Category: Featured

Unleash the Power of ChatGPT: 6 Prompts for Effortless and Efficient Investor Content Generation

Posted on by Priscila Sotelino

Most of the following article was written by ChatGPT, the buzzy new language model developed by OpenAI. Parts of its responses have been edited or cut down for cohesion, but it’s absolutely wild how effective this thing is. And, to this copywriter, a bit terrifying. Through this exercise, I’ve found that ChatGPT is best used with a steward who understands what makes effective content. For example, in generating headlines for this article, the ones it came up with weren’t very good, but when I input my ideas, it improved upon them immensely. So keep that in mind.

Anyway, onto the article:

For public companies, communicating with investors is a crucial aspect of building and maintaining their reputation. Keeping investors informed about a company’s performance and future plans can help build trust and confidence in the brand. With the rise of AI technology, companies now have access to powerful tools such as ChatGPT that can assist in streamlining their investor communication efforts. 

Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT is a language model that uses deep learning algorithms to generate human-like text. By leveraging this technology, public companies can create engaging and informative investor communications that effectively convey their message. In this article, we will examine how public companies can use ChatGPT to enhance their marketing efforts to investors and drive growth.

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How to use ChatGPT

To use ChatGPT, simply input a prompt or question and the model will generate a human-like response. The quality and accuracy of the response depend on the quality of the input, so it’s important to provide specific and focused prompts for the best results.

Good prompts for a public company using ChatGPT include:

  • Provide an overview of the company’s financial performance for the past quarter.
  • Explain the company’s strategy for expanding into new markets.
  • Discuss the company’s plans for developing new products and services.

A couple caveats

It’s important to note that ChatGPT, like any AI technology, is not perfect and has its limitations. The model can sometimes generate responses that are inaccurate or inappropriate, especially when provided with ambiguous or poorly defined prompts. 

Additionally, the model may struggle to understand complex or technical topics and may require additional training or customization to meet the specific needs of your business. 

Therefore, it’s important to exercise caution and carefully review the output generated by ChatGPT before using it for important tasks such as investor communication. [Author’s note: ChatGPT also currently doesn’t have internet access itself, or access to any information prior to 2021, so if you want to use it for up-to-date data, you’ll have to paste it into the tool. See how that works below.]

The following are a few prompts that your company can use to leverage ChatGPT’s incredible potential to more quickly generate content, get your message out there, and effectively discuss your investment thesis.

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1. Summarize press releases

Example prompt: “Please summarize the following press release in one concise paragraph: [Insert press release text here]. The summary should highlight the main points and key information, such as new product launches, partnerships, financial results, etc.”

The results generated by ChatGPT in response to the prompt can be used for a variety of purposes, depending on the context and the intended audience. Some potential uses of the results include:

  • Quickly disseminating important information to stakeholders such as investors, employees, or customers.
  • Providing an executive summary or overview of a press release, report, or other documents for internal use or for distribution to the public.
  • Creating social media posts or other marketing materials that succinctly communicate key messages to a target audience.
  • Offering insights and analysis of data for informed decision-making.

By generating a concise and accurate summary of a press release or other document, ChatGPT can help save time and effort, and ensure that key information is communicated effectively.

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2. Write email updates for your stakeholders

Example prompt: “Generate a 300-word email news update for our stakeholders, summarizing the key points from the following information: [Insert information here]. Please ensure that the email is written in a professional and informative tone and that all important details are included. Additionally, please include any other relevant updates or developments that you think would be of interest to our stakeholders.”

This ChatGPT prompt would be useful as it allows the user to provide specific information that the model can incorporate into a comprehensive and well-written email news update. By automating the summarization process and incorporating relevant details, this prompt saves time and effort and ensures that important information is communicated effectively to stakeholders.

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3. Generate content for investor presentations

Example prompt: “Please summarize the following information into a concise and compelling narrative that can be included in an investor presentation: [Insert information here]. The summary should highlight key takeaways and provide a clear understanding of the information for the intended audience. The narrative should be written in a professional and persuasive tone, and should be structured in a way that clearly communicates the most important information.”

This ChatGPT prompt would be useful as it allows the user to easily transform complex information into a concise and compelling narrative for an investor presentation.

