to advance, even greater communication benefits are expected. However it is unlikely to replace the printed word completely. It is still the printed annual report that potential investors, lenders, suppliers and major customers want to see before making major commitments. The better the corporate brand story is communicated to all your audiences, the better the corporate brand will be established and respected in the global marketplace.
