In last week’s post we discussed how the web is changing, and how users’ expectations are changing as a result. We introduced five strategies to address these concerns.  In this week’s entry, we will explore the first strategy, “Stay Current”, in greater detail.

STAY CURRENT

It can be difficult to distinguish between a trend that’ll disappear in time, and one that’s a real disruptive technology.  Here are some ideas to consider:

Video for IR

As the cost of high-quality video production comes down and sites like YouTube and Vimeo facilitate easy sharing, video is a great way for investors to get a quick take, and offers a way for shareholders to connect with management in a unique and more intimate way.

Agnico Eagle posts a quarterly message to shareholders video from the CEO, the day after the results are released, first posting to vimeo and then populating the video to their site.

HTML5

New developments in web browsing allow you to do things that were only possible with Flash before. For example, we’re seeing HTML5 being used on Annual Report websites, which can create a look and feel that is more like an iPad app than a website. 

Check out Northgate Minerals’ one-page e-annual:

Navigation on sites like these is not limited by convention. By presenting a subset of information and using PDFs to provide depth and detail, the presentation can be made more unique and engaging.

It’s important to also provide the content in a familiar format as well – PDF, Excel, or standard HTML.  This will ensure people using older technology will still be able to access the information that they need.

Stay tuned for next week’s post, when we explore our second of five strategies for dealing with the changing expectations of the web audience: “Think of the User”.