News
News UK announces four senior commercial appointments
Jenny Smith, Tim Stratham-Smith, Tracey Hendle, and Pavlina Theodoulou take on expanded roles across agency development, client strategy and commerce.
Ecommerce & Affiliate Revenue
Magazine editors have always sold things. A recommendation in a trusted title moves product, and ecommerce is the attempt to get paid for that influence directly rather than through the advertising around it.
There are several ways in. Affiliate links in reviews and buying guides earn commission when readers already intend to buy. Others go further: Marie Claire built a shopping platform carrying more than a million products, while the London Review of Books grew a small online shop into a business with its own US warehouse. Hearst has turned the Good Housekeeping Institute's product testing into accreditation and licensing.
Get it right, and the revenues will flow. Get it wrong, and you’ll wish that you’d stuck to the knitting.
Jim Bilton The Ecommerce Challenge
For most publishers commerce is still a small share of revenue, and the risks are real, from culture and technology to the trust readers place in editorial. Disclosing commercial links tends to help conversion rather than hurt it, and smaller publishers have done well by testing cheaply before committing.
The ground is shifting as well. Shoppers increasingly research products through AI search and social creators, and much of the credit for a sale ends up with cashback and voucher sites.
Below you'll find some of our best feature articles on ecommerce and affiliate revenue for publishers, from affiliate content and online shops to licensing and trust, alongside our latest news and industry commentary.
Essential Resources
MEDIA FUTURES
The Ecommerce Challenge
Ecommerce – the future of media or a dangerous distraction? Get it right and it can transform your company’s financials. Get it wrong, writes Jim Bilton, and it can destroy your business. And there are plenty of examples of both.
E-commerce Special
Our e-commerce strategy: Immediate Media
Inject personality into e-commerce content by showing audiences the individual recommending the products, and why they’re qualified to do so, says Beth Crane, director of commercial growth.
FEATURE
Building affiliate revenue streams: dos and don’ts
In a time when consumers are being offered content for free, new revenue streams for publishers are always worth exploring. Keith Walker explains the lessons learned regarding affiliate revenue and what it means for your brand.
FEATURE
The Pillars of Ecommerce Success
One publishing brand that seems to have nailed ecommerce is Marie Claire, both in the UK and, more recently, in the US. Ciar Byrne looks at its winning strategy.
E-commerce Special
Our e-commerce strategy: London Review of Books
LRB’s strategy is to engage its audience with new and exciting products as well as creating new iterations of its cult ranges, says Jill Tytherleigh, head of e-commerce and product development.
E-commerce Special
Our e-commerce strategy: Singletrack World
The future of Singletrack World’s e-commerce strategy focuses on two key areas: reducing friction and consolidating touchpoints, says Mark Alker, co-founder.
INTERVIEW
Monetising trusted relationships
Consumer magazine media has a bright future, James Wildman tells Meg Carter, because of the substantial opportunities to build new revenue streams on the back of deep reader engagement.
FEATURE
Digital complexities move licensing off the page into new consumer channels
The border busting reality of digital publishing has radically altered the traditional licensing model. But opportunities still abound to leverage your brand in overseas markets. Peter Houston reports.
COLUMN
Making a success of ecommerce
Ecommerce is often cited by publishers as an obvious area for revenue diversification. But how to make a success of it?
All Articles
News
whynow acquires EMP
whynow has acquired EMP Merchandise, a European rock and pop culture merchandise retailer, from Warner Music Group, marking a major step in its ambition to build a global platform connecting artists, brands and fans.
News
Harper’s Bazaar UK collaborates with artist Rachel Spelling
The partnership marks the first time Harper’s Bazaar UK has made limited-edition prints available to purchase.
MEDIA FUTURES
Transition or rupture?
Back in January, Mark Carney told the World Economic Forum in Davos that the world was experiencing a moment of sudden “rupture” rather than gradual “transition”. Jim Bilton looks for parallels in the media industry.
News
Reach appoints George Grist
Reach has appointed George Grist as chief customer officer for its newly created division, bringing together reader revenue strands.
News
Intersend Ltd appointed by DC Thomson
Intersend Ltd has been appointed by DC Thomson to manage its e-commerce fulfilment and back issue storage.
News
Forbes launches Forbes Wine
Forbes has announced the launch of Forbes Wine, a new premium content vertical and e-commerce initiative designed to extend Forbes’ into the global wine industry.
COLUMN
8 top tips from 8 e-commerce experts
James Evelegh picks out eight of the many tips on offer at InPublishing’s ‘E-commerce Special – Q&A’ webinar…
COLUMN
E-commerce: 8 top tips
James Evelegh picks out eight top tips from InPublishing’s recent e-commerce special.
COLUMN
Some takeaways from our November / December issue
James Evelegh picks out some takeaways from the November / December 2025 issue of InPublishing magazine.
E-commerce Special
E-commerce Special
Welcome to our first e-commerce special. Having four or five viable revenue streams is the key to achieving long-term profitability, and for many publishers, e-commerce is now one of those streams.
E-commerce Special
Fulfilment
A well-packaged order that arrives quickly and looks professional reinforces your brand’s credibility, says Jamie Wren, group commercial director at InterSend.
E-commerce Special
Our e-commerce strategy: Big Issue
In mission-driven e-commerce, the story behind the product is as important as the product itself, says Nashitha Suren, group consumer revenues marketing director.
E-commerce Special
Our e-commerce strategy: Immediate Media
Inject personality into e-commerce content by showing audiences the individual recommending the products, and why they’re qualified to do so, says Beth Crane, director of commercial growth.
E-commerce Special
Checkout
A good checkout feels effortless. It has a clean layout, minimal steps, clear pricing and no surprises, says Stewart Robinson, managing director of Full Fat Things.
