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.
APA (The Association of Publishing Agencies) has rebranded to become the Content Marketing Association (CMA) in order to better reflect the work of its members and highlight the importance of content in today’s marketing strategies.
Egmont Kids Media, the specialist children’s publisher for babies to teens, has announced a worldwide partnership (excluding USA) with MovieStarPlanet for both book and magazine publishing.
Informa Telecoms & Media has completed the acquisition of Bristol-based Keynote World Media, which owns and runs the Cloud Computing World Forum events series.
One of the UK’s leading independent magazine sales houses has taken over the national advertising sales for Northcliffe Media’s portfolio of magazines from May 2012.
Negotiation isn’t just about nailing down the best possible price. Ideally, it is about achieving a win-win situation between buyer and seller and the best way of getting this, writes Matthew Parker, is to give a bit.
Immediate Media Branded Content has won the contract to publish Scouting, the Scout Association’s bi-monthly volunteers’ magazine, in print, digital and tablet formats.
ELLE, the fashion title published by Hearst Magazines UK, says it has received a strong response to its first ever search for the country’s best interns who will be paid to edit the October 2012 issue.
Two Sides has reacted angrily to Toshiba’s announcement in the US, that 23 October will be ‘National No-Print Day'.
The Associated Press and some of the world’s leading celebrity photographers have formed an independent photography company to provide inside access to the entertainment industry.
It’s For Boys, a new 13 issues a year title from LCD Publishing, goes on sale 22 June, priced £2.50.
Radio Times has pulled in critically-acclaimed stand-up comedian and TV funnywoman Sarah Millican as its new columnist.
Vogue magazine will publish an edition in Ukraine, it was announced yesterday by Jonathan Newhouse, Chairman and Chief Executive of Condé Nast International.
Future Publishing, the leading specialist multi-platform publisher, has unveiled Future Proof, a major new compendium of case studies detailing the full scope and effectiveness of Future’s advertising solutions.
Arnold Palmer’s Guide to the Majors 2012, published by TMCUSA, went on sale this week, priced £5.95.
Imagine Publishing has announced that its two Xbox 360 magazine brands, X360 and 360 Magazine, will be merging with immediate effect.
