corporate

communications

outreach

A Gateway to Sustainable Finance for Emerging Markets

Businesses with respectful, candid communications can cultivate trust and develop a more open and transparent culture.

Establishing effective corporate communications helps to generate a successful business and affects every major area of a business, from internal interactions to external activities. Businesses with respectful, candid communications can cultivate trust and develop a more open and transparent culture. User-friendly access and communications reinforce linkages and encourage dialogue between a company and its stakeholders, while facilitating sharing of information with peers.

Benefits of corporate communications include the following:

  • Increased employee productivity and positive workplace environment
  • Greater loyalty to the company
  • New business opportunities
  • Greater innovations
  • Increased customer satisfaction
  • Prevention and resolution of problems
  • Enhanced reputation.

Effective Messaging

Before creating communications products, a company needs to clarify its key messages to use throughout the various communications channels. The messaging needs to identify major audiences for the communications products and craft the messages accordingly. Successful corporate messaging requires leadership to be actively involved in delivering messages that are clear and consistent. Effective messaging focuses on building trust and presenting transparent information and data.

A well-designed annual report can be a vital communications tool for a business

Explore Online Toolkit

How does a company create an annual report that is an effective communications tool?

  • Emphasize storytelling connected to data
  • Communicate the “story” in the data
  • Provide rich content that engages the audience
  • Present key messages
  • Show societal and environmental impact
  • Follow a narrative that is easy to follow
  • Support narrative with examples and data visualization.

Audiences for annual reports:

  • Consumers
  • Investors
  • Business-to-business customers
  • Employees
  • Communities
  • Suppliers
  • Non governmental organizations (NGOs)
  • ESG analysts
  • Rating agencies
  • Regulators
  • Media
  • General Public

What Goes Into The Annual Report?

  • Strategic information
  • Management and governance information relevant to creating value>> (for example: risk management, remuneration, board oversight of internal audit, or strategy development and implementation).
  • Material issues and KPIs.
  • Financial and ESG performance
  • Information required to be disclosed within the annual report by local regulators.

Formats For Annual Reports

Annual reports can come in full or summary versions. Various formats exist for annual reports, ranging from print to digital to Web-based to sections posted on social media. Companies often use a combination of formats, allowing them to get their message out to a wider audience.
Additional Channels For
Corporate Communications
And Outreach

Companies have a variety of communications
channels to reach external audiences

  • Website
  • Press releases and media outreach
  • Community meetings
  • Shareholder meetings
  • Reports and statements
  • Social media, such as Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and so on.
  • Ongoing communications of strategic information and material events that can influence key stakeholders.