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.
Campaign, Haymarket’s global title for advertising and marketing professionals, has appointed former London Evening Standard Media Editor and Times and Independent business journalist Gideon Spanier as its new Head of Media.
The British Society of Magazine Editors has announced the shortlists for the Innovation / Brand-Building Initiative of the Year, Campaign and two new Cover of the Year categories. This completes the shortlists for this year’s awards.
RBI’s Farmers Weekly has launched Home Farm, a new 100-page glossy magazine.
Campaign US has launched a sister jobs site to target creative, marketing and media professionals in the US.
Haymarket has welcomed 10 new apprentices to the business as part of the Haymarket Skills Academy.
The PPA has announced the shortlist for its 2015 Independent Publisher Awards.
Advertisers spent a record £3.98 billion on digital advertising in the first half of 2015 – up 13.4% year-on-year – according to the latest Internet Advertising Bureau UK Digital Adspend report, conducted by PwC.
Professional Adviser (PA) is the latest Incisive Media brand to launch onto the company’s fully responsive digital platform.
Top Right Group, the international business-to-business media group yesterday announced the creation of a new operating company, to be led by Natasha Christie-Miller, that brings together the 4C, Planet Retail/Retail Net Group (RNG), EMAP and MEED pr
The PPA has announced the shortlist for the its Digital Publishing Awards 2015.
Findlay Media Limited, part of the Mark Allen Group, has completed its acquisition of The Airport Publishing Network (APN).
The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB UK) has released a set of guidelines to help the marketing industry provide more transparency to consumers around digital advertorials.
RCNi announced yesterday that Medacs Healthcare has signed a 3-year agreement for access to RCNi Portfolio.
Truck & Plant Locator, the weekly title from Focus Business Media, is being relaunched on 1 October and the cover price is increased by 20p to £2.50.
Haymarket Media Group is to relocate its UK business to Twickenham and will move 1000 employees from its current base in Teddington before the end of the year.
