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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

Adnami appoints Sophie Spencer
News

Adnami appoints Sophie Spencer

Adnami has announced the appointment of Sophie Spencer as UK agency sales director.

09/03/2023

GumGum appoints Kalina Kehayova and Larissa Jürges
News

GumGum appoints Kalina Kehayova and Larissa Jürges

The new hires in Germany come as the company attracts new clients in the DACH region.

01/03/2023

5 key trends from the latest mediafutures report
News

5 key trends from the latest mediafutures report

The report shows that 74% of the UK’s leading media companies are currently seeing turnover growth, at an average rate of +10% year-on-year.

24/02/2023

Opportunities & Threats: Customer Media
FEATURE

Opportunities & Threats: Customer Media

What does the future hold for customer media? Aaron Nicholls, content and client services director of Redactive Media Group, looks ahead.

By Aaron Nicholls  |  23/02/2023

The Case for Digital Editions
FEATURE

The Case for Digital Editions

If you’re considering launching a digital edition but are not 100 per cent sure that it’s the right thing to do, here’s some advice from BlueToad’s Paul DeHart.

By Paul DeHart  |  23/02/2023

PPA and Air Business renew strategic partnership
News

PPA and Air Business renew strategic partnership

The Professional Publishers Association (PPA) has announced that Air Business, a global mail, fulfilment, distribution and subscription management company, will continue as PPA strategic partner for 2023.

20/02/2023

IPA releases latest Bellwether Report
News

IPA releases latest Bellwether Report

Total UK marketing budgets continue to grow despite looming UK recession.

20/01/2023

More diverse = more profitable
FEATURE

More diverse = more profitable

Research suggests that diverse companies are more commercially successful than non-diverse ones. What do publishers need to do to improve their diversity and, thereby, profitability?

By James Evelegh  |  21/12/2022

Four design decisions that will transform the experience of your brand
FEATURE

Four design decisions that will transform the experience of your brand

Design can make or break your publishing brand, so it’s worth putting in the time to get it right. There are four key areas that publishers need to focus on, says Andy Cowles.

By Andy Cowles  |  21/12/2022

User engagement: 5 minutes with… Anya Libova
Q&A

User engagement: 5 minutes with… Anya Libova

Publishers continue to wrestle with the issue of how to maximise a user's time on site and improve engagement and interaction. We grab 5 minutes with Apester's Anya Libova to discuss what they should be doing.

By Anya Libova  |  16/12/2022

Delivering attention: 5 minutes with… James Upson
Q&A

Delivering attention: 5 minutes with… James Upson

If publishers can deliver attentive audiences, ad dollars will follow. We grab five minutes with Adnami UK MD James Upson to hear how attention can drive value for your media.

By James Upson  |  16/12/2022

Stephens & George acquires Pensord
News

Stephens & George acquires Pensord

Stephens & George Print Group this week announced the acquisition of Pensord Press Ltd, Cambrian Printers Ltd and Pensord Digital, collectively known as the Pensord Print Group.

08/12/2022

PPA Scotland Awards 2022 – winners announced
News

PPA Scotland Awards 2022 – winners announced

PPA Scotland this week announced the winners of its annual awards at a black tie awards evening at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh. PPA Scotland announced the winners of its annual awards at a black tie awards evening at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh.

02/12/2022

Community engagement: 5 minutes with… Rich Cheary
Q&A

Community engagement: 5 minutes with… Rich Cheary

Sports organisations have become increasingly adept at engaging with their loyal fan base. We grab five minutes with Publisher’s Toolbox MD Rich Cheary to ask what lessons publishers can learn.

By Rich Cheary  |  01/12/2022

PPA Independent Publisher Awards 2022 – winners announced
News

PPA Independent Publisher Awards 2022 – winners announced

The PPA on Friday announced the winners of its Independent Publisher Awards 2022.

29/11/2022

814 articles