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.
As part of a continuing mission to create new digital offerings and introduce customer-focused, market-driven capabilities across its worldwide product portfolio, Atex has announced the formation of a new Global Product Management and Marketing team.
COMAG has announced that Trials and Motocross News (T+MX NEWS) and Dirt Bike Rider (DBR) will be distributed by them from this summer.
The Home Tour is back! Country Life has unveiled The Grand Tour of Britain 2009 issue, which it claims is the ultimate cultural guide to the best Britain has to offer, as selected by leading cultural figures and experts.
IPC Ignite has announced key changes to its team, intended to strengthen and realign the publishing responsibilities across the men's lifestyle and music portfolio.
Sittingbournemessenger.co.uk has been created to serve residents of Sittingbourne and surrounding areas as a complement to the local paid-for newspaper edition of the same name.
Third Sector, Haymarket’s magazine for the voluntary and not-for-profit sector has relaunched with a brighter, more readable design and a new range of content following reader feedback.
Parents and children now have the chance to further their enjoyment of Waybuloo, the new pre-school series on CBeebies, with the launch of Waybuloo Magazine, the pre-school title that aims to help develop children’s social and emotional learning.
The Yorkshire Evening Post is currently rolling out a series of hyperlocal websites around Leeds.
A new report from the World Association of Newspapers’ Shaping the Future of the Newspaper project, “Winning Mobile Strategies”, examines strategies for mobile development world-wide.
www.magazinemarketplace.com, the dedicated website for attendees of FIPP’s annual magazine licensing, joint venture and syndication event, Worldwide Magazine Marketplace (WMM), has been launched.
Future plc has published its Interim Report for the half-year ended 31st March 2009.
F1 Colour have won the pre-press contract on Slimming World magazine, and have just produced the July issue.
Naughty Brits is, according to the publisher, an exciting, colourful new adult magazine dedicated to the best of British.
The ABC has relaunched its website. All ABC members, subscribers and eAlerts users will need to re-register in order to gain full access to areas of the new site.
Wallpaper*, the international design, fashion and lifestyle magazine, is dedicating its July issue to sex and art and will mark the special edition with an exhibition.
