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.
Two Sides Autumn Seminar reaffirms the popularity of print as an essential medium for media planners with leading media players citing print as being “the new cool” and having a unique appeal compared to digital media.
It’s been a hectic week for Les Pipe, managing director of Rhapsody, the pre-media company formed by the merger of Wyndeham Pre-Press and Masterpiece. James Evelegh caught up with him to get his take on the rapidly evolving media scene.
eZ Systems AS, the creator of the award winning Open Source Web Content Management Platform, eZ Publish, has announced a partnership with Circdata.
Wyndeham Pre-Press has merged with its sister company Masterpiece to form Rhapsody.
Metro has published a brand new magazine for urbanite home-owners and would be home-owners in the capital.
The digital tide shows no signs of abating and the economy looks like it might be flatlining, at best, for some time to come. Tablets and smartphones continue to soak up most of publishers’ development budgets. Should print just call it a day? Mike M
From its small scale London origins over forty years ago, Time Out has grown into a truly global brand with print and digital offerings in most of the world’s major cities. Cathy Runciman outlines their international strategy and predicts further dig
Baked & Delicious Festive Special, a oneshot from Eaglemoss, goes on sale 24 November priced £10.99.
Presenter and architect George Clarke has a passion for restoration and last week was crowned the nation’s Favourite Home TV Celebrity at the eighth annual House Beautiful Awards.
Bauer Media has announced two significant senior management team appointments within its magazine and digital business, as it continues to invest in its drive to deliver world class editorial products and commercial operations.
Dazed & Confused celebrates twenty years with 20 separate covers.
Fashion and beauty title InStyle has gathered some of the world’s top fashion designers to each create a short film exploring style.
The magazine publishing environment is one of constant and fluid change. In this competitive world, writes Amy Bell, it is important to have a clear approach to the learning and development structures within your company, in order to define what you
The first in a series of regular columns from David Hepworth.
With post and production costs rising and the economic downturn hitting marketing budgets, it’s vital for magazine publishers to stay competitive, evolve and develop new revenue streams. Sophia Dempsey looks at opportunities for developing low risk,