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4. Write managements bios

Example prompt: “Generate a professional and informative management bio for [Name of individual], incorporating the following information: [Insert information here]. The bio should include key details, such as education, experience, and accomplishments, and should be written in a clear and concise manner. The tone of the bio should be appropriate for a wide range of audiences, including investors, customers, and employees.”

This ChatGPT prompt would be useful to public companies as it streamlines the process of creating comprehensive management bios, saving time and effort.

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5. Write pages for your website

Example prompt: “Generate a comprehensive and informative description of our [Name of project] project, incorporating the following information: [Insert information here]. The description should provide a clear understanding of the project’s goals, progress, and potential impact, and should be written in a professional and engaging tone. The description should also be structured in a way that is easy to understand and appealing to a wide range of audiences, including investors, customers, and employees.”

This ChatGPT prompt could be used by a public company to easily create a detailed and engaging description of a specific project for use on their website or other marketing materials.

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6. Write summaries on macro market conditions, company plans and more

Example prompt: “Generate a brief and insightful summary on the current state of the uranium market, including key trends and factors affecting the market, and explain how EXAMPLE COMPANY plans to capitalize on these trends. The summary should be written in a clear and concise manner and should highlight the unique opportunities and advantages that EXAMPLE COMPANY possesses in the market. The tone of the summary should be confident and persuasive, demonstrating EXAMPLE COMPANY’s expertise and commitment to success in the uranium market.”

[Author’s note: The above prompt could be switched to write about ANY market, and ANY company, with the right information.]

A next-generation tool that’s easy to use

ChatGPT is a valuable asset for public companies in the marketing space. With its ability to quickly generate high-quality content, from summaries to detailed project descriptions, it streamlines the process of creating materials that are tailored to the needs of the company and its stakeholders. Whether used for creating investor presentations or website content, ChatGPT offers a fast and effective solution for automating content creation, saving time and effort while ensuring that key information is communicated clearly and effectively.

Methanex Corporation Case Study

The Company

Methanex, the world’s producer, and supplier of methanol, came to BLENDER with a mission to completely rebuild their site from the ground up. This is a massive company that generates over US$4.4 billion in revenue and has a market cap of CA$ 4.56 billion—so the stakes were high.
The end result exceeded expectations, with an attractive, crystal clear design that puts all the information an investor might need within a click or two.

 View Site

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What the Methanex team had to say…

Testimonial

The Situation

Methanex approached BLENDER with several pain points regarding their old website. First, the navigational hierarchy was unclear, making it difficult for users to find the information they needed. Second, the global team had trouble logging in and updating the site, which led to outdated content. Finally, the old site did not adequately showcase Methanex’s commitment to ESG initiatives, which was inconsistent with the company’s values and mission.

The Solution

BLENDER provided several solutions to address these problems. First, we developed a crystal-clear navigational hierarchy that allowed all users to easily find the information they needed. Then we equipped them with our custom CMS solution and provided CMS training, which empowered Methanex’s global team to log in and make changes to the site from anywhere in the world. Finally, we designed a front page that drew attention to Methanex’s ESG projects, and created additional pages dedicated to showcasing the company’s sustainability efforts. These solutions improved user engagement, kept the site up-to-date, and aligned with Methanex’s values and mission.

BEEEDBE4-CD9A-4260-8A8E-56C56356BBCB

Highlights

Straightforward design that brings key data into sharp relief

A crystal-clear navigational hierarchy that allows any visitor to easily find the information they need

Spotlight on ESG and industry leadership

Improved global locations sections

Interactive timeline to showcase company history and milestones 

Updated branding and new imagery

methanex image 1

WELL Health Case Study

The Situation

WELL Health Technologies Corp. came to us for a complete overhaul of their brand and digital presence. As a provider of healthcare solutions, they required an approachable identity capable of inspiring trust in their vision of reimagining the Canadian healthcare system for the 21st century. People are at the forefront of everything they do—it was time their website and overall branding reflected their dedication to enhancing the healthcare experience, one patient or physician at a time.

 View Site

The Solution

Starting with the logo, we worked to build a brand and website for WELL with their core principles reflected in every aspect of the design. In order to encapsulate WELL’s mission while establishing trust, we knew we needed a forward-thinking space with a bright, welcoming homepage and clearcut data points. Spurring engagement through interactive elements and an eye-catching splash video, we created a comfortable and compelling environment for visitors to learn about the connection-driven processes behind WELL’s success.

