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.
Castle Media – the publisher of Build It – has announced the purchase of SelfBuild & Design and from the February issue two of the UK’s leading self-build and renovation magazines will merge.
PPA Scotland this week announced the winners of its annual awards at a black tie awards evening at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh. PPA Scotland announced the winners of its annual awards at a black tie awards evening at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh.
If you’re thinking of setting up a membership scheme, be prepared to play the long game because success doesn’t come overnight.
Future plc has published its results for the year ended 30 September 2022, reporting “continued profit growth and market share gains”.
The PPA on Friday announced the winners of its Independent Publisher Awards 2022.
The Society of Editors has welcomed the publication of a warning notice by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
The Mark Allen Group last week announced that it had acquired, for an undisclosed amount, Sterling Events Ltd, its third events acquisition of the year.
A London-based financial news agency has been recognised as one of this year’s most exceptional businesses at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2022.
Mash Media and Guild, a mobile-first, ad-free community platform, have partnered to launch an expert community for event professional titled ‘Events 365’.
Readly, a digital magazine and newspaper subscription app, debuts its offering in France this week.
Havas has announced the expansion of Converged, with two bespoke tools that harness the power of attention to deliver meaningful media experiences.
The News Media Association has welcomed the chancellor’s commitment to bring forward DMU legislation.
The Professional Publishers Association is calling on government to refuse Royal Mail’s plans to stop Saturday letter deliveries.
The Mark Allen Group says it has emerged in very good shape from the pandemic as it tackles the current challenges caused by political, economic and cost-of-living turbulence.
The UK is a western liberal democracy. Press freedom is not one of the things we normally have to worry about…
