REVIEW
The Mark Allen recipe for success
Mark Allen Group is one of publishing’s success stories. James Evelegh looks at their winning formula.
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
Media’s Third Phase
As consumers enter the Second Wave of the pandemic, the media business is moving into its Third Phase in 2020. That is one of the key findings of Wessenden Marketing’s latest mediafutures report.
News
2021 UK adspend forecast for slower recovery
The latest Advertising Association/WARC Expenditure Report has downgraded its 2021 forecast to a return-to-growth of 14.4%, lower than the figure of 16.6% predicted in July.
News
Bauer’s Puzzles team launches Take a Break puzzles
Bauer Media’s in-house Puzzles team has announced a series of new developments, including new content partnerships and the launch of Take a Break Puzzles.
News
Centaur releases trading update and full-year outlook
Centaur Media has announced an update on trading up to the period ended 30 September 2020. The Company is also providing its outlook for the year to 31 December 2020.
News
The Idler launches individual and institutional digital subscriptions
Lifestyle magazine The Idler has launched a new digital archive in collaboration with publishing platform Exact Editions.
News
ABC to manage viewability principles
Following the merger of TAG and JICWEBS, Joint Industry Currency (JIC) ABC will manage the UK’s Viewability and AV (Audio Visual) Standards after playing an integral role in their development.
News
Moody’s acquires Acquire Media business from Naviga
Naviga, Inc, a provider of software and services to the media industry, this week announced it has divested its financial services-focused Acquire Media entity to Moody’s Corporation.
News
UK marketing budgets continue to contract markedly amid impact of Covid-19
UK companies registered another drastic reduction in marketing budgets during the third quarter amid ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report.
News
Owen Meredith appointed CEO at PPA
PPA has announced the appointment of Owen Meredith as Chief Executive, with immediate effect.
News
Australian Foreign Affairs Launches New Digital Archive
A collection of Australian Foreign Affairs’ back issues are now available for digital subscriptions in collaboration with archiving company Exact Editions.
News
NLA Media Access appoints new Chairman
NLA Media Access has announced the appointment of Clive Marshall as non-executive Chairman. Clive joins the Board and will take over as Chairman with effect from 19th October 2020.
MEDIA FUTURES
Still rebooting
We are still in the middle of the reboot which is reshaping the whole media business. And the nation is also still grappling with a number of wobbly health and economic variables, all of which will impact on how we do business.
COMMENT
Getting to know you
The pandemic has given a big boost to subscriptions, but, even if you don’t charge for your content, it still pays to find out more about who is visiting your site.
INTERVIEW
The African opportunity
It’s easy to miss the growth and business opportunities. IC Publications has been publishing for the African market for over sixty years. Meg Carter meets MD Omar Ben Yedder.