WELL Health 1
WELL Health 2
We’re honoured to receive the CSSDA awards for Best UI Design, Best UX Design, and Best Innovation for the WELL Health branding and website redesign! The CSSDA is an international web design and development awards platform that honors and showcases freelance designers, studios and agencies for work that pushes the boundaries of creativity, functionality and usability.

Highlights

Head-to-toe redesign of entire brand and web experience

Clean, custom-designed logo forms the crux of the Well brand

Abundant interactive elements drive visitor engagement

Site structure foregrounds Well’s unique business narrative from start to finish

WELL Health 3

What the WELL Health team had to say…

“We came to Blender through a referral from our CEO, drawn by their experience in investor relations and their highly creative, positive energy. Their process was a helpful branding exercise, with lots of back-and-forth discussion to pinpoint our needs. After creating a logo we’re all very happy with, the team used our assets to create a fantastic, interactive web experience. They were extremely hardworking and flexible, especially after we decided to move up our launch date. From start to finish, the Blender team listened, processed our feedback accurately, and translated it effectively into development, realizing our vision for the project. We look forward to continuing our work together!”

Chris Ericksen
Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Marketing

 

WELL Health 4
WELL Health 5

2018 Website Trends – 5 Trends To Help You Prepare

Posted on by Nicole Van Zanten

With 2018 upon us companies are coming to us with plenty of questions – “Blender, what’s in store for next year? What are the 2018 website trends that I need to know about now? How can I get my website ready for the year ahead?” – so if these questions have been percolating in your mind as you prepare for 2018, you’ve landed at the right place.

Last year we shared our digital trends and predictions for 2017, packed with tips like the importance of video, mobile marketing, social integration and more. This year, it’s all about website design – and what you can do to get your website ready for the year ahead.

With this in mind, here are the top 2018 website trends you need to watch for.

1. Investment Highlights pages are more important that ever.

Every website has a purpose. While some are meant to attract customers, others – like yours – are meant to tell investors who you are and what you’ve accomplished. Your website should include investment highlights and initiatives should clearly outline who your company is and how you create change within your industry.

Investors – especially millennial investors – are becoming increasingly focused on transparency. Transparency from companies just like yours. White Gold Corp has done a tremendous job in sharing their exploration highlights on a dedicated page here, while Uranium Energy specifically tells investors why they should invest in UEC on their highlights page.

2. Bold fonts, engaging colours.

We’ve seen plenty of changes and trends within design over the years, yet one thing has truly stuck – the focus on clean lines and modern designs. With this comes the complement of bold fonts and engaging colours, ones that encourage users to focus on your content. In 2018, we expect to see such fonts and colours take the place of some images on websites. This is because images tend to slow pages down, especially when viewing on mobile or tablet devices. Typography, on the other hand, doesn’t impact performance. Faster sites, happier web visitors. Easy as pie.

3. Mobile as primary.

We’ve talked at length about the need to integrate mobile into your website strategy and build, though 2018 is all about mobile – meaning, mobile first.

The truth is in the data. Google says that 61% of users will not return to a mobile site that they had difficulty accessing, while 40% of these users will visit a competitor’s site instead. This should be a shock for those in the IR space. If your target investors don’t love your website, or if it’s not mobile friendly, they won’t come back – and they’ll end up in the hands of a competitor.

4. Video is integrated everywhere.

Website development is certainly moving in a direction that focuses on video; in fact, video accounts for nearly 70% of all internet traffic. When it comes to web design and integration of video, this form of content is increasingly being used everywhere, from corporate pages to investment pages, and CSR sites in between. Does your business have a video strategy in 2018?

5. SEO has become a necessity.

Online experiences start with a search engine. In fact, 93% of all online experiences begin with a prospect or potential investor heading to Google and typing in keywords that are related to your business. If your website isn’t optimized for search, you’re missing on a plethora of traffic opportunities that are available to you. In 2018, websites will be optimized – we’re talking meta tags, meta descriptions, meta titles. With 61% of people performing an online search before deciding to partner with a business or make a purchase, this is more important than ever.

These 2018 website trends are the focus for those of us in the IR space as we prepare for the year ahead. From CSR to bold fonts, mobile-focused to video, we are preparing each and every one of our clients for a brand new year. From all of us at Blender Media, Happy New Year!

