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 UK’s “bestselling independent PlayStation magazine”, Play, has partnered with games publisher Sega to create a collector’s edition of the latest issue to coincide with the release of Aliens Vs Predator.
United Business Media Limited has announced the appointment of Greg Lock as Non Executive Director. Mr Lock joins the Board on Monday 22 February 2010.
Marie Claire, IPC Southbank’s flagship women’s glossy, is launching a pop-up studio during London Fashion Week to photograph the capital’s most stylish women.
Nokia has partnered with Bauer Media brands Heat, Grazia, Empire, FHM, Kiss and 4Music in exclusive cross-platform support of its X6 16GB launch.
IPC Insight, the consumer research division of IPC Media, announces today the appointment of Basis Research to work on its award-winning Origin Panel.
The team behind Haymarket’s Gramophone has created a magazine that gives a glimpse into the inner workings of Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute.
Future, the special-interest media group, has announced it is strengthening its games business with the introduction of two new senior roles.
John Brown has undertaken a new beauty and fashion partwork for Hello Kitty.
ABC has announced the launch of the first ever International Group Product Report (GPR) for The Economist, presenting the group’s worldwide ABC print figures in one place.
The Financial Times has announced that it will be publishing ‘Smart Arts’ on Saturday 20 February, a new, art themed issue of their luxury lifestyle magazine How To Spend It.
Informa Group plc has announced it has formed a new partnership with the National Exhibition Company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Polestar has been awarded production of Inside United, the monthly magazine published by Haymarket Media on behalf of Manchester United.
Front magazine has released the following statement in response to the recent release of the July-December ABCs:
IPC Media’s oldest title, The Field, has unveiled a special issue supporting Help For Heroes – a charity for the wounded in Britain’s current conflicts.
St Ives Web, the magazine printing division of St Ives plc, has won the contract to print the Financial Times magazine, ‘How To Spend It’.
