News
Stuart Lacey, MD of Air Business Subscriptions, to retire
Stuart Lacey, Managing Director of Air Business Subscriptions for more than 22 years, has announced his intention to retire later this year.
B2B & Trade Media
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.
Essential Resources
Best Practice in Publishing
B2B media
We asked Amanda Barnes, chief executive of Faversham House, what does best practice publishing look like in B2B media? This is what she said…
FEATURE
Riches in niches
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…
A Celebration of Print
Our print strategy: Mark Allen Group
Print is certainly not dead, says Chairman Mark Allen. However, you need to offer readers choice and be neutral and agnostic about the outcome.
INTERVIEW
From controlled circ to enterprise subs
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.
Digital Horizons
What the ‘Intelligent Age’ means for B2B media
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.
COMMENT
Opportunities & Threats: B2B Media
The future of B2B lies in serving your sector in three connected ways: information, intelligence and events.
The Digital Transformation Journey
B2B media
John Barnes, chief digital officer, William Reed Business Media, tells Ciar Byrne about how the B2B media sector is managing the digital transformation journey.
Dickon Ross’s publishing world
The Post Office Scandal – 10 takeaways for B2B journalists
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.
MEDIA FUTURES
Gambling on M&A in 2025
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.
COLUMN
Keep iterating
If you’re thinking of setting up a membership scheme, be prepared to play the long game because success doesn’t come overnight.
All Articles
News
MPP Global integrates Zephr as an Intelligent Paywall partner
MPP Global has announced a strategic partnership with Zephr to provide publishers with a joint solution that optimises subscription revenues across print and digital channels.
FEATURE
Virtual events – here to stay
Many were forced to pivot real-world events to virtual ones in 2020. But don’t mistake this for a temporary switch advises Ivor Eisenstadt, founder and managing director of healthcare publisher MGP.
VIEW FROM THE STATES
HODLing On: New Revenue Gambits Range from First-Party Data to Cryptocurrency
The pandemic’s toll on traditional US media has been severe and, not surprisingly, most deadly for newspapers and smaller magazine media companies, writes Karlene Lukovitz.
COLUMN
Yes, but what about the parking?
Last year was a recording-braking year in web traffic for many magazines. What can we learn from it? What should we provide more or less of? Where are our resources best used?
FEATURE
From Blog to Global Brand: What’s Next for Dezeen?
Dezeen has enjoyed a meteoric rise since its launch in 2006. Meg Carter looks at its continuing success and the principles underpinning it.
FEATURE
Changing business models in publishing
The pandemic has forced many publishers, large and small, to re-evaluate their business models and find new ways of making money. Carolyn Morgan looks at what we can learn from the activities of six publishers.
SPOTLIGHT
Interiors magazines
We’ve all spent plenty of time inside our houses over the past year, so perhaps it’s time to look again at the ‘interiors’. There’s plenty of help on the newsstand, as Alan Geere finds out.
News
Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design launches Advisory Council
Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design has announced the launch of its Advisory Council, consisting of renowned industry leaders.
Q&A
The World of Print: 5 minutes with… Matt Carry
With the end of pandemic restrictions in sight, if slightly delayed, what’s the outlook for our printed magazines? We grab (slightly over) five minutes with Matt Carry, sales director at Acorn Web Offset, to find out.
News
Mark Allen acquires 13 publications from Elsevier
Mark Allen Group has announced the acquisition of thirteen magazines and newsletters from Elsevier Limited, part of the RELX Group.
News
Expansion joins WoodWing Group
WoodWing, a global provider of content management solutions and services, has reached an agreement with Expansion for it to join the WoodWing Group.
News
Lucy Brazier awarded OBE for services to Office Professionals
Lucy Brazier, CEO Marcham Publishing, publishers of Executive Support Magazine was among those named on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021.
News
AOP announces shortlist for 2021 Digital Publishing Awards
The Association of Online Publishers has announced the shortlist for the 2021 Digital Publishing Awards – a celebration of best practice in innovative, creative, and profitable digital publishing.
News
LEIPA launches new environmental signets
Following extensive data evaluation of recycled paper manufacturing at its Schwedt paper mill, LEIPA has launched four new signets.
