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.
The number of British people growing their own fruit and veg has soared in 2011, but we are coming a cropper because of our lack of knowledge about when to harvest. These are some of the key findings of an ICM survey for Gardeners' World magazine mar
Felix Dennis sees overnight success with his Tales From The Woods iPad app.
Leading men’s lifestyle title, Men’s Health, has appointed Toby Wiseman as its new Editor.
Grazia, Bauer Media’s weekly glossy for upscale women interested in fashion, news, beauty, celebrity and lifestyle, is to publish its biggest ever issue during London Fashion Week in direct response to record levels of advertiser demand.
Forbes Media has announced the introduction of its eighteenth local-language edition, Forbes Kazakhstan, in partnership with United Media Group (UMG).
Candis magazine, the successful subscription based title from Newhall Publications, goes on sale at the newsstand for the first time on 23 September, priced £2.20.
Nearly nine months into 2011, the US Congressional gridlock and Standard & Poor’s’ US credit downgrading have managed to threaten, if not derail, a tenuous recovery by sending already-skittish US and global financial markets reeling, writes Karlene L
Despite a very slight increase in overall circulation, the trend for traditional print magazines is down. But, writes Jamie Higginson, publishers are compensating by successfully extending their brand reach and this gives hope for the future.
Reader’s Digest is a title which benefits from huge brand recognition but suffers from a widely held perception that it’s something “granny used to read”. A decade of rapidly falling ABC figures told their own story. In 2009, Gill Hudson was appointe
Marketing in general, and subscriptions marketing in particular, can be measured down to the last penny. So why, asks grumpy old copywriter Andy Maslen, do publishers keep making these five strangely emotion-led decisions?
The first issue of We Love Pop magazine has sold 119,000 copies according to closed wholesale figures, provided by Seymour, released yesterday.
IPC Media has announced the promotion of Roger Cummings from associate publisher for Marie Claire to publishing director for IPC Connect’s market leading Women’s lifestyle portfolio: Woman's Own, Woman and goodtoknow.
Marketing database and CRM consultants Mayfield Solutions has revealed its new name, 70 Fathoms, and brand identity.
Time Out has confirmed the appointment of Tim Arthur as UK Editor-in-Chief of the Time Out media group.
Action Man has been doing his bit for some real-life heroes, with a little help from Men’s Health and some leading menswear designers.
