Specialist Media Show * Exhibition * Workshops * Conference * Intelligence * Networking * 24 May 2012 ThinkTank Birmingham

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If you'd like to contribute an article, please email carolyn@thespecialistmediashow.com

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SIIA UK launches Issue Briefs programme for SIIA members: SIIA UK is launching a series of Issue Briefs for publishers. Each month, we take a hot topic and bring together a couple of speakers for a 2 hour session with plenty of time for questions and networking. The Issue Briefs take place in central London and run from 9-11am. They are free for SIIA UK members with a pay as you go fee for non-members.

20 insights for publishers from PPA 2013 Conference: The magazine industry seemed less defensive about print and more open to new ways to expand media brands onto web, mobile, events, retailing and more at the PPA annual Conference on 8 May. Carolyn Morgan shares her top 20 insights from the day.

Promoting print plus digital subscriptions - Sarah Aldridge, Dennis Publishing: With the growth in digital magazines, subscriptions marketing is becoming more complex - how do you price digital subs and what is the best way to market bundles? This short video interview with Sarah Aldridge, Senior Subs Marketing Manager at Dennis Publishing, was recorded at the Specialist Media Conference.

New events marketing techniques - Ben Wood, Incisive Media: Events are a growth sector for most b2b publishers, but as email marketing becomes less effective, what other marketing channels can boost attendance? Short video interview with Ben Wood, Events Marketing Director at Incisive Media and a speaker at the Specialist Media Conference.

What can magazines learn from the digital journey of book publishers? Video interview Lindsey Mooney Kobo: Book publishers had their business disrupted by digital earlier than magazines, and many publishers now have 20% of their sales via digital. So what can magazine publishers learn from their digital journey? This short video interview with Lindsey Mooney, UK vendor manager at digital platform Kobo was recorded at the Specialist Media Conference.

New subs marketing techniques - Carola York, Jellyfish Publishing: Carola York chaired the subscriptions panel at the Specialist Media Conference on 24 April. With a background in subs marketing at Emap, Economist, Spectator and TSL, Carola is a highly experienced marketer and now heads Jellyfish Publishing. In this short video interview we asked her about the latest subs marketing techniques.

Can specialist media create a golden opportunity from digital mayhem?: Colin Morrison had a positive message for specialist publishers in his opening presentation at the Specialist Media Conference on 24 April.

While digital is causing mayhem in the media world, those niche publications that are prepared to adapt to change and use technology to engage more deeply with their community, have a real advantage over mass media.

What's new in mobile platforms: video Chris Took, PageSuite: What's new in mobile platforms and how can specialist publishers take advantage? Video of Chris Took, Sales Director PageSuite, at Specialist Media Conference 24 April 2013.

Thanks to IS Media for the video.

Specialist Media Conference - the day in tweets: Missed the Specialist Media Conference on 24 April?

Here's the highlights of the day as appearing on the hashtag #specmedia on twitter.

Media Pioneer Awards 2013 - winners & video: The Winners of the 2013 Media Pioneer Awards were announced on 24 April at the British Library, in front of the audience for the Specialist Media Conference.

The Media Pioneer Awards celebrate innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in specialist media, across print, web, mobile, social & events. Watch this video to find out more about the shortlist, and learn which businesses were commended and won awards.

Reinventing specialist media - Conference preview: Want a sneak peek at the speaker presentations for next Wednesday’s Specialist Media Conference? Carolyn Morgan selects some of the new ideas and inspiration for subscriptions, advertising, communities & events and reaching a global audience.

17 reasons you can't miss the Specialist Media Conference on 24 April: This Wednesday, 24 April, we’ll be hosting this year’s Specialist Media Conference at The British Library in London.

It’s going to be an action packed day with 19 conference speakers, 18 roundtable discussions, 4 workshops, bookable 1-1 advice consultations, and the Media Pioneer Awards taking place at the end of the day.

Are you still sat on the fence? Not sure if it’s worth a day out of the office? Here are 17 reasons why we think it’s unmissable.

The time is right for specialist media in India - are you ready?: 2013 is a perfect time for specialist media companies to be assessing India - and a relatively broad definition of specialist media - B2C, prosumer, B2B, information services and data.

Andrew Mendoza of EW Relations has just completed indepth research on the Indian media market and will be sharing his insights in a round table discussion at the Specialist Media Conference on 24 April.

Learn from the Media Pioneers - 2013 shortlist: It's just a week till we announce the winners of the 2013 Media Pioneer Awards. This year's shortlist are true pioneers in specialist media - exploring and innovating across print, web, mobile, social and events, often on limited budgets. Read their stories for some true inspiration for your own media business.

The winners will be announced at the end of the Specialist Media Conference on 24 April at the British Library.

What specialist publishers see as their biggest opportunities and challenges: In the Specialist Media Insight research earlier this year, we asked 130 publishers what they saw as their biggest opportunities and challenges. This provides a unique insight into how specialist media owners see the world right now.

Whilst they can glimpse the potential of digital platforms, online interaction, repackaging content and enhanced ad propositions, there is still a fear of new competitors, making the wrong technology choices, and traditional revenues evaporating before digital grows to replace them. Plus a real skills gap especially in sales and technology.

How specialist publishers are nurturing communities and events: Successful specialist publishing businesses are built around a niche community. Both consumer and business publishers have always run live events for their readers, and many have had lively letters pages or forums. But as digital media bring communities of interest closer even across geographical boundaries, so publishers have become more focussed on nurturing their online communities and developing live events.

