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 events sector has been on a rollercoaster ride these past few years and the nature of events and what commercial partners and visitors expect from them has changed. What do event organisers need to do to ensure a successful future?
What’s the outlook for B2B media? Jon Benson, chief operating officer of the Mark Allen Group, looks to the future.
If you’re considering launching a digital edition but are not 100 per cent sure that it’s the right thing to do, here’s some advice from BlueToad’s Paul DeHart.
The board of Future plc has announced the appointment of Jon Steinberg as chief executive officer following a thorough search process.
Last month Future Publishing announced the appointment of two senior sales hires to support its accelerated growth.
Kelsey Publishing has announced the appointment of Janine Adamson as deputy editor and digital development manager of Crop Production Magazine.
The company says it maintains strong earnings, driven by return to live events.
The Professional Publishers Association (PPA) has announced that Air Business, a global mail, fulfilment, distribution and subscription management company, will continue as PPA strategic partner for 2023.
Media Voices have revealed the shortlist for the fourth year of the Publisher Podcast Awards.
AOP research reveals a continuing shift away from open programmatic for UK publishers with 86% of respondents expecting most advertising revenue growth to come from outside open marketplaces.
Engage Media, created by ex Dennis Publishing & Future PLC executives Chris Cannon and Julian Lloyd Evans, is launching its first brand TechFinitive.com.
A listener-wide study conducted by FD Mediagroep in conjunction with BNR and Brand Metrics reveals the brand impact of radio, livestream, and podcasts.
The Mark Allen Group has exchanged on its acquisition of the UK and Asia assets of the wealth management publishing company, Bonhill Plc, for a consideration of £6.5 million.
Bishops Printers has announced it is investing in a new print press and laminator.
The collaboration between GumGum and Cedara accelerates decarbonization, and sustainability commitments for the contextual intelligence platform.
