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.
First published in 1923, the Radio Times is one of publishing’s mega-brands. Its award winning editor, Gill Hudson, has had a busy few months, presiding over a reaffirmingly healthy Christmas issue and collecting the award for best magazine cover of
Depending on the timing of your Christmas bash, you may have missed all the excitement surrounding the Hooper report. Ian Phillips gives his views on the report and also highlights some services he would like to see introduced by postal suppliers.
Customer publishing has been booming of late, but the recession puts more pressure on publishers to prove their value to clients and to continue to broaden their service offering into the digital arena. Here, the APA’s Julia Hutchison looks at the ch
There’s no point kidding ourselves that things will ever be the same again. Forget the recession; the media world has changed and magazine publishers need to have a root and branch rethink of their place in the media landscape. David Hepworth offers
Now that the dust has settled on Magazine Week, what is the final assessment? Jim Bilton, the project manager for Magazine Week 2008, reviews the event – its aims, its activities and its conclusions.
In the TV series American Idol, thousands of young contestants audition to a tough panel of three judges. The winner is promised fame and a lucrative recording contract. But, asks Peter Hobday, although the show has a massive worldwide audience, do t
British magazines have a long and successful track record in overseas markets, due in part to the widespread use of English, but also because of the breadth and quality of our product. Ros Shaylor looks at some of the key components of a successful e
Recessions have a habit of focussing the mind and concentrating resources, so that trends, evident before the recession hits, often accelerate during it. Karlene Lukovitz looks at what 2009 has in store for US consumer publishers.
We all know the theory of effective renewals copywriting. But what does it mean in practice? Here, subscriptions copywriter Andy Maslen provides a few real-world examples.
The PPA held its annual retail distribution event at Lords Cricket Ground on 21 October. Retail remains the largest route to market for UK consumer magazines, and the event brought together delegates from all elements of the supply chain. James Evele
Many publishers still run their print and online marketing completely separately – with no crossover. This is a wasted opportunity, because a consistent marketing message, repeated and reinforced through a second channel, will bring better results. A
In today’s straightened times, efficient and effective targeting of your marketing promotions is more vital than ever, and consumer data is a key driver of this. Anne Partanen and Leigh Smith demonstrate how intelligent use of this data can improve y
Publishers and retailers talk about the need for retail theatre. A bit of colour and a bit of pizzazz will bring the category to life, boost the brand and increase sales. Well, that’s the theory. The downside is that it takes a lot of work and doesn’
Karlene Lukovitz looks at how US publishers are using partnership marketing to bring in new subscribers.
Every summer, millions of our precious readers disappear off on holiday. Many of them head for the beaches of Greece and Cyprus to soak up the sun. Lolling on their sun loungers and clearly in need of something to read, this group of sun worshippers
