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.
United Business Media has announced that it has acquired the Shanghai International Children-Baby-Maternity Products Expo (CBME) and related businesses on behalf of its UBM Asia division for up to $16.1m.
FHM Stand-Up Hero, a nationwide search to find Britain's best undiscovered stand-up comedian, is a joint production between Steve Coogan and Henry Normal's BabyCow and Signal TV.
D and G Media, specialists in experiential and monitored free distribution at cruise terminals, have organised a tailored campaign at Eurotunnel’s Pet Lounge.
D and G Media, specialists in experiential and monitored free distribution at cruise terminals, are rolling out a long-term campaign for Archant Life to increase awareness of their Life titles including Hampshire Life, Surrey Life and Kent Life.
Maney Publishing has announced a new publishing arrangement with the Botanical Society of the British Isles to relaunch its journal Watsonia as the New Journal of Botany in 2011.
Sunday has been selected to publish the international membership magazine for The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), following a competitive pitch process.
The Printing Charity (also known as the Printers’ Charitable Corporation) announces its 183rd annual luncheon will take place on Thursday, 4 November, in the historic Stationers’ Hall, Ave Maria Lane, London.
A special edition, celebrating 30 years of i-D magazine, the Pre-Fall issue will be a collaboration between i-D and world-renowned photographer and long-standing contributor Nick Knight.
Food and Travel magazine has appointed Alex Mead as Editor.
Marketers expect overall marketing budgets to increase in the last six months of this year, according to Royal Mail’s second marketing tracking poll in association with The Marketing Society, carried out among the UK’s top marketing directors.
Informa has published the interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2010.
FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) and Syco Entertainment, have announced the launch of the new X Factor brand magazine.
Writing in the 25th July edition of The Big Issue, John Bird set out to address concerns and counter objections relating to the soon-to-launch national vendor uniform.
Future, the special-interest media group, has announced that Giles Coren, respected writer and broadcaster, is to write a column for T3 – its lifestyle technology magazine.
It's summer holiday time for the InPublishing news desk.