In b2b in particular, events are one of the revenue streams expected to grow in the next two years, potentially exceeding print circulation, according to the 2013 Specialist Media Insights research. Even consumer publishers are developing more live events, and social media is becoming an important source of web traffic, data and insight.

Specialist Media News now available on Google Currents: We've created a Google Currents edition of the Specialist Media Show news feed, so you can read all about our Media Pioneers, practical tips, research updates and other news on your phone or tablet wherever you are.

Just download the Google Currents app free to your mobile device and search for Specialist Media Show under business.

Or use this link

Interactive Barbie iPad mag sells internationally: The interactive Barbie app, published by Panorama Publications of South Africa, is the highest selling children’s mag in the App store, with international reach and 60% of sales coming from archive issues.

Dawid Venter, Digital Head at Panorama Publications of South Africa, tells the story…

How to reach a global digital audience and what are the new rules: Digital platforms are transforming how publishers can distribute their content, and they are opening up previously inaccessible international markets even for small publishers. Now you may have a replica of your magazine on Apple Newsstand, but that is just scratching the surface.

The speakers in the mobile platforms panel at the Specialist Media Conference on 24 April will stretch your thinking and show the opportunities even for smaller publishers to reach new audiences. They'll also share some practical ideas you can implement straight away.

Here's a sneak preview of the content of the session, based on a meeting with the speakers this week.

Innovative retro football fanzines by Media73: Media73 produces retro football fanzines and takes a unique and innovative approach with guest editors and special publications, helping the company grow its portfolio, sales and social media reach. Media73 joins the 2013 Media Pioneer Awards shortlist.

Football Week: a truly revolutionary digital magazine: The football media market is truly crowded. So to stand out and create an iPad-only magazine Future had to do something different. With their mix of live feeds of results & data from a partnership with PA Sport, 20 tribal cover choices, innovative animation and social media promotion, they have taken Football Week to the No.1 free sports magazine on Apple Newsstand, and a place on the 2013 Media Pioneer Awards shortlist.

Sift Media's Startup Clinic engaged small business owners for Microsoft: Sift Media created a commercially successful, cyclical content journey, the Start-Up Clinic, empowering users and demonstrating real engagement through social media, working closely with Microsoft. Sift are the latest addition to the 2013 Media Pioneer Awards shortlist.

How Railway Gazette TV shaped debate in a global industry: The century-old Railway Gazette has developed a series of global online debates, winning sponsorship and engaging a worldwide audience, and also earning them a place on the 2013 Media Pioneer shortlist.

DJ Mag hosts top 100 poll and powers facebook audience to 800k: DJ Mag is the world's largest dance music and clubbing magazine.

For the last 18 years they have run a poll to find the most popular DJs in the world. In 2011 they launched a facebook app for voting that powered their facebook audience to 800,000, with dramatic impact on sponsorship revenues, earning them a place on the 2013 Media Pioneer Awards shortlist.

Lusso Magazine goes digital only, grows circulation and tracks readers from social: Lusso Magazine is a Luxury Lifestyle title published bi-monthly by SWR Media (Magazines) Ltd and, following a successful relaunch in March 2012 and always quick to try new things, the publishers took the bold step of moving away from print to an entirely digital format for online, tablet and smartphone apps.

Their use of social sharing to extract reader data and gain deeper understanding of reading habits has helped the story for advertisers, and gained Lusso a place on the 2013 Media Pioneer Awards shortlist.

Why specialist media can thrive in digital - Colin Morrison: Yes, digital media is disruptive, but specialist publishers are in a stronger position than general news media if they can embrace the opportunities, argues Colin Morrison, non-exec director and experienced senior publisher. Knowing your specialist audience well, providing exactly what they want and being flexible in the use of different media are key to a successful digital transition. Plus watching out for competitors from unexpected directions.

Colin is speaking at the Specialist Media Conference on 24 April at the British Library - read the full programme here

Photography Week shows social media, user content and iPad only is a profitable combination: In just six months, Future’s new iPad-only magazine ‘Photography Week’, has firmly established itself as the global market-leader in its sector on Apple’s Newsstand - as well as becoming the world’s biggest consumer photography magazine brand on Facebook.

As Future's second-biggest digital edition profit-maker, Photography Week is the latest addiiton to the 2013 Media Pioneer Awards shortlist.

Launching a b2b specialist community into a global growth sector: Luke Bilton & a team at UBM spotted the growth in "big data" and quickly launched a community-driven website, Big Data Republic. With quality content it has grown fast, and has not only established itself in an expanding global industry, but has also attracted significiant sponsorship and supported an event launch. Big Data Republic is the latest addition to the 2013 Media Pioneer Awards.

Media Briefing launches awards and conference from quality online analysis: Building on a comprehensive B2B website based on curated content and analytical commentary, the Media Briefing has grown traffic and newsletter subscribers, and lauched a series of half-day, full-day and 2-day events plus awards, enabling the business to take on more staff. Commended in the 2012 Media Pioneer Awards, the Media Briefing now joins the 2013 Media Pioneer Awards shortlist.

New digital edition and online back catalogue for 70 year old An Cosantoir magazine: An Cosantoir, the magazine for the Irish Defence Forces, was first published in 1940, and in the last two years has made the transition to digital, with paid subscribers to its digital edition, good social media integration, and a back-issue catalogue on its website. Readership and subscriptions are now growing, and An Cosantoir is the latest addition to the 2013 Media Pioneer Awards shortlist.