GOOD investor relations contacts pages demonstrate companies' accountability to their shareholders and give potential investors confidence that they have a reliable avenue to get answers to questions that might come up.

Currently, fewer than 20 per cent of companies in the IR Web Report Global Benchmarks™ are providing credible IR contact information on their websites. Most contacts pages are impersonal and make companies look bureaucratic, disinterested and even arrogant.

Poor IR contacts pages also leave the impression that companies are disorganized or that they don't have resources to effectively manage their communications with investors. This in turn can undermine investors' confidence in the site as a source for current, relevant information and cause them not to use the site again.

These best practice guidelines for IR contacts pages cover the basics of an effective IR contacts page and a number of innovations that can enhance the experience of investors using the information. We also discuss how to balance being approachable online without opening yourself up to a deluge of spam.

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