 

2018 website trends

IR Resolutions for 2017

Posted on by Nicole Van Zanten

When it comes to resolutions for the New Year, we all have various personal and professional goals that we are seeking to accomplish. Whether it’s a personal goal that will work to make you a stronger leader in your workplace or community, or a professional goal, like creating and launching an optimized online IR strategy for your company, this is time of the year when we are ready to get started on our New Year Resolutions. And if IR Resolutions are what you’re making, this blog is for you.

We’re excited about what is to come in IR for 2017. So excited, in fact, that we’ve compiled the IR resolutions that you need to know about now for this New Year. With a compilation of trends and insights we’re ready to see unfold, you’ll want to bookmark this blog and review in the upcoming quarters.

Here are the IR Resolutions for 2017 you need to know now.

 

Review and determine if your website needs a refresh.

39% of people will stop engaging with a website if images won’t load or take too long to load, so it’s time to ask yourself – does your website need a refresh? Furthermore, given 15 minutes to consume content, two-thirds of people would rather read something well designed than something plain, and a bore to view.

Given the fact that visitors to your website are unlikely to spend 15 minutes on any given page, you have a limited amount of time to make an impression on your IR visitors.

In 2017, it’s time to review and determine if your website needs a refresh.

 

Video is King.

We’ve spoken about this at length, but 2017 is the year when it truly comes into play

59 percent of executives admit that they would rather watch video than read text, which means that your IR decision makers are looking for video content in the New Year. It should be an integral part of your website’s infrastructure, and can no longer be considered an addition to your IR strategy.

Integrate video content on your home page, your company’s about us page, your contact page and more. Ensure it is engaging content – and short! Aim for a video length of 0:30 to one minute in length.

IR Resolutions Video

 

Do you need to update your CSR strategy?

Although we have seen a great number of companies who have an understanding of how CSR can impact their IR strategy, showcasing your efforts will soon be the norm. CSR has been more of a trend seen in the European and Asia-Pacific regions, but 2017 will be the year that it becomes increasingly relevant in North America.

With this in mind, it’s time to review your CSR strategy and online presence in this New Year. Ask yourself – does the CSR section of my website accurately reflect our internal efforts?

 

Use social media to tell your story.

Although you very likely have presence online, and perhaps even use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram every single day, this is the time to review how you are telling your company’s story through social media. 62 percent of adults in the United States get their news on social networks, which is up from 49 percent in 2012. It’s clear that this trend will only continue in 2017.

As you are making company announcements or CSR initiates in this New Year, consider how social media can compliment your strategy.

 

From a website refresh to video, CSR to social media, your IR resolutions for 2017 range in topic, but will all play a significant impact on your business within this New Year. Take time this month to review your strategies currently in place, and consider the benefits of making optimizations now.

Connecting with your On-The-Go Investors: Beyond the Website

Posted on by Marika Hirsch

What other aspects of your IR communications can benefit from a mobile-first focus?

Last week, we focused on specific website examples from Canadian public companies who have made mobile a top priority when it came to their website and investor relations section. While mobile optimization is definitely the first step, the job isn’t done once your website looks great on a phone or tablet. A mobile-friendly website is only one step in the process of getting your company ready for a mobile focused future. There are many other ways of communicating with your on-the-go investors that can benefit from revisiting your IR strategy with a mobile lens.

Section Four of Blender Media and CIRI BC’s collaborative eBook, Connecting with Your On-The-Go-Investors takes a look at every part of a conclusive investor relations strategy, beyond the website, and discusses how public companies can benefit from mobile-friendly presentations, reports, email signups, and more. Navigate to the interactive eBook now to take an in-depth look at our findings, or read the highlights below!

 

My website is mobile-friendly, aren’t I done?

Nope. As we mentioned above, having a mobile optimized website is the first step, but definitely not the last in order to have a complete mobile strategy for your public company. Get inside mind of your on-the-go investors and ask yourself: What issues might my investors run into when looking at my company info from their phones? Below are a few of our ideas for potential problems:

“I want to make note of the company’s next conference call/annual report/ tradeshow on my phone’s calendar, but it’s too complicated.”

Build an ‘Add to Calendar’ or ‘Remind Me’ function into your company’s latest updates so on-the-go investors can easily select their type of calendar and have the event saved straight to their mobile device. This process is easy to implement for you, and will save your investors time.

Going Mobile Beyond the Website screenshot

“I want to sign up for email alerts, but it’s too hard to fill out the form from my tablet.”

