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.
Having published The Co-operative Magazine for The Southern Co-operative for the past two years, and more recently, internal magazine Scoop, River have now been contracted to publish the business’ 2011 annual review.
Yo! Sushi has been named the UK's best high-street restaurant according to influential food magazine, olive.
Print & Procurement, the print sector training and consultancy company, has announced the launch of a new blog and newsletter, aimed at the print buying community.
For the 7th year running, Gold Key Media has distributed select publications to delegates at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
NME celebrates this year’s NME Godlike Genius award winner, Dave Grohl, with a special one-shot magazine dedicated to the former Nirvana drummer and current frontman of the multi-platinum-selling rock band, Foo Fighters.
Sports and technology came together in Paris last week as leading publishers and sports editors gathered to discuss how their long-time expertise in providing independent and compelling sports news can be leveraged in the digital age.
Action Force, a new magazine for boys from LCD Publishing, goes on sale on 18th February, cover priced £3.50.
The British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) has announced that it is to launch the Excellence Awards in 2011, encompassing a range of 14 best performance in Industry Awards.
Informa Business Information’s (IBI) Senior Management Team are attempting to raise £250,000 for a variety of UK and International charities by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro next month.
Bauer Media has announced the appointment of Lucy Banks to the new role of Executive Creative Director.
When is a client day not a client day? When you hold it in the posh surrounding of the IoD and invite a top notch line up of speakers. James Evelegh went along on the 27th January to listen.
Trevor Fenwick, Managing Director of Euromonitor International, has been named as the 2011 recipient of the George Henderson Award, the most prestigious accolade in the UK data publishing sector.
An award-winning Anglia Ruskin University graduate is putting her Masters degree into practise by launching a new Cambridge publication, The International Student Times.
Archant Specialist has announced the purchase of Today’s Pilot from Key Publishing Ltd, which it plans to combine with its general aviation magazine Pilot.
Bauer Media has appointed Kirsten Price to the role of Publisher for Top Santé, Yours, Mother & Baby, Pregnancy & birth and askamum.
