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.
Air Business has unveiled its new corporate branding. With its subscription arm changing names from ‘Quadrant Subscription Services’ to ‘Air Business Subscriptions’, all areas of the business will now come under the Air Business brand.
The British Media Awards event was held on 3rd May at the Hilton Park Lane.
Circdata, the subscriptions and event registration company, has appointed Hellen Beveridge to the new position of head of strategic insight, a connective marketing and data role.
The founder and senior management of Incisive Media have acquired the business in a management buyout (MBO), taking the business back to its private ownership roots.
The Association for Online Publishing (AOP) has announced the shortlist for its 2017 Digital Publishing Awards.
Mirabel Technologies, the creator of the Magazine Manager and Newspaper Manager CRM platforms, has officially unveiled Mirabel's Marketing Manager.
Procurement Leaders has relaunched PLQ magazine and native app on SPRYLAB’s Purple DS platform.
Yesterday, Bloomberg launched a new digital hub, ClimateChanged.com, that gathers all of its leading work in climate news and analysis.
Reed Business Information (RBI) announced last week that it has agreed to divest New Scientist and its associated products and events.
Proagrica has launched Future Farming – a global multimedia brand addressing the key challenges facing top arable farmers around the world.
Time Out Group plc announced yesterday the appointment of Christine Petersen as CEO of its business division Time Out Digital, effective immediately and reporting into Time Out Group CEO Julio Bruno.
Readly, the digital magazine newsstand, has just launched an enhanced mobile reading option for use on smaller screens.
In preparation for the launch of the B2B Media Exchange, a private marketplace (PMP) for BPA Worldwide’s membership, Scott Roulet has joined BPA as Vice President to lead the organization’s programmatic advertising initiatives.
The Magazine Production Company has welcomed to its team Michael O’Neill, who will offer advertising sales services to its clients.
The British Society of Magazine Editors has announced the shortlist for its 2017 Talent Awards.
