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.
Over the past fifteen years, the internet has turned the media world on its head and, with few exceptions, traditional media companies have been slow to adapt. Tim Brooks looks at why the industry has struggled to come to terms with digital technolog
Digital media, cloud crunching, analytics and the ability to marry up different data sources are revolutionising how media owners can measure who is reading what content, when, where and how often. Carolyn Morgan looks at the growing importance of da
International stock image company Alamy has published the results of an industry think tank looking at the way in which we pay for images and how photographers are compensated.
Leading events and meetings industry trade publisher Mash Media Group has announced its acquisition of the event production portfolio from Ocean Media Group.
Simpsons Comics, from Titan Publishing, is marking its 200th issue with a special cover.
Intermedia Brand Marketing, a provider of integrated brand marketing and distribution solutions, has announced the appointment of Glynn Roche to its Board as a Non-Executive Director, with effect from 2nd July 2012.
UPM has been awarded ‘Most Innovative Company’ at the 2012 Ethical Corporation Awards held in London.
In front of a packed Stationers’ Hall in London on Monday, 25 June, 25 winning schools received their Shine 2012 School Media Awards at a ceremony presented by Daily Mail columnist and Online Editor Simon Heffer and children’s author Keren David.
Company is turning its October issue into a graduate ‘takeover’.
The PPA and ABM, the association of business information and media companies, have entered into an agreement in which the two organisations will form a strategic alliance to share expertise and co-operate on advocacy efforts that benefit their respec
The Complete Google Handbook, a oneshot from Magnesium Media, goes on sale 5 July, priced £9.99.
“No Wonder You Love Paper” is the theme of a new campaign from Two Sides, the international organisation which promotes the responsible use of print and paper as an attractive, powerful and natural communications medium.
Men’s Fitness magazine, the fitness lifestyle title has had a comprehensive redesign for the August 2012 issue.
To mark Fashion’s Night Out 2012, Vogue has commissioned Jonathan Saunders to design a limited edition t-shirt, with proceeds going to Refuge, a national domestic violence charity.
After an extensive review process, the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) has chosen Haymarket Media Group (HMG) to become its media partner for its PM (People Management) brand.
