Mobile navigation

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

LEIPA launches new environmental signets
News

LEIPA launches new environmental signets

Following extensive data evaluation of recycled paper manufacturing at its Schwedt paper mill, LEIPA has launched four new signets.

10/06/2021

Environmental breakthrough as Manson goes process-less with plates
News

Environmental breakthrough as Manson goes process-less with plates

The Manson Group, the St Albans-based magazine printer, has migrated to Process Free Printing Plates following successful trials in the spring.

08/06/2021

Message first, channel second
REVIEW

Message first, channel second

CPL’s Mike Sewell is our latest podcast interviewee. Talking to James Evelegh, he gives us an insight into the kinds of things he asks of any prospective client.

By James Evelegh  |  03/06/2021

Campaign Publishing Awards 2021 – winners announced
News

Campaign Publishing Awards 2021 – winners announced

The winners of this year’s awards were announced at a virtual ceremony on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

13/05/2021

PPA publishes results of industry-wide D&I survey
News

PPA publishes results of industry-wide D&I survey

A new report published by the PPA sees the results of the first-ever industry-wide diversity and inclusion survey, offering insight into representation and inclusion across the industry.

13/05/2021

eMagazines launches eMags Studios for publisher audio solutions
News

eMagazines launches eMags Studios for publisher audio solutions

eMagazines, a digital editions provider, has launched eMags Studios, a seamless audio service for publishers.

12/05/2021

Campaign Publishing Awards 2021 – shortlist announced
News

Campaign Publishing Awards 2021 – shortlist announced

The shortlist has been announced for this year’s Campaign Publishing Awards.

27/04/2021

The PPA Awards - shortlist unveiled
News

The PPA Awards - shortlist unveiled

The PPA has announced the shortlist for this year’s PPA Awards. The Cover of the Year award will be decided by public vote.

26/04/2021

Digital ad market proves resilient with 5% growth in 2020
News

Digital ad market proves resilient with 5% growth in 2020

The UK’s digital advertising market rallied in 2020, following the initial impact of the pandemic on spend, according to IAB UK’s latest Digital Adspend report.

21/04/2021

Content management specialist Scienta joins forces with WoodWing
News

Content management specialist Scienta joins forces with WoodWing

WoodWing, a provider of content orchestration solutions and services globally, has reached an agreement to acquire Scienta, active in the content management space.

15/04/2021

WoodWing appoints CTO
News

WoodWing appoints CTO

WoodWing has hired Amanda van der Leest-Rasch to the newly-created role of Chief Technology Officer.

09/04/2021

My publishing life – Andrew LG Jones
MY PUBLISHING LIFE

My publishing life – Andrew LG Jones

Andrew Jones, managing director of Stephens & George, answers our questions about his life in publishing.

By Andrew Jones  |  08/04/2021

Gavin Miller to launch ‘The Profitabl Partnership’
News

Gavin Miller to launch ‘The Profitabl Partnership’

Gavin Miller, Managing Director of B2B publisher Ultima Media, is set to launch a new strategic and cost management business, focused on “the business of marketing transformation in the age of Net Zero”.

07/04/2021

AOP Awards: 5 minutes with… Hayley and Robin
Q&A

AOP Awards: 5 minutes with… Hayley and Robin

With entry for this year’s AOP Awards now open, we grab 5 minutes with the co-chairs of the judging panel – Hayley Cochrane and Robin Shute – to get their take on the key digital trends and ask them for any tips on submitting award winning entries.

By Hayley Cochrane and Robin Shute  |  01/04/2021

UPM Fine Carbon Balanced through Denmaur
News

UPM Fine Carbon Balanced through Denmaur

In January 2021, UPM Fine was added to Denmaur’s Carbon Balanced product portfolio.

11/03/2021

814 articles