There is nothing more frustrating than trying to fill out an electronic form on a phone and having the keyboard open and collapse at random times, or the form fields stop registering, or the ‘submit’ button is too difficult to tap. Don’t put your on-the-go investors through that headache and ensure that every form on your website requesting information works flawlessly.

 

“I’ve opened their annual report on my phone, but the PDF is too small to read and I have to keep zooming in with my fingers.”

Ah, the old PDF pinch and zoom. Although downloadable PDFs are still widely used by public companies for annual reports, is that the way it always has to be? What about an interactive annual report as a separate website that functions well on any mobile device? Creating a digital annual report with animated highlights, easily selectable chapters, great design, and more will stand out to your investors much more than the same old PDF. Want to see an example? Navigate to our latest eBook that we call the “PDF slayer.” Connecting With Your On-The-Go Investors gives you a digital reading experience like no other.

 

Read about what other IR materials can be enhanced with a mobile focus (such as news releases, annual reports, and IR presentations), as well as testimonials from the industry’s top IR experts in our full report. Check it out here!

 

Connecting with your On-The-Go investors: Great Mobile Examples

Posted on by Marika Hirsch

Take a lesson from your peers, and get mobile optimized.

We’ve been writing a lot lately about why it’s so important to have a mobile-friendly website in order to better communicate with your on-the-go investors. You’ve learned the basics of what mobile-friendly means for public companies. We explained how giant companies like Google are changing the way their mobile searches work with ‘Mobilegeddon’.

This week, we’re looking at specific website examples from Canadian public companies who have made mobile optimization a top priority. In Section Three of our interactive eBook, Connecting with Your On-The-Go Investors, we pull together examples of great mobile websites from companies of all sizes and all industries.

 

Here’s what you can expect from Section Three: Examples of mobile-friendly websites.

Analyze the mobile readiness of your peers! Below, in this week’s blog, we break down one great example of a mobile-friendly website from our friends at Teck Resources. Section Three of the eBook, however, offers many more examples from great companies as well as an explanation of why mobile optimization should be on your investor relations strategy agenda. You can also read testimonials from IR executives at Teck Resources and others about why mobile was an asset for their investor strategy. The eBook’s collaboration with CIRI BC ensures that each example takes into consideration the needs of Canadian public companies. Navigate to the eBook now for the full experience, or continue reading for one example.

 

Why we love Teck Resources’s mobile website

Many assume that only companies in the technology sector can benefit from having a cutting-edge website. However, Teck is a great example of a natural resources company with a website built for this day and age. Here are some specific reasons why we love them on mobile:

Great Mobile Examples 1

The Design Isn’t Compromised

Teck’s mobile design is just as stunning as their desktop website. Sliding banners with high quality photos capture the attention of on-the-go investors and the mobile design keeps consistent with the same typography and colours as the desktop experience.

 

Great Mobile Examples 2

Company News and Performance Features

Teck’s mobile homepage includes pullouts from the latest company news and investor performance figures with an option to navigate to the full page to learn more. Pulling out performance statistics on the homepage makes it easy for on-the-go investors to quickly get the bite-sized information.

Great Mobile Examples 3

Wealth of Information

Teck’s mobile website provides on-the-go investors with all the information they need, from the latest news release to the importance of CSR and sustainability measures. Oftentimes, a public company’s desktop website offers the full breadth of information, while the mobile website lacks a majority of website sections. Teck’s mobile website, however, uses an intuitive navigation and clean design to display all the information needed in an organized way.

 

Great Mobile Examples 4

Focus on Sustainability

Teck’s mobile website features a section called ‘Our Approach to Sustainability’ with visual icons to help mobile users grasp their environmental plan. At the bottom of the mobile homepage, on-the-go investors can easily find the 2015 Sustainability Report, as well as the latest annual report.

 

Great Mobile Examples 5

Teck is only one example of the many Canadian companies who are helping their on-the-go investors find the information they need with their mobile websites. To see all the examples and learn more strategies, make sure to navigate to Section Three of the eBook: Connecting With Your On-The-Go Investors.

Connecting With Your On-The-Go Investors – The “Mobilegeddon” Update

Posted on by Nicole Van Zanten

On April 21 2015, businesses everywhere were watching Google search rankings intently.

