Dell Shares Insights on Institutional Investors' Use of its IR Blog
We received more than 70 responses with 60%/40% split respectively between institutional investors and research analysts. Here’s what we learned:
- More than half of the respondents read our blogs/Vlogs and view this as an effective means of communicating.
- There are still many folks out there that are unaware of our site.
- You value quick-reads due to time constraints and convenience.
- You prefer clear, concise messages around specific topics.
- Some respondents are unable to view video blogs (VLogs) or have a preference to read this information vs. watching a short video.
Well, we’ve considered this feedback in addition to other comments and will respond accordingly. As a result, we are taking the following actions:
- We will send an email blast on blogs and Vlogs posted going forward. If you are currently not on our distribution list and would like to be added, please contact us at investor_relations@dell.com.
- Starting with our next Vlog, we will attach a transcript for those that are unable to view the video or just have a preference to read it
- We have heard you loud and clear on topics to cover. We will be increasing the frequency of posts around other popular suggestions: new products/technologies, industrial/macro trends, and Dell’s strategy.
- For some of our Vlogs going forward, we will ask you in advance for questions you’d like answered and include in our discussion.
Transcripts are key, and always have been. Seems some investment houses are blocking YouTube. Email still trumps RSS.
In terms of topics they want to see, it’s the same stuff retail wants — background.
Overall, no real surprises.

In real time. They get that timeliness is important to investors. But here — again — is the thing. RSS is not real time. Yes, it’s possible to set up real time RSS and Atom alerts with Pubsubhubbub or RSSCloud, but I checked and Kinross’ feeds aren’t using either of those methods. They’re using classic pull instead of push, so the typical delays will be somewhere around 30 minutes, or whatever interval users’ feed readers are set to poll the feed. Which brings me to why I’m bringing this up. I’m not trying to make anyone look stupid. I’m trying to help prevent everyone in IR and social media from looking stupid. There’s a lot this sloppy stuff going on right now on the social web, and it’s a problem for those of us who want companies to adopt new technologies, but do it properly. When something goes wrong, all the IROs and lawyers who are looking for any excuse to stay off the social web will have their told-you-so poster child. We shouldn’t make it so easy for them. 


