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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

2018 BSME Talent Awards – Shortlist announced
News

2018 BSME Talent Awards – Shortlist announced

The BSME has announced the shortlist for its 2018 BSME Talent Awards.

18/04/2018

ASOS Magazine celebrates its 100th issue
News

ASOS Magazine celebrates its 100th issue

ASOS this week celebrates the 100th issue of the ASOS Magazine with its first-ever paid-for edition.

23/02/2018

Opportunities & Threats: Customer Publishing
COMMENT

Opportunities & Threats: Customer Publishing

Nicola Murphy's article in the Publishing Partners Guide 2018

By Nicola Murphy  |  02/02/2018

Maximising Up-sell and Cross-sell Opportunities
COMMENT

Maximising Up-sell and Cross-sell Opportunities

Dan Heffernan's article in the Publishing Partners Guide 2018

By Dan Heffernan  |  02/02/2018

Beyond the world of print: how publishing is evolving
COMMENT

Beyond the world of print: how publishing is evolving

Adam Sherman's article in the Publishing Partners Guide 2018

By Adam Sherman  |  02/02/2018

Redactive to publish new magazine for the BCI
News

Redactive to publish new magazine for the BCI

Redactive has been appointed to develop a new membership magazine for the Business Continuity Institute (BCI).

31/01/2018

Transavia France and Ink announce new media partnership
News

Transavia France and Ink announce new media partnership

International airline, Transavia has appointed Ink, the travel media company, to create a new version bi-lingual inflight magazine in 2018.

21/12/2017

Issie Peate named new Director of Haymarket Network
News

Issie Peate named new Director of Haymarket Network

Haymarket Media Group CEO Kevin Costello has this week named Issie Peate as the new Director of its content marketing agency, Haymarket Network.

06/12/2017

IPN Awards - Winners Announced
News

IPN Awards - Winners Announced

The PPA’s Independent Publisher Conference and Awards was held this week at the Hilton Bankside in London.

30/11/2017

How to treble your editorial output
SUPPLIER PROFILE

How to treble your editorial output

There is constant pressure on publishers to increase their output, both quantity and quality. As Phil Walker, MD of publishing software specialists PCS, tells James Evelegh, “in an always-on world, you’ve got to be always on”, yet most editorial team

By James Evelegh  |  30/11/2017

PPA Scottish Magazine Awards 2017 – Winners Announced
News

PPA Scottish Magazine Awards 2017 – Winners Announced

Holyrood has been named Scottish Magazine of the Year at the PPA Scottish Magazine Awards 2017.

29/11/2017

Condé Nast to produce: Brilliant – The Story Of Atelier Swarovski
News

Condé Nast to produce: Brilliant – The Story Of Atelier Swarovski

Condé Nast Contract Publishing has collaborated with Swarovski to produce a luxurious coffee table book celebrating ten years of Atelier Swarovski, to be released this winter.

28/11/2017

BSME Awards 2017 – Winners Announced
News

BSME Awards 2017 – Winners Announced

The 2017 British Society of Magazine Editors Awards were held yesterday at The Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel.

22/11/2017

2017 BSME Awards – the shortlists
News

2017 BSME Awards – the shortlists

The British Society of Magazine Editors (BSME) has published the shortlists for its 2017 awards.

06/10/2017

How does your Garden grow?
INTERVIEW

How does your Garden grow?

The October issue sees a refreshed design for The Garden magazine – delivered ‘free’ to members of the Royal Horticultural Society. Robyn Bechelet meets editorial chief Chris Young to assess how the publishing team is delivering the society’s vision.

By Robyn Bechelet  |  26/09/2017

814 articles