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.
Telford-based Precision Colour Printing (PCP) has announced details of an order for an RMGT (Mitsubishi) 1050 Tandem Perfector press to replace an existing Mitsubishi machine and enhance its sheet-fed printing capabilities.
Haymarket Media Group last week announced a new joint venture with Comexposium, one of the world’s leading event organisers.
Findings from the Association for Online Publishing’s 2016 Content Census indicate that video and mobile internet are top priorities for publishers; native advertising will continue to grow; and video inventory needs to increase to meet demand.
The shortlist for the British Media Awards 2017 has just been announced.
The PPA has announced the shortlist for its 2017 New Talent Awards.
Marie Claire is harnessing the power of its new Fabled by Marie Claire beauty business to bring tens of thousands of new readers to the magazine during 2017, says the company.
Blues Matters, the blues magazine, has partnered with digital publishing company Exact Editions to launch the complete 18-year archive of the bi-monthly magazine.
BPA Worldwide yesterday announced it is launching a private digital ad marketplace (PMP) for its B2B members in the second quarter of 2017.
RCNi have partnered with Skills for Health’s Skills Platform to make RCNi Learning modules available via the new Clinical eLearning Hub.
Following the successful relaunch of Chemistry World, the Royal Society of Chemistry has relaunched their magazine site for chemistry teachers.
Colin Morrison's article in the Publishing Partners Guide 2017
James Tye's article in the Publishing Partners Guide 2017
Organic or acquisition? What’s your growth strategy? There’re pros and cons to both. One publisher that has been particularly active in the acquisitions field over the past decade is Metropolis. Chief executive Robert Marr talks to Robin Bowman about
With an approximate 65 million sets of teeth to look after, UK dentistry is a robust and valuable sector, less susceptible than many others to digital disruption. One of the publishers servicing dentists is FMC, set up by Ken Finlayson in 1995. Meg C
At the end of November, the PPA held its annual Customer Direct Conference in London. The theme of the day was the customer journey. James Evelegh was there.
