Archive for the ‘content’ Category
10 tips for effective digital magazines
Friday, September 3rd, 2010Digital magazines are beginning to move up the priority list of many publishers. Partly a backlash from free online web content, but largely driven by the growth of mobile devices, not least the ipad. There is a special quality to a carefully designed and packaged magazine, a curated, guided experience rather than the random meandering on a typical web-site. Traditional print publishers are exploring digital editions as options for international subscribers or simply readers who want instant access. Most suppliers are soon going to find a cost-effective solution to the flash vs html5 apple device issues. However, a simple facsimile of a print edition misses the point - they are hard to read on screen, and impossible on mobile devices. I’ve been working with a niche b2b publisher and researching some examples of best practice in digital magazines on a limited budget: here are my top 10 tips for an effective digital edition: (more…)
Tags: digital editions, digital magazines, ezines, Specialist Media Network
Posted in b2b, consumer, content, implementation
Why b2b publishers need a free content strategy
Monday, August 30th, 2010Business to business publishers are wrestling with how to apply their controlled circulation print model online, and how to persuade their readers to pay for content and related services. Some are successfully generating new revenues with subscriptions, events, conferences and training, but most also offer free online content as well. A recent debate on the Specialist Media Network on Linked-in, with contributions from Sift, Econsultancy, Subhub and Advanstar, has convinced me that the solution is to have a blend of free, “controlled” - ie registered - and paid-for content. Below are five reasons why I believe free content works for b2b publishers: (more…)
Tags: archive content, b2b publishers, controlled circulation, free content, online subscriptions, paywalls, Specialist Media Network
Posted in b2b, business strategy, content, news
What media owners can learn from the hospitality industry
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010I’ve long believed that a specialist media owners’ greatest asset is not their content but their audience’s attention. Once you have built a community of interest it is much easier to find new products and services to sell to them, and even find ways to get them to pay to contact each other. Miles Galliford of Subhub has long been a proponent of this view, and a discussion he started on the Specialist Media Network on Linked-in moved in some interesting directions - read on to discover what a media business can learn from the hospitality industry, and the importance of valuing and entertaining your audience… (more…)
Tags: audience, Colin Bradshaw, content, entertaining visitors, events, hosting an event, Miles Galliford, networking, Penmaen Media, Specialist Media Network
Posted in b2b, business strategy, consumer, content, events
Online subscriptions secrets of a media pioneer
Sunday, July 11th, 2010Developing a content-based online subscription business is the holy grail for many specialist publishers. The latest winner of the Media Pioneers awards, organised by the Specialist Media Show to recognise innovative and entrepreneurial media businesses, has quietly established a community of paying subscribers who visit her site at least weekly. Read on to discover her experiences and learn tips for your own subscription business… (more…)
Tags: content, databases, Jancis Robinson, Media Pioneers, online subscriptions, paid-for content, specialist media show
Posted in business strategy, consumer, content
What makes a compelling consumer online membership package?
Sunday, July 4th, 2010Many media businesses who publish content online for free are investigating subscription or membership packages as a way to drive revenue from their online content. It’s a bit easier for b2b publishers who can build research reports or databases or workflow tools, and are also dealing with businesses with a defined budget for information, research or lead generation. So is anyone succeeding in consumer markets? I’ve found a few examples, and identified five key elements that appear to be adding value to membership packages. What unites them is that online content alone is not enough. And discounts on products and services are expected to be offered as part of the deal. So here’s some ideas for how to add real value to the package: (more…)
Tags: archive, consumers, content, customised content, databases, members forums, mobile alerts, online subscriptions, paid-for content
Posted in business strategy, consumer, content, marketing
Bright future for specialist media: build audiences; develop many revenue streams
Sunday, June 20th, 2010What is it that unites specialist media businesses, whether they serve consumer or professional audiences, in print, events or digital or some combination of the three? Listening to the speakers in the “future of specialist media” session at the Specialist Media Show conference, I’d say the common thread is building a specialist audience, with particular interests and information needs, then finding many ways to create revenue streams around that audience, from supplying content, facilitating connections online or at events, and creating opportunities for advertisers to reach that audience. Here are the highlights of the presentations from Phil Redwood of Fusion Communciations, Miles Galliford of Subhub and Riva Elliott of PMA media training: (more…)
Tags: content, digital editions, editorial team, Fusion Communications, Miles Galliford, paid-for content, Phil Redwood, PMA Media training, revenue sources, Riva Elliott, specialist media show, Subhub
Posted in b2b, business strategy, consumer, content, events
How publishers can make digital media pay: digital editions, mobile, ipad, video
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010In the last year, the opportunities for specialist publishers to place their content in new formats has exploded. Instead of just web content, there are now multiple opportunities to package content in different ways, using video, links, and interaction to engage readers. Smartphones and e-readers are making these more portable, eroding a key differentiator between PC and print. But how on earth can content publishers make these new digital media pay, when the cost to create and distribute on new channels is still high? At the Specialist Media Show conference last month, delegates heard from four specialist media owners who believe they have found ways to profit from digital media: the Spectator, Circle, Advanstar and Factory - here are their top insights: (more…)
Tags: Advanstar, Circle Publishing, content, digital editions, Factory Media, mobile apps, Specialist Media Network, specialist media show, Spectator
Posted in b2b, business strategy, consumer, content
Bring your brand to life - events insights for media businesses
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010Traditional media businesses are increasingly taking their brands into live events - whether big consumer shows at the NEC or niche conferences. But this requires a whole new set of skills to acquire. I recently brought together a group of events organisers and publishers who are making print, events and digital work together - they are the speakers for the events session at the Specialist Media Show on 25 May at Exec Peterborough. Here are some of the insights from Trevor Foley of tfconnect, Claire Jenkinson of RBI conferences, Peter Harris of Centaur, Mark Elliott of Time Out and Andrew Mercer of Exec Peterborough. (more…)
Tags: Centaur, conferences, databases, digital integration, event launches, events, Exec Peterborough, RBI, specialist media show, tfconnect, Time Out
Posted in b2b, consumer, content, events