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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

impact.com unveils Global State of Affiliate Marketing Report
News

impact.com unveils Global State of Affiliate Marketing Report

The 2025 study shows 74% of brands increasing affiliate budgets due to rising costs in other marketing channels.

07/11/2025

The importance of clean data: 5 minutes with… Rob Sherwood
Q&A

The importance of clean data: 5 minutes with… Rob Sherwood

Successful publishers have one thing in common – clean data. So, why do so many publishers put up with messy data? We grab 5 minutes with Adept Data Services’ Rob Sherwood to find out why clean data matters and how publishers can achieve it.

By Rob Sherwood  |  30/10/2025

Finding your voice: Secrets of successful audio and video content strategy
REVIEW

Finding your voice: Secrets of successful audio and video content strategy

The focus of the AOP CRUNCH event in September was on how publishers can develop audio and video content to drive both long-term commercial growth and increased brand trust. The AOP’s Richard Reeves picks out the main talking points.

By Richard Reeves  |  29/10/2025

BSME Awards announces shortlist
News

BSME Awards announces shortlist

The British Society of Magazine Editors has unveiled the shortlist for the BSME Awards 2025.

28/10/2025

Q3 2025 Bellwether Report released
News

Q3 2025 Bellwether Report released

The Q3 2025 IPA Bellwether Report was published earlier this month on the 16th October.

27/10/2025

Denmaur celebrates Carbon Balanced Paper Week
News

Denmaur celebrates Carbon Balanced Paper Week

Denmaur has announced it is celebrating Carbon Balanced Paper Week with a dedicated campaign across its digital platforms.

21/10/2025

AOP and Deloitte release latest Digital Publishers’ Revenue Index
News

AOP and Deloitte release latest Digital Publishers’ Revenue Index

Digital Publishers’ Revenue Index shows a year-on-year increase of 3.43%, with revenues from digital audio rising sharply.

20/10/2025

How AI can be used to unlock the value of your digital archives
AI SPECIAL

How AI can be used to unlock the value of your digital archives

Publisher archives have huge commercial potential. Hutch Hicken, chief technology officer at BlueToad, explains how publishers can go about realising it.

By Hutch Hicken  |  16/10/2025

How AI can be used to connect publishing operations
AI SPECIAL

How AI can be used to connect publishing operations

AI is at its most powerful when it operates across the whole business, not in isolated silos. Rob Green, director of product and transformation at ESco, looks at what can be achieved.

By Rob Green  |  16/10/2025

How AI can be used to improve workflow efficiencies
AI SPECIAL

How AI can be used to improve workflow efficiencies

Publishers wanting to harness the true potential of AI around workflow efficiency, should approach implementations strategically. Tom Pijsel, VP product management at WoodWing, explains how this can be achieved.

By Tom Pijsel  |  16/10/2025

New joint industry research released
News

New joint industry research released

New data from Les Binet and Will Davis comes with a warning for marketers.

09/10/2025

PPA Independent Publisher Awards 2025: shortlist announced
News

PPA Independent Publisher Awards 2025: shortlist announced

The shortlist has been announced for the PPA Independent Publisher Awards 2025.

09/10/2025

Impress to launch new ethical journalism training course
News

Impress to launch new ethical journalism training course

Impress have confirmed that their new ethical journalism training course will be launched to the public on October 15.

09/10/2025

Warners Midlands take delivery of second bindery upgrade this year
News

Warners Midlands take delivery of second bindery upgrade this year

Continuing their campaign of reinvestment into their bindery, Warners Midlands have announced they have added another palletiser to boost efficiencies.

08/10/2025

PPA named Best Trade Association
News

PPA named Best Trade Association

The PPA has been named Best Trade Association at industry awards.

08/10/2025

814 articles