The Specialist Media Network on LinkedIn is just over two years old and now has 747 members.

It's proving to be a useful resource for niche publishers to ask questions and swap ideas with their peers and industry experts.

A recent question about email providers from an MD who had just taken over a group of b2b media brands elicited a wide range of suggestions, including some from Australia.

40% owners & directors; 16% entrepreneurs

And the profile of the group is interesting, with a clear bias to owners and senior directors in print and online publishing businesses.

• 153 owners
• 145 directors
• 36 CXOs
• 95 VPS

118 (16%) of the members define themselves as entrepreneurs, confirming the attraction of publishing and media for the entrepreneurial mind.

50% of the group are in publishing or online media.

The majority of the members are UK-based (643 or 86%) but there are some from the US, Australia and Asia.

32% of the UK members are based in London, but 68% in the regions.

Independents outnumber large publishers

Large publishers such as Bauer, Emap, Future, Haymarket, IPC, Dennis and Incisive are represented, but they are outnumbered by smaller independents, including:

Miles Publishing, Sift, MacNab Media, Total Telecom, Arts Professional, Factory, Green Pea, Immediate Media, Time Out, Spectator, Chelsea, Wilmington, Hudsons Heritage, Vitality, Loop, Archant, Centaur, Dive, WCN, CSL, QMJ, Stable, Five Star, MediaOne, BPG, Warners, Russell, Practical Publishing, Motorsport, Athene, Ian Allen, Boat International, Intent Media, Blaze, VBD, Newsco Insider, Private Eye, Bookseller, Metropolis, Kelsey, Gecko....

Join the discussion

So the Specialist Media Network is becoming a great resource for ambitious niche publishers to ask questions, swap experiences and make new connections with their peers.

Request to join here

And remember you can meet many of the members in person at the Specialist Media Show on 24 May 2012.

Exclusive practical content including past conference presentations is available on this website for registered members.  Join for free here