We believe that strong relationships with Wall Street and the media are
critical to successful IR programs. Blueshirt's relationships go far beyond phone calls. Our network has been built over many years and encompasses shared experiences as our clients have grown, through both successful and more challenging times. Blueshirt has relationships with professionals at most of the leading investment banks (bankers and analysts), asset managers, and business journals. Our broad base of contacts and deep experience lets us talk to the Street on its own terms, in its own language, in ways that get results for our clients.
They are huge. Despite needing close coordination, IR and PR have different target audiences, strategies and legal issues. In addition, the terminology, staffing, and reporting relationships are radically different. At the most basic level, effective IR programs tend to work closely with senior management and often report directly to the CFO. Effective IR personnel have strong financial backgrounds, "Street smarts", a solid knowledge of the legal consequences of communications, and a deep understanding of tone. IR builds on long term relationships, deep subject knowledge, and a high level of trust. Fundamentally, and unlike PR, IR is about consistently setting expectations, not generating interest.
IR professionals do need to work closely with their PR counterparts, both externally and internally. While IR and PR are separate mediums with separate audiences, companies must have consistent communication messages across both fronts. Blueshirt has a media team that is skilled in creating proactive media programs that work in concert with IR plans and can also work together with internal PR teams and external PR firms to develop and deliver strong messages.
|
