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.
We asked Jackie Scully, managing director at Think, what does best practice publishing look like in customer media? This is what she said…
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…
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
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?
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.
Ann Hartland, group business and strategy director, Cedar Communications, tells Ciar Byrne about how the customer media sector is managing the digital transformation journey.
What does the future hold for customer media? CPL One’s Sarah Simpson, looks ahead.
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.
Printing and distributing a magazine can be a daunting challenge for independent publishers. There are so many things to get right. We grab five minutes with CPUK Print Publishing’s Michael Chinnery to get his top tips.
The Professional Publishers Association (PPA) yesterday announced that Sajeeda Merali has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Total UK marketing budgets expanded for the first time since Q4 2019 and to the sharpest extent since Q1 2019 in the second quarter of 2021, according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report.
Got a passion? Want to launch a magazine about it, but not sure where to start? We grab five minutes with The Magazine Production Company’s Dean Cook to get his advice.
LEIPA, a manufacturer of recycled paper, has announced that Sarah Lesting has been promoted to Managing Director of LEIPA UK.
Gordon & Gotch has released the latest version of its publishing administration software – Myriad 6.
Much progress has been made over the last eighteen months but, as we start to emerge from lockdown, says Ross Paterson, CEO of WoodWing, it’s important to remain focused on delivering digital transformation.
The Skylark Collective has announced the launch of the inaugural International Women’s Podcast Awards, an event celebrating the very best female-led moments in podcasting of the last year.
The key to unlocking print opportunities, efficiencies and innovation is … talking with your printer, says Neil Wass, MD of Hertfordshire-based magazine printers, The Manson Group.
The winners for this year’s PPA Awards have been revealed during an online ceremony hosted by comedians Marcus Brigstocke and Jess Robinson.
Think Publishing has announced the launch of Inside Horticulture, a new magazine for the Horticultural Trades Association.
Last year was a recording-braking year in web traffic for many magazines. What can we learn from it? What should we provide more or less of? Where are our resources best used?
With the end of pandemic restrictions in sight, if slightly delayed, what’s the outlook for our printed magazines? We grab (slightly over) five minutes with Matt Carry, sales director at Acorn Web Offset, to find out.
WoodWing, a global provider of content management solutions and services, has reached an agreement with Expansion for it to join the WoodWing Group.
The Association of Online Publishers has announced the shortlist for the 2021 Digital Publishing Awards – a celebration of best practice in innovative, creative, and profitable digital publishing.
