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.
For many publishers, faced with media fragmentation and market upheaval, the biggest challenge is where to start. How can you create a coherent digital strategy when you have limited resources and the goalposts seem to be constantly moving? Peter Hou
Centaur publishes some of the best known brands in B2B media, yet found itself in the doldrums in 2013. Tasked with breathing new life into this B2B publisher was the former boss of EMI Music! Andria Vidler tells Meg Carter about her first year at th
Native advertising is now all the rage, but the cultural realignments involved continue to prove challenging for many. The publishers of everyinvestor.co.uk began their journey two years ago and, writes Marco Callegari, the learning curve has been st
Many publishers are venturing into live events – whether paid conferences or large scale paid or free exhibitions - as an additional source of revenue, providing their audience with live content and networking, and sponsors with the chance for face t
Centaur Media plc this week issued a trading update for the year ended 31 December 2014.
Centaur Media yesterday announced two new appointments, creating, says the company, a combination of expertise that reaches across both its editorial and commercial arms.
Elsevier yesterday announced the acquisition of Newsflo, a London-based company that helps researchers and academic institutions to measure the wider impact of their work by tracking and analyzing media coverage of their publications and findings.
James Tye, CEO of Dennis Publishing, has been appointed Deputy Chairman of the Professional Publishers Association, meaning he will take over as Chairman of the association in 2016.
Following the refinancing and the investment in the group by Private Equity firm Alchemy, Incisive Media has announced a number of changes to its Board of Directors.
Incisive Media has announced a refinancing agreement that it says provides a strong platform for future growth.
Jane Macken, Managing Director of Haymarket Business Media (HBM), the UK business division of Haymarket Media Group is leaving after 26 years in the company.
Abacus e-Media has announced that EMAP’s Retail Week has launched the first of their new long-form digital guides using their Webvision CMS.
DC Thomson’s teenage magazine Shout has been named Magazine of the Year at the 2014 Scottish Magazine Awards hosted by PPA Scotland.
On 1st January 2015 UBM will launch IFSEC Global India, a dedicated content channel for the Indian security and fire market, after absorbing India Security World.
The PPA held its annual Independent Publisher Conference at the Montcalm Hotel, Marble Arch in London last Friday. James Evelegh was there, taking notes.
