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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

River wins WW contract
NEWS

River wins WW contract

River has won the contract to publish WW magazine UK edition from the September issue.

19/06/2019

European digital advertising market exceeds €55bn in 2018
NEWS

European digital advertising market exceeds €55bn in 2018

Market grows 13.9 percent, which is the fastest growth since 2011, reports IAB Europe.

05/06/2019

How to sell more ads
SUPPLIER CASE STUDY - PSC & CROSBY ASSOCIATES

How to sell more ads

With many publishers still making most of their money from advertising, the one thing they all want to know is… how to sell more of it. James Evelegh asks Caroline Ackroyd, what is the secret of running a successful ads sales operation?

By James Evelegh  |  23/05/2019

Hearst appoints Dan Levitt
NEWS

Hearst appoints Dan Levitt

Hearst UK has announced that Dan Levitt has been appointed as the MD of Hearst Content Agency as part of the new Hearst Solutions offering.

15/05/2019

Nic Shaw joins Wonderly to head up its in-house VWG team
NEWS

Nic Shaw joins Wonderly to head up its in-house VWG team

Nic takes responsibility for the strategic direction and management of the 13-strong Wonderly editorial team embedded in Volkswagen HQ.

30/04/2019

IAB UK announces latest IAB UK / PwC AdSpend study results
NEWS

IAB UK announces latest IAB UK / PwC AdSpend study results

IAB has announced the results of the latest IAB UK and PwC Digital Adspend study, which reveals UK advertisers spent £13.44bn on digital advertising in 2018.

24/04/2019

Wonderly to continue relationship with FA
NEWS

Wonderly to continue relationship with FA

Wonderly has announced a new four-year partnership with The Football Association.

16/04/2019

Magazine design: 5 minutes with… Dean Cook
Q&A

Magazine design: 5 minutes with… Dean Cook

Great magazine design is not the sole preserve of up-market glossies. Any publisher can do it! We grab five minutes with Dean Cook, MD of The Magazine Production Company.

By Dean Cook  |  10/04/2019

CLA appoints Redactive
NEWS

CLA appoints Redactive

Redactive appointed as the new publishing agency of the Country Land and Business Association.

03/04/2019

ClearCourse acquires Circdata
NEWS

ClearCourse acquires Circdata

ClearCourse has announced its acquisition of Circdata, a leading provider of event and subscription services.

29/03/2019

Putting publishers in control
SUPPLIER PROFILE

Putting publishers in control

No one doubts publishers’ creativity. The challenge publishers face is monetising that creativity in a world of hugely increased competition. As PCS’s Simon Weare tells James Evelegh, good & agile systems are a key enabler of successful publishing.

By James Evelegh  |  26/03/2019

John Brown Media opens Toronto office
NEWS

John Brown Media opens Toronto office

Dentsu Aegis Network Canada is strengthening its offering with the launch of John Brown Media in Canada.

14/03/2019

Trinity Mirror Sport Media rebrands as Reach Sport
NEWS

Trinity Mirror Sport Media rebrands as Reach Sport

The identity reboot includes the launch of a new B2B website showcasing the work that the team delivers.

11/03/2019

Air Business signs National Literacy Forum pledge
News

Air Business signs National Literacy Forum pledge

Air Business, a supplier of global mail, fulfilment, distribution and subscription management solutions continues its commitment to help drive up UK literacy levels for another year by signing the National Literacy Forum’s Vision for Literacy Busines

08/02/2019

7 Steps to Guaranteed Failure When Shopping for a New Major Software Application
COMMENT

7 Steps to Guaranteed Failure When Shopping for a New Major Software Application

Dan Heffernan's article in the Publishing Partners Guide 2019

By Dan Heffernan  |  07/02/2019

814 articles