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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

PPA Independent Publisher Awards 2019 – winners announced
News

PPA Independent Publisher Awards 2019 – winners announced

TTG Media was one of the big winners at Friday’s awards event, walking off with several awards including ‘Independent Publishing Company of the Year’.

11/11/2019

Wonderly wins Kew Gardens Pitch
News

Wonderly wins Kew Gardens Pitch

Following a competitive tender, Wonderly has announced that Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has joined their list of clients, that includes VWG, The FA, The British Army and CIPD.

05/11/2019

What every good salesperson needs
REVIEW

What every good salesperson needs

Ad sales will remain a vitally important revenue stream for many years to come. Key to maximising sales is giving proper support to your sales teams.

By James Evelegh  |  17/10/2019

BSME Awards – shortlist announced
News

BSME Awards – shortlist announced

The British Society of Magazine Editors has unveiled the shortlists for its 2019 awards, which will be presented in November.

09/10/2019

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.

By Dickon Ross  |  24/09/2019

Air Business achieves BS 10012
NEWS

Air Business achieves BS 10012

Air Business continues its commitment to keeping its customers’ data secure through gaining BS 10012 (Personal Information Management System) certification for distribution and subscriptions.

11/09/2019

Walk magazine partners with WW
News

Walk magazine partners with WW

The October 2019 issue of WW (Weight Watchers) magazine will be bagged with a free copy of Walk magazine.

02/09/2019

IOSH partners with Redactive
News

IOSH partners with Redactive

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and content marketing and publishing agency Redactive have announced a new partnership.

07/08/2019

Precision Colour Printing MD to step down
News

Precision Colour Printing MD to step down

Precision Colour Printing managing director Alex Evans is to step down from his role with the company next February.

28/07/2019

Nemorin appoints chief operating officer
NEWS

Nemorin appoints chief operating officer

Nemorin Film & Video, a branded video agency, has appointed Graham Hayday as its first chief operating officer to help fuel the company’s growth plans.

11/07/2019

AAT selects Redactive for content and commercial brief
NEWS

AAT selects Redactive for content and commercial brief

The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) has appointed Redactive as its content and commercial agency after competitive tender.

09/07/2019

Canvasflow partners with BORN Group
NEWS

Canvasflow partners with BORN Group

Canvasflow has announced a strategic partnership with BORN Group that will offer a full-service print and digital content solution to publishers and brands.

09/07/2019

Stephens & George to take its tenth B1 Speedmaster XL
NEWS

Stephens & George to take its tenth B1 Speedmaster XL

After achieving just over 6 million impressions a month on its first Push to Stop Speedmaster XL 106-8-P press, S&G has placed an order with Heidelberg for a replica machine.

02/07/2019

Micropress undertakes £4m spend for expansion
NEWS

Micropress undertakes £4m spend for expansion

Micropress is going to install a Push to Stop concept Speedmaster XL106-8P with Autoplate XL and Inpress Control next month.

26/06/2019

PPA Awards – winners announced
NEWS

PPA Awards – winners announced

The 39th annual PPA Awards were held on Wednesday night at Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

21/06/2019

814 articles