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.
For the second time in four weeks, Newsquest Specialist Media has launched a new magazine. The first issue of Fighting Fit, a bi-monthly consumer title, launches on Friday, 17th April.
The number of TMT (Technology, Media & Telecoms) businesses who feel they have access to funding for their business to operate effectively has more than halved year-on-year, according to new research from accountants and business advisers BDO Stoy Ha
Triangle Management Services, the organisers of the World Mail Awards have announced the shortlisted entries for the 10th World Mail Awards.
Following trials in 2008, IKEA have decided to move the IKEA Family Live magazine distribution to 100% direct mail. The magazine, published by August Media, will change distribution as of the Autumn 2009 issue.
New media partnership will help kids explore the natural world near them Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) has joined forces with National Geographic Kids magazine to help children understand more about their local environments.
In partnership with the international cross-industry PrintCity Alliance, the UK Periodical Publishers Association (PPA) has produced an interactive and visually enhanced printed programme for the 37th FIPP World Magazine Congress.
Gill Hudson has been announced as the new editor-in-chief of Reader’s Digest magazine in the UK.
Livingetc, the modern homes magazine, is launching Livingetc Paint for Modern Living – a stylish new range of paints created by the team behind the magazine and developed with leading paint retailer B&Q and specialist manufacturer Craig & Rose.
Edda Media, part of Norway’s Mecom Group, has decided to replace its existing web content management solution with Polopoly, to manage their existing web presence which consists of more than 40 sites, over 70 million page views per month.
IPC Southbank has appointed Lewis Tucker as the new advertising director of fashion and style title InStyle.
The new look Full House relaunches on 23 April.
One of the country’s top selling women’s monthly magazines is celebrating the success of its business model after reaching a significant milestone in its donations to charity.
Look – the fashion weekly – this week unveils a major new national TV advertising £2.5 million campaign with five different creative executions all under the strap line ‘That’s My Look’.
There is a customer service time-bomb ticking away under the magazine industry. These are some of the key conclusions from a major magazine customer care survey.
The highly anticipated launch of WIRED magazine is supported by the marketing industry’s new kid on the block, CURB.
