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Penmaen Media create practical digital media and marketing strategies for businesses who want to use the web to grow their revenues. This blog records ideas and tips from my work with media businesses moving to digital and other businesses using the web to find new customers and build customer relationships. You are welcome to comment constructively on articles. Note comments are moderated and links are no follow. If you have a query on the site use the contact us page. You can subscribe to this blog using the link on any post or the RSS logo in your browser bar. Sign up to receive our newsletter using the box lower right. Click the logo above to go to our home page and find out more about our consulting business. Carolyn Morgan.
Tips on building a b2b presence on twitter
January 29th, 2012Many business to business publishers and other organisations targeting senior executives are a little wary of twitter and not sure how to use it to grow their reputation, web traffic and ultimately lead generation and revenue. Somehow twitter often looks just a little bit trivial for a business audience. But there are real benefits in using it, even in less techy markets, as a research tool, news feed, customer service channel and additional publishing platform. Here’s some simple principles, gathered from b2b businesses I know, including one publisher which has grown its following three-fold in the last year. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in SME digital marketing, b2b, content, marketing | No Comments »
Twelve tips for 2012 for specialist publishers
January 15th, 2012The speed of technology change in media is accelerating, and consumers are adapting their behaviour and expectations. Whilst apparently daunting for the niche, independent consumer or b2b publisher, the reality is that there are now more opportunities than ever before to publish content on many channels worldwide and make money.
And the development of low-cost services, revenue share agreements and cloud based software are making new channels accessible to smaller media owners. Plus the good news is that niche audiences are far more loyal, want to connect with each other, and are willing to spend on their personal or professional interests.
This creates a fabulous opportunity for nimble, innovative media businesses to experiment and reach new audiences, long before the media leviathans have got round to calling a board meeting.
I’ve been lucky enough to meet some very inspiring specialist publishers this year, as clients, members of the Specialist Media Network I run on LinkedIn, or speakers at the Specialist Media Conference. I recently published a version of this article on the Specialist Media Show site: my twelve tips for budding Media Pioneers in 2012. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: content management systems, ecommerce, specialist communities, tablet magazines
Posted in
b2b, business strategy, consumer, content, marketing |
11 Comments »
Revolutionary ideas for digital publishing strategy
November 27th, 2011Traditional (ie print) consumer and b2b publishers have embraced online publishing, but are now having to get to grips with mobile devices and managing readers and subscribers over multiple digital channels. This week I attended an event hosted by eZpublish and spoke at the PPA Content Managers Forum on mobile publishing. The two discussions raised some radical ideas for publishers aiming to integrate their various media channels: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Circdata, digital publishing, eZpublish, online subscriptions, personalised content, PPA, retail, Specialist Media Network
Posted in
b2b, business strategy, consumer, content, marketing |
16 Comments »
How to prioritise which digital media channels to publish on
November 20th, 2011Last week I ran a Digital Publishing Masterclass for a small group of niche publishers, who knew they needed a digital strategy but felt overwhelmed by the sheer range of opportunities available. Not only did they need to plan their web content and select what was free and what should be paid-for, but they also had to select the right mix of mobile channels, across iOs, Android, Kindle and other smartphone app stores. Plus there’s the task of co-ordinating social media and managing and extending an email database. We spent all day reviewing the options, but if you want a quick steer, here’s a set of four criteria which should help identify the top priorities: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: digital publishing, iPad apps, Kindle, niche publishers, online subscriptions, specialist media
Posted in
b2b, business strategy, consumer |
15 Comments »
How to migrate your website and maintain your sanity
October 30th, 2011Moving house is generally regarded as one of the most stressful life experiences, up there with divorce and bereavement. For businesses, I’d hazard a guess that moving your website to a new developer or platform is as fraught a process as moving house. I’ve just moved one of my business websites (not this one) and thought I’d share the lessons I’ve learnt as they may be helpful to both small and larger organisations. Below are my top ten tips for migrating your business website while maintaining your sanity. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: business website, changing developer, moving platform, small business websites
Posted in
SME digital marketing, implementation |
No Comments »
20 questions to ask your magazine app supplier
October 12th, 2011Magazine publishers are keen to experiment with tablet editions, but are confused by the wide range of systems and contracts offered by the main suppliers. It’s an important decision, especially if you opt for a revenue share model and are tied in for several years. As well as the obvious questions on upfront costs and revenue splits, here’s a checklist of questions to ask your supplier, covering publishing options, pricing and promotion, data, commercial options and finances. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: digital publishing, magazine apps, specialist publishers, tablet magazines
Posted in
b2b, consumer, content, marketing |
4 Comments »
How a niche publisher migrated a print title to ipad
October 2nd, 2011Niche magazine publishers are experimenting with tablet and iPad editions all over the place, but most are consumer specialist and are considering their tablet magazine as an additional revenue stream to their print subscriptions. I was quite impressed, therefore, to find an independent b2b publisher that not only had launched a free b2b app that was wholly ad-funded, but was seriously considering moving completely to that channel and dropping print. Oh, and he developed the app in-house. You can read more about Sam Spurdens and LOOP digital media in this article about the 2012 Media Pioneers. But in this article I wanted to analyse why this move works for him - and could be worth consideration by other niche publishers. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: digital publishing, iPad edition, LOOP digital media, Media Pioneers, P1 magazine, Specialist Media Network
Posted in
b2b, business strategy, content |
3 Comments »
Ten reasons for niche publishers to experiment on iPad
September 25th, 2011Independent publishers in specialist markets could be forgiven for thinking that there is no way they can access tablet publishing, but there are increasing numbers of suppliers offering low-cost routes for niche publishers to test this channel. Larger companies may sneer at replica apps, but if you suspect there is an international audience for your content, they are a simple way to test the market. Here’s ten good reasons you should consider testing iPad publishing: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Apple newsstand, digital publishing, ipad, ipad subscriptions, magazine apps, specialist publishers
Posted in
b2b, business strategy, consumer, content, marketing |
2 Comments »
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