Sales toolkit
This section of the website has been designed to provide the resources necessary for those working with professional media, whether on the buying or selling side and demonstrates the research case for using professional media.
The Insight database is designed to help publishers, agencies and clients better understand the value of professional media and to provide the easiest possible access to any relevant information.
Additionally PPA Professional has trained 80 of the most senior sales professionals to represent the sector generically as advocates to both clients and agencies. To find out more click here.
PPA Training Brochure 2008The 2008 PPA Training Brochure containing full listing of current training courses.
Connecting Business 3 - UK business media, a portrait of a £23bn industry
The third in a series of reports designed to present a panoramic and up-to-date portrait of the business media sector - explaining its role, calculating its size and value, describing its structure and development – and forecasting its future.
It indicates how the UK business media industry is responsible for sustaining health and stimulating growth in every area of business, industry and commerce – through the supply and delivery of information. The publication goes on to explore the constituent parts of the industry – and indicates the way in which it has evolved and continues to respond to marketplace demands.
Highlights
- Print - including magazines and newsletters generating approximately £8.9bn per annum (2006).
- Face-to-face - incorporating events, exhibitions and conferences generating approximately £2.8bn per annum (2006).
- Online - comprising a variety of electronic and digital delivery systems generating approximately £2.8bn per annum (2006).
- Marketing services - such as direct mail and consultancy generating approximately £3.3bn per annum (2006).
- Together these four sectors account for some 94 per cent of total UK business media revenue.
Of the other UK business media revenue sectors:
- Data publishing is the largest, generating revenues (2006) of £0.5bn
- Business Broadcasting generates (2006) £0.3bn
- Market Research /Management Consultancy reports generate (2006) £0.3bn
Magazine Media Handbook 2007
Called the Magazine Handbook in its previous incarnation, this new edition embraces and analyses the magazine business in an evolving communications landscape.
Looking at the three distinct pillars of consumer, business media and customer publishing, the handbook examines all aspects the magazine industry from the latest data available to growth and development, subscriptions, ABC figures and multi-platform publishing.
Mag Scene - Careers in magazine and business media
This guide provides a taste of the variety of job opportunities avilable in the magazine and business media industry. Content includes an overview of the industry, job roles, FAQ and advice on work experience, job applications and interview techniques as well as a useful glossary.
Voluntary Producer Responsibility Agreement for the magazine industry
The magazine industry Voluntary Producer Responsibility Agreement was signed on 17 November 2005, by Ben Bradshaw, Minister for Local Environment, and Nicholas Coleridge, MD of The Condé Nast Publications (UK) in his capacity as chairman of PPA.
The key element of the VPRA is to drive up the level of post-consumer magazine recycling.
In order to monitor progress and demonstrate compliance with the VPRA, PPA has committed to produce this Annual Report, along with a measurement of post-consumer magazine recycling levels.
The BtoB Digital Marketing Shift
Marketers have positive feelings towards business media – especially business and professional magazines, websites and events - according to new research presented by American Business Media (ABM).
ABM commissioned Forrester Research to conduct the Digital Marketing Shift research in the hope of understanding the mindests of marketers in the business and professional media industry. To understand the end-user, Harris Interactive has also researched how media end-users (readers, event attendees, and online participants) use business and professional media in their decision-making.
The Harris research corroborates why marketers feel strongly about business and professional media as outlined in the Forrester study.
Click here for more information
Preview ABM's new Harris Study
As digital media and media integration continue to take center stage in the b-to-b arena, many business information providers feel their magazines are being negatively impacted. American Business Media, in partnership with Harris Interactive, has commissioned some revolutionary research that proves b-to-b magazines remain an important component of successful marketing campaigns - and this research will prove invaluable when interfacing with b-to-b advertisers.
Click here for more information
Routes to success for b2b publishers’ websites: A survey by the International Federation of the Periodical Press
A report compiled by Guy Consterdine on the FIPP survey of business and professional publishers’ websites. The report was launched at the 5th international FIPP’s business magazine and professional media conference held in London in May 2006.
Professional media: connecting business
Professional media: connecting business positions our £17bn sector as an increasingly significant one within the economy. It shows among other things that the UK's business information and professional media industry has grown by almost a half (47%) in the past 5 years to its current worth.
The report, by GfK NOP, was commissioned by the Business Information Forum (BIF), comprising associations in the business information and communications sector including PPA, the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), Data Publishers Association (DPA), the Association of Exhibition Organisers (AEO) and the UK Newsletter and Electronic Publishers Association (UKNEPA). The report was supported by the Department of Trade and Industry.
