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 B2B controlled circulation titles, the urge to play fast and loose with your own publishing schedule can be irresistible, especially if you’re waiting on an ad. Resist the urge, writes James Evelegh, because ultimately it will damage your brand.
Citibet, the free weekly football betting magazine, is set to launch this week in London with an editorial staff led by former FHM and Rolling Stone editor Ed Needham.
MyM, a new monthly magazine for manga and anime fans, goes on sale 3 May, priced £3.45.
Western Gazette Media has launched a new magazine aimed at high achievers in Somerset and Dorset.
Dora Little Cooks Party Special, a oneshot from Eaglemoss, goes on sale on 10 May, priced £9.99.
August Media’s This Magazine for Ocado has been shortlisted in the Editorial Design category at the Design Week Awards 2012.
Rhapsody Orchestrated Media has helped client IPC Media scoop the award for PPA Best Production Team of the Year at the PPA Production and Environment Awards 2012.
To mark its newly launched Fair Game for Women in Sport campaign, Stylist magazine claims to be making publishing history by putting England and Arsenal Ladies player, Rachel Yankey, on its cover.
Former Condé Nast International chairman, Daniel Salem, died at the weekend, aged 87.
Immediate Media Co is to launch Rastamouse magazine, a lively children’s title aimed at pre-schoolers, based on the popular CBeebies TV programme of the same name.
Hubert Burda Media UK is teaming up with Breakthrough Breast Cancer to help raise funds for research into the disease, which affects over half a million women in Britain.
Molten, a hard rock and metal music magazine based in Northern Ireland, is launching on the newsstand throughout the UK.
Informa plc’s newly published corporate responsibility report marks out its vast challenge to introduce a ‘brain print’ concept, which is the media industry’s way of understanding its impact from content produced.
FIPP has published The WMM Guide: Licensing and Syndication Explained – a report aimed at publishers and media owners looking to take the first steps towards international expansion.
Kapow! Comic Convention has announced that Future Publishing’s film portfolio – comprising Total Film, SFX and Comic Heroes – will be the main media partner for this year’s event.
