The Public Affairs Group Inc. has released the preliminary results of its first-ever study about the best practices in online corporate communications.
The survey results, which were reached after a research team looked at 310 companies to determine if they had a Web site, concluded that DuPont, CIGNA, AT&T, Digital Equipment and Microsoft, are leading the way in this new communications galaxy.
PAG, Washington, D.C., recognizes in its finding 56 "winners" in the cyber-corporate communications domain and notes - in addition to singling out individual corporations for their accomplishments - that five industries are leading the way. They are high-tech, with a 14 percent share (eight companies out of 56); telecommunications, with a 12 percent wedge (seven out of 56); insurance with an 11 percent claim (six out of 56); and computer and chemical, both with a 9 percent piece (five out of 56).
Companies that have Web sites were analyzed on 28 various communications areas, such as ease of use; timeliness; hyperlinking; vision statement; press releases; archives of past releases; contact information; research and development; annual reports; community relations/philanthropy; electronic commerce; and studies, events and resources.
Some of the sites' innovative features included IBM providing a downloadable video clip of a recent speech by chairman Louis Gestner; EDS offering its annual report in nine languages; and Staples allowing users to type in an address and get back a map pinpointing the nearest store.
The study is slated to be officially released on July 20. Copies can be ordered for $395 by calling PAG at 202/833-1808.
The 55 winners, in each selected industry, are:
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High-tech - EDS, Gartner Group, Motorola, Oracle Corp., Sunstrand, Sun Microsystems, Texas Instruments and Tyco International;
Telecom - MCI, Ameritech, AT&T, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, Pacific Telesis and USWest; Insurance - Aetna, Cigna, Lincoln National, NY Life, Unum and TransAmerica; Computer - Apple, Digital Equipment Corp., Gateway, IBM and Microsoft; Chemical - Dow Chemical, Eastman Chemical, Monsanto, Air Products & Chems and DuPont; Travel & Transportation- Norfolk Southern, American Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Roadway Express; Retail - Costco, Federated Dept. Stories and Staples; |
Consumer Products - Coca Cola; Media - Disney and Reuters; Financials - American Express and Salomon; Utilities - Southern Company Pharmaceuticals - Eli Lilly and Warner Lambert;Petroleum - Chevron and Exxon; Aerospace - Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Allied Signal; Building & Paper - Georgia Pacific; Automotive - Chrysler; Photographic Imaging Products - Eastman Kodak and 3M; Personal Products - Kimberly Clark |
Editor's Note: Next week, PR NEWS will bring you a look at Web sites that need some improvement. Our analysis will include PAG's look at some less-than-effective online ventures.