It was on this day that Google released an algorithmic update that revolved around mobile-friendly websites. This essentially meant that websites optimized for mobile received a boost in their mobile search results, whereas those that were not mobile-friendly dropped in their overall search rankings.

Hence, the term ‘Mobilegeddon’.

‘Mobilegeddon’ has emerged in various forms since April 21 2015. In May of 2016, ‘Mobilegeddon’ 2.0 was released; this update further increased the rankings of companies with mobile-friendly, optimized websites. Those who invested the necessary time and effort into making their sites mobile-friendly benefited from this update, whereas the businesses that did not follow the mobile-optimized trend were further dropped from the pack.

That’s exactly why we paid closed attention to ‘Mobilegeddon’ in Section 2 of Connecting With Your On-The-Go Investors. Since these updates are so important to public companies, we deemed it as an integral part of our collaborative resource with CIRI.

Here’s what you can expect from Section Two: The ‘Mobilegeddon’ Update.

Although you now know what ‘Mobilegeddon’ is, Section Two will take you through why it was released.

As Google collected web traffic and search data, they realized that more and more traffic was coming from mobile devices, primarily smart phones. To fuel a positive user experience on their network, Google announced the ‘Mobilegeddon’ change. This announcement was made in February of 2015, giving companies just three months to prepare.

Google’s primary focus was to “work towards delivering high quality search results that are optimized” for mobile devices. As traffic to their network was increasing on mobile, the goal of this change was to create seamless user experiences online.

What happened after The ‘Mobilegeddon’ Update?

So, this begs the question – what happened after April 21 2015? What did Google look like on April 22nd?

Content marketing company, BrightEdge, has tracked over 20,000 URLs since the update. They found that there was a 21% decrease in non mobile-friendly URLs on the first 3 pages of search results.

Similarly, a search by s360 showed that mobile friendly websites have received 32% more organic mobile traffic than non-mobile friendly websites.

Could you imagine receiving 32% more traffic to your website, simply because you made the decision to optimize your website for mobile?

What does it mean for my public company?

connecting with your on-the-go investors mobilegeddon

68% of investors look at investor related content throughout the day on their mobile device, which means that nearly three quarters of traffic to your website could be coming from mobile. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, not only will it be slammed by ‘Mobilegeddon’, your user experience will start to decline from the very moment that a potential investor visits your website.

‘Mobilegeddon’ had a significant impact on the websites of public companies, many of which are still feeling such impact on their search rankings. In an effort to help public companies with their website’s user experience, we made sure to include Section Two: The ‘Mobilegeddon’ Update in Connecting With Your On-The-Go Investors.

With Section Two: The ‘Mobilegeddon’ Update reviewing what you need to know about Google’s change in April of 2015, we’ll follow-up next week with an overview of Section Three: Examples of Mobile-Friendly Websites.

 

Connecting With Your On-The-Go Investors: The Basics

Posted on by Nicole Van Zanten

Are you reading this blog on your smart phone right now?

With the number of global mobile phone users expected to pass the five billion mark by 2019, there’s a good chance you’re browsing through our site on your iPhone, Android, Windows or Pixel phone.

And, when it comes to using your mobile device for work, 83% of institutional investors rely on their smart phone when it comes to decision making.

That’s exactly why we released “Connecting With Your On-The-Go Investors”, in collaboration with CIRI. It’s your resource on mobile optimization – what it means, how it impacts SEO for your business, and how it is being embraced by users across Canada. It is meant to serve a go-to reference as you review your company’s IR digital and outreach strategy for 2017.

So, what’s in “Connecting With Your On-The-Go Investors”?

The resource is divided into five sections, with each serving a unique purpose in the process of understanding the impact of mobile on your business. Over the next five weeks, we’ll highlight each of these sections, diving deeper into what you can expect from the resource that is available now.

With that said, here’s what you can expect from Section One: The Basics.

What does “The Basics” of being mobile friendly actually mean?

In very simple terms, being ‘mobile-friendly’ means that a website renders well on your smart phone, regardless of the device.

For example, you know the pain of checking a website on mobile that isn’t optimized for your smartphone. Whether you’re filling out a contact form, or simply information-gathering, the experience can be less-than-stellar.

connecting with your on-the-go investors

But if that was the extent of it, we’d stop right there.

