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Customer & Contract Publishing

Customer publishing is the part of the industry most readers never think of as publishing. Membership magazines, airline and supermarket titles and the content agencies behind them reach millions of people, often with circulations that consumer titles would envy.

The purpose is different too. A membership magazine is usually there to keep members renewing, and a brand title has to show a return for the client paying for it. That creates a running question about independence, and the strongest titles tend to have an editorial identity of their own rather than sounding like the organisation behind them.

If there’s something customers don’t need more of today, it’s content.

Jackie Scully Customer media

The agencies have changed shape around this. They produce fewer print editions and more digital content, and put far more effort into distribution and income generation, while publishers' own branded content studios compete for the same budgets. Print still matters, though. Members continue to rank the magazine among the benefits they value most.

Below you'll find some of our best feature articles on customer and contract publishing, from membership magazines and in-flight titles to content agencies and branded content studios, alongside our latest news and industry commentary.


Essential Resources

Customer media
Best Practice in Publishing

Customer media

We asked Jackie Scully, managing director at Think, what does best practice publishing look like in customer media? This is what she said…

People, passions and places
INTERVIEW

People, passions and places

The National Trust is a treasure trove of historic and beautiful places, and, unsurprisingly, it has a huge membership. One of the benefits of membership is its highly regarded magazine…

The River Group
PUBLISHER PROFILE

The River Group

Content marketing is all the rage, and companies like River, that have been doing it for over twenty years, are highly expert at it. River CEO Nicola Murphy tells Jo Bowman that while quality content is the bedrock of the company, it’s the marketing

Membership publishers wrestle with content conundrum
RESEARCH

Membership publishers wrestle with content conundrum

Content has become mission-critical for many membership organisations. But, Mike Sewell asks, should this valuable asset be regarded as an exclusive member benefit, or used as a marketing tool?

Join the club
FEATURE

Join the club

Lots of publishers are now offering club style membership schemes, looking to generate extra revenue and deeper engagement. Dickon Ross looks at the membership model.

Customer media
The Digital Transformation Journey

Customer media

Ann Hartland, group business and strategy director, Cedar Communications, tells Ciar Byrne about how the customer media sector is managing the digital transformation journey.

Opportunities & Threats: Customer Media
FEATURE

Opportunities & Threats: Customer Media

What does the future hold for customer media? CPL One’s Sarah Simpson, looks ahead.

AOP CRUNCH: Driving growth through branded content
REVIEW

AOP CRUNCH: Driving growth through branded content

Spring hasn’t sprung until CRUNCH takes place, writes Richard Reeves, MD of the Association of Online Publishers, which recently held its first CRUNCH event of the year. The mood was suitably optimistic for a change of season.


All Articles

Purple announces new features
News

Purple announces new features

Digital publishing platform Purple launches new features including multi-language content creation.

10/01/2025

WoodWing acquires Qonqord
News

WoodWing acquires Qonqord

WoodWing has announced that it has strengthened its Enterprise Information Management position through the acquisition of Qonqord.

07/01/2025

Looking back, facing the future
Thought Leadership Series – 67 Bricks

Looking back, facing the future

Jennifer Schivas, CEO of 67 Bricks, reflects on how publishers’ approach to AI has evolved over the past twelve months and offers her thoughts on what publishers should be prioritising in 2025.

By Jennifer Schivas  |  05/12/2024

Data monetisation
AI SPECIAL

Data monetisation

A publisher’s data can deliver significant new revenue streams, especially when combined with data from third-party sources. Jennifer Schivas, CEO of 67 Bricks, looks at how AI can accelerate the process.

By Jennifer Schivas  |  05/12/2024

Journalism
AI SPECIAL

Journalism

If AI tools are intuitive and easy to use, journalists will use them. If they’re not, they won’t. Peter Dyllick-Brenzinger, head of product and engineering at Purple, looks at this and other AI lessons learnt so far.

By Peter Dyllick-Brenzinger  |  05/12/2024

Jellyfish launches new platform
News

Jellyfish launches new platform

Jellyfish has launched Share of Model Platform, a solution to track how LLMs perceive brands, products & services.

05/12/2024

5 principles of profitable publishing
COLUMN

5 principles of profitable publishing

What does it take to be a profitable publisher today? Juan Señor outlined five principles at the recent PPA conference.

By James Evelegh  |  05/12/2024

PPA launches campaign
News

PPA launches campaign

Find Yourself in Publishing: PPA kicks off next phase of industry focus on talent with campaign launch.

03/12/2024

Standing out from the crowd
COLUMN

Standing out from the crowd

With so much content out there, how do professional publishers get noticed?

By James Evelegh  |  28/11/2024

BSME Awards 2024: winners announced
News

BSME Awards 2024: winners announced

Some of Britain’s best editors, art directors and columnists were crowned at the BSME Awards 2024.

20/11/2024

PPA names new Next Gen Board
News

PPA names new Next Gen Board

The PPA has announced the selection of its second Next Gen Board.

20/11/2024

Safeguarding the open web: 5 minutes with… Sara Vincent
Q&A

Safeguarding the open web: 5 minutes with… Sara Vincent

We grab five minutes with Sara Vincent, UK MD, Utiq, to discuss the open web and why safeguarding its future is so important.

By Sara Vincent  |  13/11/2024

Outcomes data: 5 minutes with… Sean Adams
Q&A

Outcomes data: 5 minutes with… Sean Adams

Outcomes data can help publishers measure the impact digital ads have on the perception of an advertiser’s brand, and optimise towards greater campaign success and other goals, says Sean Adams, chief marketing officer at Brand Metrics.

By Sean Adams  |  13/11/2024

Katie Vanneck-Smith appointed PPA chair
News

Katie Vanneck-Smith appointed PPA chair

Katie Vanneck-Smith, Hearst UK CEO has been appointed as PPA chair.

12/11/2024

AA and WARC release latest report
News

AA and WARC release latest report

According to the report, ad spend reached £19.6 billion in first half of 2024, ahead of expectations.

04/11/2024

814 articles