B2B publishing has quietly become one of the healthier parts of the industry. The trade press that once lived on display and recruitment advertising now earns more of its money from subscriptions, data, events and membership, and private equity has noticed.
The shift meant giving up some old habits. Controlled circulation made sense in print, but open websites gave away what the magazine kept for qualified readers, and the publishers doing best have taken back control of their audiences through registration and paywalls. The Lawyer moved from an advertising-led business to one where paid content brings in over 40 per cent of revenue.
Don’t delude yourself because the barriers to entry in publishing are now non-existent.
Amanda Barnes B2B media
Specialist knowledge is the defence. AI makes generic information close to worthless, so the value lies in proprietary data, tools readers rely on in their daily work and journalism only a specialist could produce, as Computer Weekly's Post Office investigation showed. Print hasn't vanished either. Some publishers now sell it alongside digital at the same price and let readers choose.
Below you'll find some of our best feature articles on B2B and trade media, from subscriptions and data products to events, print, consolidation and specialist journalism, alongside our latest news and industry commentary.
We asked Amanda Barnes, chief executive of Faversham House, what does best practice publishing look like in B2B media? This is what she said…
Rory Brown has enjoyed great success in business media. Having last year sold AgriBriefing and now following new paths in the B2B space, he takes some time out to tell us what he has learned on his journey so far…
Print is certainly not dead, says Chairman Mark Allen. However, you need to offer readers choice and be neutral and agnostic about the outcome.
The Lawyer has been on quite a journey, successfully transitioning from a controlled circulation ad-driven model to a high value enterprise subs one. Andy Baker talks Meg Carter through the key stages and what they’ve learnt along the way.
In the first of our new ‘Digital Horizons’ series, Tom Lake, director of product and technology at Infopro Digital, looks at the tech opportunities and challenges facing his company and the wider B2B sector.
The future of B2B lies in serving your sector in three connected ways: information, intelligence and events.
John Barnes, chief digital officer, William Reed Business Media, tells Ciar Byrne about how the B2B media sector is managing the digital transformation journey.
Computer Weekly deserves much credit for its role in investigating the Horizon IT scandal. Dickon Ross looks at what lessons other B2B journalists can take from their work.
The general expectation is that the buying and selling of media brands is going to increase significantly in 2025. A number of companies have been quietly building up their war-chests during a wobbly 2024, reports Jim Bilton.
If you’re thinking of setting up a membership scheme, be prepared to play the long game because success doesn’t come overnight.
Richard Keogh, formerly Head of UK Consumer at Kantar Media UK, has been appointed as European Sales and Marketing Director at Communications International Group (CIG), a leading provider of information for the pharmacy sector.
Incisive Media yesterday announced the acquisition of Open Door Media Publishing Limited (ODMP), publisher of Investment Europe and producer of conferences for fund selectors across Europe.
The Association for Online Publishing (AOP) introduced two new categories at its flagship annual awards ceremony on Wednesday night.
The 38th annual PPA Awards were held tonight, June 27, at Grosvenor House, with 800 guests in attendance.
InPublishing has just published ‘The InPublishing Guide to Paid Content Strategies’, the first in a new series of top-level strategic guides looking at key areas of publishing strategy.
Hearst UK has announced that Red Smart Women Week will return for its fourth year this September, celebrating the brand’s 20th birthday.
In early June, Future announced that Zillah Byng-Thorne, Chief Executive has pledged her support of the Ascent CEO promise, an initiative which outlines actions required by organisations and companies to create an inclusive and equitable workplace.
Ricochet Media has selected Beeline Data Services to manage their data.
The British Society of Magazine Editors’ Talent Awards were announced on Monday, 4 June at Lalit London.
Responding to the Treasury Select Committee’s inquiry into VAT, the PPA has outlined the case for correcting a longstanding anomaly in the tax system, through platform neutral application of the zero-rate afforded to magazines and journals.
The Association for Online Publishing (AOP) yesterday announced the results of a two-year ad blocking audit among its members, showing the latest trends in ad blocking and its effects on publishers.
In May, the Law Society Gazette unveiled a new look for its weekly print magazine.
WoodWing, a multichannel publishing and digital asset management software company, has announced the appointment of Ross Paterson as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
dmg events, the international events company, will launch The Big 5 Construct Nigeria next year. The event will take place on 10-12 September 2019 at the Landmark Centre in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city.
Design can make or break a magazine. We grab five minutes with Ian Blaza of Raspberry Jam Creative to get his thoughts on what makes good design … and what can lead to bad design.
