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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

The National Trust launches digital edition
News

The National Trust launches digital edition

The National Trust has launched a digital version of National Trust Magazine, exclusively for Trust members.

13/09/2024

Next Gen 2024 winners announced
News

Next Gen 2024 winners announced

The PPA Next Gen Awards champion some of the most exciting rising stars in the UK publishing and specialist media sector.

12/09/2024

CMA objects to Google’s ad tech practices
News

CMA objects to Google’s ad tech practices

A statement of objections sets out how Google may have broken competition law by using its dominance to favour its own ad tech services in open-display advertising.

10/09/2024

Optimising sales: 5 mins with… John Cheney
Q&A

Optimising sales: 5 mins with… John Cheney

Ahead of our ‘optimising sales’ webinar on 24 September, we grab five minutes with Workbooks CEO John Cheney to ask him about some of the sales challenges and opportunities facing publishers.

By John Cheney  |  05/09/2024

The Stationers’ Company renames academy
News

The Stationers’ Company renames academy

The Stationers’ Company celebrates the official launch of Leigh Stationers’ Academy in south-east London.

03/09/2024

First Mailing expands capacity
News

First Mailing expands capacity

First Mailing has announced it is has expanded its capacity with the installation of a third paper wrapping machine.

15/08/2024

WARC releases programmatic report
News

WARC releases programmatic report

According to WARC, declining addressability, brand safety and ad fraud are set to define programmatic advertising over the next year.

15/08/2024

AA publishes inaugural report from AI Taskforce
News

AA publishes inaugural report from AI Taskforce

The new Advertising Association report includes case studies of AI in action and a 12 point ‘Checklist for Responsible AI Adoption’.

06/08/2024

Adopting a product mindset – the key to unlocking growth
Thought Leadership Series – 67 Bricks

Adopting a product mindset – the key to unlocking growth

A product mindset puts the needs of the customer at the centre of the decision making process and a relentless focus on meeting those needs delivers a highly profitable publishing model, says IWSR CEO Julie Harris and 67 Bricks CTO David Leeming.

By James Evelegh  |  02/08/2024

impact.com launches referral marketing solution
News

impact.com launches referral marketing solution

impact.com has unveiled a customisable customer referral solution that aims to help brands to build authentic trust with new audiences.

01/08/2024

AA and WARC release latest report
News

AA and WARC release latest report

According to the latest expenditure report, UK Advertising spend reached £9.2bn in Q1 2024.

30/07/2024

Index Exchange and Utiq partner
News

Index Exchange and Utiq partner

Utiq’s first-party identifier is now available within Index platform in multiple global markets.

17/07/2024

Redactive to relaunch Geoscientist magazine
News

Redactive to relaunch Geoscientist magazine

Members of the Geological Society of London will notice a bold new look for their membership magazine Geoscientist when the Autumn issue lands in September.

15/07/2024

Direct mail: 5 minutes with… Neil Carter
Q&A

Direct mail: 5 minutes with… Neil Carter

Direct mail is an important channel for publishers, both for distribution of subs copies and for promotions. We grab five minutes with Posthub’s Neil Carter to ask how publishers can optimise their direct mail ROI.

By Neil Carter  |  11/07/2024

The Institute of Leadership appoints CPL One
News

The Institute of Leadership appoints CPL One

CPL One has been appointed to produce a quarterly magazine and shape the Institute’s digital content.

10/07/2024

814 articles