We are completing the annual ranking of the top 100 and I am looking for basic information on many of these government contractors.
I browsed the company’s web page behind the company’s web page, gathering information about management, areas of activity and other information about the companies.
Sometimes it’s easy. I press “O” on the menu bar and sort through the options. Different companies have their own names for these options.
But usually the team of leaders is there by clicking on options like “People”, “Who we are” and similar options. Many companies even easily notice the choice of “Leadership”.
Areas of business typically offer options like “Solutions,” “What We Do,” “Opportunities,” and others that lead me to the information I’m looking for. Public companies also have an “Investor Relations” section that offers up financial and other key information.
But for every company where information is easy to find, an equal amount or more should feel that information such as the CEO and the location of the headquarters is a state secret that should remain hidden.
In particular, I will choose two companies because they are direct competitors and newcomers to the Top 100 of 2021 – SpaceX and Blue Origin. None of their websites have basic guide information. I had to confirm elsewhere that Elon Musk is the CEO of SpaceX and Bob Smith is the CEO of Blue Origin.
Both sites are one of the few that have a “Store” link in the navigation bar if you want to buy SpaceX or Blue Origin products.
I often have to hunt on the spot for company headquarters. The choice of “Contacts” is simply formed on many sites of companies. The press releases give me some hope that the company’s location will be on the date of this statement.
A Google search in the company name with the word “headquarters” also usually works.
The search engine is powerful, but I want to say that I don’t need to use Google.
Why can’t companies easily find basic leadership and location information?
Here is my wish list for easy information:
- Leadership, and especially outside the CEO.
- Headquarters location. Many companies will have maps showing all of their locations.
- Areas of business.
- Major contracts.
- Financial reports for public companies.
Another piece of information that would be good to have is the number of employees. But fewer and fewer companies have employees on their sites.
I understand that this is a figure that changes often, so it doesn’t bother me that much. I realized it was hard to find, if not impossible. Public companies are generally required to report this figure in their documents to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
My complaints should not be taken as a journalist’s grief, although that is part of it. But the information I and many others want is very simple. It provides context and insight into the company.
The company, headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, says something. Areas of activity tell you how the company looks at the market and its opportunities. The list of major contracts makes it clear with whom and with whom the company works.
All of the above is information that a journalist would like, but it is also facts that may require a potential partner. Potential employees are also a more important part of the audience.
Don’t hide basic information. This is an important part of your story. The beautiful graphics that everyone uses are nice, but it’s brilliant rather than the essence, and does little to truly tell your story.
