The last few years have dramatically changed the capital markets day landscape, particularly regarding how and where we connect. In addition, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations have driven a reduction to in-person events and have been replaced with virtual capital markets days.
At the same time, we’ve learned that stakeholders’ need to connect with senior executives hasn’t diminished. Digital events continue to grow in number and popularity even as some in-person events and meetings have resumed. As a result, the demand for full transparency and sophisticated digital connection continues to intensify. Expectations for investor events have never been more pressing.
While it may seem daunting, hosting a virtual capital markets day event is achievable. Check out the best practices below to learn more.
Pre-recorded messaging in virtual capital market days
The digitization of capital markets events has opened up the ability to include a much more diverse group of presenters across the organisation. The most informative CMDs often feature business, R&D, or product leaders in 1-3 tiers, with the C-suite offering expert perspectives on company innovations and roadmap.
We recommend this approach since it allows you to enhance the insight you provide across a more comprehensive view of the company while facilitating C-suite networking in person, further bolstering transparency. Pre-recording such speakers is critical. It removes geographic challenges, reduces the necessity for intense media training, and allows for edited showreels across locations, functions, and products.
Entertainment factor
Modern event production must accommodate both physical and virtual attendees. Production factors such as venue and entertainment are considered a matter of course for in-person attendees. However, they’re often overlooked for those who are remote. Maximising the impact of your digital event means thinking about how to increase the engagement of your virtual audience.
Gone are the days of playing a video in a room that hasn’t been approved for distribution online. Instead, virtual environments with content in multiple pages, tabs, or spaces of the streamed event are now commonplace. In addition, using pre-recorded video segments, speakers, and supplemental content effectively is critical.
Content longevity
Presentation is vital, though content is still very much king. With so much information readily available and so much misleading noise, directly providing investors with the most relevant and accurate story from the source is critical to underpin a successful CMD.
Because the CMD is not always an annual event, the content needs to be relevant and resonate with investors for an extended period of time. Remember that this event is unlike results day, where you update information every quarter. Rather, the CMD is the stage for communicating the organization’s short and mid-long term investment value.
Production value
Sophisticated event production can be a challenge for IROs just getting started in their roles and/or in the online venue. The UK and European markets are seeing significant employee turnover and job changes. IR teams are no exception to this phenomenon, and many IR practitioners are facing in-person and digital event requirements they haven’t previously experienced. Focused and experienced service providers are necessary in BOTH physical and virtual formats.
Preparing your next hybrid CMD is an exciting return to reality, an opportunity to tell the organisation’s investment story in a robust and dynamic way we’ve been missing. CMD is the time to re-engage the fundamental core of Investor Relations – connect with investors, existing and new.
It’s time to turn to a virtual capital markets day. Q4 can help – we’ll collaborate to plan and produce a virtual capital markets day customised to your business objectives and corporate vision. Contact us today to get started.
