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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; 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.
How specialist media owners see their future: realistic optimism
July 24th, 2010I’m cheered by the optimism shown by specialist media owners who responded to the survey we ran with Fusion Communications for the Specialist Media Show. They are well aware of the dramatic changes coming in their industry, but seem to be pragmatic and forward looking in their responses. 117 senior managers from b2b and consumer specialist media took part, across a range of businesses from one-title independents to mid-sized publishers with 6-10 titles. I’m referring to them as publishers, but most have print, digital and live events in their portfolio. What struck me is the gradual diversification of revenue sources: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: content, digital editions, events, Fusion Communications, media brand, mobile apps, online subscriptions, paid-for content, publishers, Specialist Media Network, specialist media show
Posted in
b2b, business strategy, consumer |
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What media owners can learn from the hospitality industry
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… Read the rest of this entry »
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 |
1 Comment »
Online subscriptions secrets of a media pioneer
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… Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: content, databases, Jancis Robinson, Media Pioneers, online subscriptions, paid-for content, specialist media show
Posted in
business strategy, consumer, content |
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What makes a compelling consumer online membership package?
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: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: archive, consumers, content, customised content, databases, members forums, mobile alerts, online subscriptions, paid-for content
Posted in
business strategy, consumer, content, marketing |
1 Comment »
10 tips for online networking for SMEs
June 27th, 2010Small businesses tend to win business through referrals, and are recommended by people who already know the principals. How can SMEs accelerate this natural process to win more business more quickly? Here are my top 10 tips for using online networking tools to speed up the traditional methods of making personal contacts and building a reputation. They are based on my own experience and other SME’s whom I admire or have worked with. There’s a presentation that goes into more detail on the Penmaen Media slideshare page. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: network marketing, online networking, referrals, reputation building, SME marketing
Posted in
SME digital marketing, marketing |
2 Comments »
Bright future for specialist media: build audiences; develop many revenue streams
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: Read the rest of this entry »
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 |
14 Comments »
Secrets of successful commercial partnerships in specialist markets
June 18th, 2010Growing commercial revenues from online publishing has provided a conundrum for specialist media businesses - they don’t have the volume of inventory to be attractive to ad networks and the CPMs are derisory - and their small commercial teams often lack skills to sell across multiple platforms. But at the Specialist Media Show conference last month, delegates heard from specialist media owners Duncan Tickell of Magicalia and Paul Hood, latterly of Emap and now at Mirror group, and gurus such as Chris Parsons of Q5 Partners, on how to create simple, clever campaigns that grow clients’ business with tips that can be applied to niche markets. Here’s the top 5 insights: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: advertising, bespoke solutions, commercial partnerships, Duncan Tickell, Magicalia, Paul Hood, Q5 Partners, specialist media show
Posted in
advertising, b2b, business strategy, consumer |
4 Comments »
How publishers can make digital media pay: digital editions, mobile, ipad, video
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: Read the rest of this entry »
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 |
4 Comments »
Secrets of launching events from media brands
June 6th, 2010Many media brands have discovered the value of live events to reach new audiences and deepen customer relationships. At the Specialist Media Show last week, events gurus shared stories of successful event launches and provided tips for specialist media owners. Here’s my top 5 insights from the presentations by Trevor Foley, Claire Jenkinson, Mark Elliott, Peter Harris and Andrew Mercer: Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: b2b conferences, Claire Jenkinson, consumer events, content, events, Homebuilding, Mark Elliott, media brand, specialist media show, Time Out, Trevor Foley
Posted in
b2b, business strategy, consumer, events |
5 Comments »
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