In “The Basics”, we outline everything Google assesses when it comes to the mobile-readiness of your website. This includes:

  • Website structure
  • Page loading speeds
  • Content relevance
  • Meta-descriptions and title tags
  • And more…

How can I tell if my website is mobile friendly, and what should I do for my business?

There are so many ways to test the mobile-readiness of your website; in Section One: The Basics, we’ll take you through the benefits of responsive design, and why we believe it’s the strongest option for your business.

Responsive design is an approach to web design that is aimed at developing sites to provide an optimal viewing experience, both on desktop and on mobile. It makes for easy reading and navigation with a minimum of resizing, panning, and scrolling. It’s also the strongest option for your business when it comes to SEO and placement on sites like Google, which is integral to IR and decision making versus competitors. So, if your website isn’t ready for smart phone users, it’s important that you take responsive design into consideration as you plan for your IR strategy in 2017.

Throughout this collaborative resource, “Connecting With Your On-The-Go Investors”, we’ll take you through the importance of building a website that caters to your business persona, and leave you with tips you can implement now to build a stronger brand presence online.

With Section One: The Basics setting the stage for what is to come, we’ll follow-up next week with an overview of Section Two: The ‘Mobilegeddon’ Update.

 

7 Ways To Test The Mobile-Readiness Of Your Website

Posted on by Nicole Van Zanten

We’ve talked about how important it is to have a mobile friendly website, but how do you know if your website is truly mobile-ready?

It’s a loaded question, and one we’re here to answer. Although your website might appear to look fine on mobile, it might not be truly optimized. And since 48% of consumers start mobile research with a search engine (with this stat growing month over month), it’s important that your company focuses on mobile fast.

That’s why we’re here to show you how you can find out if your website is ready for mobile.

So let’s get started. Here’s are 7 ways you can test the mobile-readiness of your website

Mobile-Readiness of Your Website 1

1. Open your website in a browser.

Yes, this test requires a desktop computer.

For this test, open your company’s website in a browser. This method is often referred to as a “three second test”, and here’s why:

With your mouse, grab the right side of your browser window and drag it all the way to the left until you can’t shrink it any further.

Is content cut off? Or can you scroll and view content without an issue? Do you have to maximize the page to view content again?

If content fits within your screen and you can scroll properly, this is a great sign.

 

Mobile-Readiness of Your Website 2

2. Test your website’s mobile load speed.

Click on this link and enter your company’s URL in the text box.

We love this offering from Google; they’ve developed a website that tests your URL to see if it’s mobile friendly, or if it’s not quite responsive.

 

Mobile-Readiness of Your Website 3

3. Open your website in your mobile browser and begin to test forms.

Since a contact form is the most important part of your website (after all, how are prospective clients supposed to contact you without it?) it’s important to ensure that forms are responsive on mobile.

Open your “Contact” page and view the form through your smartphone. Is it responding properly? Can you fill information easily?

 

4. Check your site speed.

Another great tool from Google is the Site Speed Test.

To get started, click here and, just like the mobile-readiness test, enter your company’s website URL.

This tool is truly great. In addition to speed scores, it will give you detailed information on what you should fix and the things you’ve done correctly. It will also give you a speed test for mobile and desktop.

 

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5. Review your content placement.

Even if your website is optimized for mobile structurally, it’s important that your content reflects your mobile focus.

By this, we mean that your content hierarchy should reflect how you want your web visitors to interact with your website. This can be referred to as the beginning of a “Buyer’s Journey”.

Ask yourself:

  • Are the most important Call-to-Actions the first thing investors see on mobile?
  • Is all text easy to read?
  • Are all Call-to-Action buttons easy to click? Do you understand exactly where the button will lead you?

When reviewing your website, make sure that your content is placed in a way that makes sense for visitors.

 

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6. Send this to your developer or agency…

mobiReady has a great (and extensive) test around everything JavaScript, CSS, HTML and more.

It’s easy to use, and we recommend working with your development team or agency to go through this process.

 

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7. Get our Mobile Optimization Guide.

If these first tips helped you, consider downloading our Mobile Optimization Guide here. This guide is extensive, and is a great resource for your team to use as you are going through the process of reviewing your website.

Since 83% of investors rely on mobile when it comes to work, it’s more important than ever to test the mobile-readiness of your website. Ask yourself – would you want a potential client experience frustration while interacting on your website? Can you afford to have a potential client leave your website because of a slow load time? We are assuming that the answer is resoundingly “no”.