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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

IPA releases latest Bellwether Report
News

IPA releases latest Bellwether Report

The Q4 2023 IPA Bellwether Report shows UK marketing budgets revised up to strongest levels in almost a decade.

22/01/2024

Utiq announces UK launch
News

Utiq announces UK launch

Following launches in Germany, France and Spain, Utiq is expanding its Authentic Consent Service to the UK market appointing Sara Vincent as MD, UK.

18/01/2024

Acorn Web Offset joins Two Sides
News

Acorn Web Offset joins Two Sides

Two Sides, a print and paper advocacy group, has announced its newest member and supporter, Acorn Web Offset, a specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer.

17/01/2024

Warners begins installation of new press
News

Warners begins installation of new press

Warners Midlands have purchased a Man Roland Elite R710P 10-unit sheetfed press and installation has begun.

12/01/2024

AOP's annual awards open for entries
News

AOP's annual awards open for entries

The Association of Online Publishers has announced its Digital Publishing Awards are now open for entries.

11/01/2024

CDS Global expands partnership with AdvantageCS
News

CDS Global expands partnership with AdvantageCS

CDS Global, a provider of end-to-end subscription management and payment solutions, has announced it is expanding its current relationship with software company AdvantageCS to include its U.S. business base.

11/01/2024

Multilocal launches sustainable PMP solution
News

Multilocal launches sustainable PMP solution

Multilocal has rolled out CarbonSmart and partners with carbon intelligence platform Cedara to validate campaign performance.

09/01/2024

Free Features launches content service
News

Free Features launches content service

Free Features has announced the launch of a service designed to help publishers create content.

08/01/2024

My Publishing Life – Roger Duffin
MY PUBLISHING LIFE

My Publishing Life – Roger Duffin

Roger Duffin, the recently retired director of publishing services and subscriptions bureau ESco, answers our questions about his life in publishing.

By Roger Duffin  |  04/01/2024

Micropress announces investment
News

Micropress announces investment

Micropress invests £3.5 million as it looks to expand offering for customers.

20/12/2023

AOP releases latest DPRI
News

AOP releases latest DPRI

AOP’s latest Digital Publishers’ Revenue Index reveals that revenue growth was flat for digital publishers in Q3 2023, with drops in display and video revenues offset by continued subscription growth.

18/12/2023

Air Business appoints Sarah Manlow
News

Air Business appoints Sarah Manlow

Air Business, a global distribution, subscriptions and ecommerce management company, has appointed Sarah Manlow as its new chief people & sustainability officer.

08/12/2023

ABC launches new website
News

ABC launches new website

ABC has announced the launch of its new website, highlighting the wide range of data and assurance services available from today’s contemporary ABC.

08/12/2023

Ruthless prioritisation
COLUMN

Ruthless prioritisation

The key to publishing success is nailing what you’re good at and concentrating on that. This was one of the takeaways from the PPA Independent Publisher Conference.

By James Evelegh  |  07/12/2023

PPA Scotland Awards - winners announced
News

PPA Scotland Awards - winners announced

On Wednesday last week, the annual PPA Scotland Awards took place at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow.

04/12/2023

814 articles