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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

2021 UK adspend forecast for slower recovery
News

2021 UK adspend forecast for slower recovery

The latest Advertising Association/WARC Expenditure Report has downgraded its 2021 forecast to a return-to-growth of 14.4%, lower than the figure of 16.6% predicted in July.

30/10/2020

ABC to manage viewability principles
News

ABC to manage viewability principles

Following the merger of TAG and JICWEBS, Joint Industry Currency (JIC) ABC will manage the UK’s Viewability and AV (Audio Visual) Standards after playing an integral role in their development.

23/10/2020

UK marketing budgets continue to contract markedly amid impact of Covid-19
News

UK marketing budgets continue to contract markedly amid impact of Covid-19

UK companies registered another drastic reduction in marketing budgets during the third quarter amid ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report.

22/10/2020

Owen Meredith appointed CEO at PPA
News

Owen Meredith appointed CEO at PPA

PPA has announced the appointment of Owen Meredith as Chief Executive, with immediate effect.

21/10/2020

LEIPA introduces ‘LEIPA MAG TOP’
News

LEIPA introduces ‘LEIPA MAG TOP’

LEIPA has increased its portfolio offering with the launch of its brightest recycled sheet, made at its German recovered paper mill.

08/10/2020

Did you plan for a pandemic? We didn’t!
FEATURE

Did you plan for a pandemic? We didn’t!

Be honest – before March, did your disaster recovery plan include the word ‘pandemic’? Papermule’s Mike Hoy admits that theirs didn’t, but like for many others, a mix of prudent choices taken over the years & resourcefulness has seen them cope well.

By Mike Hoy  |  24/09/2020

LEIPA enters paper wrap market
News

LEIPA enters paper wrap market

LEIPA has entered the paper wrap market with a 100% recycled and 100% recyclable water-resistant wrap.

16/09/2020

PPA 30 Under 30 2020 – winners announced
News

PPA 30 Under 30 2020 – winners announced

The winners of PPA 30 Under 30 have been announced, recognising some of the best and brightest upcoming talent in UK magazine media.

09/09/2020

Born Free magazine rebrands
News

Born Free magazine rebrands

International animal welfare charity Born Free has teamed up with marketing agency PMW to rebrand its quarterly magazine taking it from Wildlife Times to simply Wild Life.

17/08/2020

What can businesses learn from the pandemic?
FEATURE

What can businesses learn from the pandemic?

No-one really knows how the business landscape will look in the coming months and years, but, writes Paul Driscoll, publishing director at Media Systems, it’s safe to say it won’t be the same as before the pandemic.

By Paul Driscoll  |  23/07/2020

The show must go on
REVIEW

The show must go on

The 2020 PPA Awards took place on Tuesday. Virtually, of course. James Evelegh watched from his attic…

By James Evelegh  |  02/07/2020

Atex unveils Unsplash integration
News

Atex unveils Unsplash integration

Atex has announced the integration of Unsplash image searches into the authoring environment of Atex Desk.

01/07/2020

PPA Awards 2020 – winners announced
News

PPA Awards 2020 – winners announced

The winners of the 40th annual PPA Awards were announced yesterday in an online ceremony.

01/07/2020

Podcasts – what we’ve learnt so far
FEATURE

Podcasts – what we’ve learnt so far

The InPublishing Podcast launched three weeks ago. James Evelegh shares some early learnings…

By James Evelegh  |  25/06/2020

Campaign Publishing Awards 2020 – winners announced
News

Campaign Publishing Awards 2020 – winners announced

The winners of this year’s Campaign Publishing Awards were announced in an online ceremony last week.

23/06/2020

814 articles