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.
One publisher that has taken up the events challenge with great gusto is Mark Allen Group whose events division has grown ten-fold over the past couple of years. Its MD, Ed Tranter, tells Meg Carter the secrets of putting on a successful show.
Jim Foster’s publishing world…
It feels like the companies that used to be known as publishers are morphing rapidly – to become retailers, agencies and providers of data and intelligence. Carolyn Morgan surveys the rapidly changing publishing landscape.
BBC History Magazine is achieving sustained growth across the brand. Editor Rob Attar talks to Mary Hogarth about leading the way in digital subscriptions and why regular podcasts are crucial.
AdvantageCS, a leading international provider of subscription management software, has announced the formation of a strategic partnership with SFG, the Texas-based service and technology company.
Bill Dunlop Uprichard is to step down from his role as Chief Executive Officer to be succeeded by Stephen Whitehurst, Chief Operations Officer.
The Association for Online Publishing (AOP) on Friday announced the appointment of Steve Chester – former Director of Data and Industry Programmes for the IAB – as consultant and advisor, supporting member actions around UK standards including viewab
Readly, the digital magazine newsstand, yesterday announced it has raised €13m in additional funding to drive the next stage of its development.
PulsePoint, a leading global programmatic advertising platform, yesterday announced its exclusive partnership with BPA Worldwide, a global not-for-profit provider of business media auditing services.
Tuesday, 9 May 2017 saw the formal opening by Greenwich Mayor, Olu Babatola, and Amali de Alwis, Chief Executive of Code First: Girls, of the Stationers’ Digital Media Centre at Stationers' Crown Woods Academy in Greenwich.
Hearst UK, the publisher of Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar and Esquire, will relocate its headquarters to LSQ London in Leicester Square.
MA Exhibitions Limited, the exhibition arm of the Mark Allen Group, has completed its acquisition of the UK’s largest special educational needs show, TES SEN Show, from TES Global Limited.
The literary magazine Granta yesterday announced the launch of a digital archive featuring every issue of the 38 year old quarterly.
International Broadcasting Convention (IBC), has adopted Abacus e-Media’s Webvision Cloud CXM platform for a new information service – IBC365.
The PPA has published the shortlists for its 2017 awards.