The role of B2B websites
New research from the UK Association of Online Publishers (AOP) has proved the strong relationship that business decision makers have with business-to-business (B2B) websites*, their importance in the daily workflow compared to other media sources, and the propensity of business decision makers to respond to advertising on these sites.
Visit the AOP website for further information
Pharmaceutical Advertising Forum (PAF)
PAF has been set up to promote the benefits of above-the-line marketing in the pharmaceutical market through a joint agency/publisher initiative. Representatives will be taking the case for advertising to clients through a specially developed Pharmaceutical Advocacy programme. The longer term aim is to produce research looking at the effectiveness of above-the-line advertising and branding in a sector dominated by face-to-face sales activity.
Click here for links to pharmaceutical advertising research.
The FIPP/FAEP Handbook on magazines and the environment
Magazine publishing, like all business, has an impact on the environment. However, in many ways it has the potential to be one of the most self-sustaining and environmentally sound of industries, because its main resource (paper) is both made from renewable resources and recyclable. This Handbook, produced by the International Federation of the Periodical Press (FIPP) and the European Federation of Magazine Publishers (FAEP), attempts to set out clearly the areas of current and possible future concerns, and actions that can be taken to address them.
Balanced reading - Mass balance of the UK magazine publishing sector
The PIRA mass flow study analyses the environmental impact of the magazine industry and highlights those areas where concerted effort will be most effective in minimising that impact. The output of the study will also feed into national environmental assessments with the same objective.
The Vital Investment
This study is a coherent account of why it pays to advertise in B2B magazines, supported by hard evidence from research.
For a presentation of the research highlights click here.
The Essential Medium - decision makers' usage of B2B magazines
This study compares various media that may be used for business-to-business purposes, paying particular attention to the effect the arrival of the internet has had on the established media.
PPA commissioned this research study to compare various media which may be used for B2B purposes: B2B magazines, national newspapers, regional newspapers, general business magazines, direct mail, conferences/ exhibitions, television, radio, websites on the internet, and other online information services including electronic newsletters.
Agency Watch
In an industry where business is commonly conducted on credit, this fortnightly emailed bulletin acts as an invaluable source of trading intelligence, providing publishers with up-to-the-minute financial information on the agencies with which they deal.
Advertisers' Attitudes to B2B Magazines
PPA commissioned BJM Research and Consultancy to conduct research into the usage of and attitudes towards business magazines amongst key industry advertisers. The research investigated the value of business magazines both as an advertising vehicle and as an information provider from the readers' perspective.
- To download a PowerPoint presentation of the key findings of the research, click here
- To view the results of these findings in graphical format, click here.
Connecting Business
Connecting Business provides in-depth information on turnover, expectations, employment and skills needs in B2B media companies. The report was carried out by the Business Information Forum (BIF) and the Department of Trade and Industry. It reveals that the B2B industry is contributing more to the economy than ever before. Turnover for 2001 stood at £11.1bn at the time of the survey.
The goal of the survey was to identify and demonstrate the nature of the industry while also highlighting current trends in 2001, key factors influencing performance and potential for future growth.
The survey accounts for the predominant products and services within the industry, a selection of which are B2B magazines and journals, business exhibitions and conferences, business directories, direct marketing facilities, newsletters and electronic and online information services.
To download a PDF copy of the report, click here. A Word version of the report is also available by clicking here.
Business-to-Business Media: opportunities for growth II
A report showing how rapidly business information publishers are expanding and developing their portfolios and products. It also describes how these publishers are developing their revenue streams and investment to serve their customers' requirements.
The provision of business-to-business information supports an industry with a turnover of £8bn. This industry is dominated by business-to-business publishers but the environment in which they work is undergoing step change as competition from new, technology driven, information providers increases.
Best Practice Guidelines for Magazine Publishers Going Online
Guidelines for publishers making the first steps in developing an online presence.
The Value of Audited Circulation
A survey of business advertisers' awareness and views of circulation auditing.
The Power of Business Magazines
An examination by NOP of how business and professional magazines are read and used by decision-makers across all sectors of commerce and the professions.
The Power of Business Magazines
A summary of the NOP research presenting the research-based case for business and professional magazines.
Agency Recognition Scheme
A guide for advertising agencies applying for PPA recognition. Provides details of the recognition agreement and the application process.