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.
No publishing discipline has been left unaffected by the new media world we now work in. The change experienced by circulation and subscriptions teams, says Georgina Rushworth, has been every bit as earth moving as the upheavals experienced by editor
With so many publishers trying to ‘manage decline’, Mark Williams claims it’s just too easy to blame the market rather than recognise where the problems really lie, and how to turn things around.
Country Life has unveiled a special editorial package to celebrate the launch of its new series, Dream Acres – the ultimate guide to creating the perfect landscape.
With the holiday season now just around the corner, Haymarket’s Practical Caravan magazine is launching an all-new look for its June edition.
Star Trek Comic beams onto the newsstand with a bumper issue and price as the all-new Star Trek movie hits UK cinemas.
IPC Southbank's bridal magazine, Wedding, has joined entertainment channel Wedding TV to produce a second series of The Wedding Experts, which hits screens today.
Marketforce (UK) Ltd, one of the leading magazine distributors in the UK, has awarded new five year contracts for the distribution of its portfolio of titles in the UK to Menzies Distribution and Smiths News.
InStyle, the fashion and style title from IPC Southbank, has joined forces with nails inc. to celebrate the nail bar chain’s 10th birthday. The partnership launches in the magazine’s June issue, which will carry a free nail polish in a choice of thre
Uncut, the music and movie magazine, announces a new one-shot, U2 - The Ultimate Music Guide.
John Butterworth and Tim Scott, art directors for Haymarket Media’s customer publishing arm Network, have been shortlisted for this year’s PPA consumer magazine Designer of the Year award.
PPA has announced the shortlist for The PPA Awards for editorial and publishing excellence 2009.
PPA (the UK Periodical Publishers Association) has teamed up with Archant Specialist magazines to produce a special one-off issue of Heritage magazine to give to international delegates at the biennial FIPP World Magazine Congress in London from 4th-
Radio Times has announced its TV and radio listings are available via an application on the Apple App Store. The app will enable iPhone and iPod touch users to browse Radio Times’ extensive listings including seven days worth of TV and radio program
NME has secured a major cross-platform deal with global leader in the sporting goods industry, adidas, and leading sports fashion retailer, JD to celebrate the 60th anniversary of adidas Originals - collections of cutting edge street wear sold exclus
UPM Shotton has been recognised by the Queen as one of the UK's most sustainable businesses with a Queen's Award for Enterprise in the sustainable development category.
