E-News : April 7, 2008
News of the Week
Behavioral Advertising: We Need Your Feedback
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is looking into what it calls "behavioral advertising," or targeted, custom advertising. The FTC is particularly concerned with online advertising that is targeted to reflect the consumer's activities online, such as searches the consumer has conducted, Web pages he or she has visited, and other content he or she has viewed.
The FTC is considering the establishment of principles for industry self-regulation in this area. Its principles, however, may well evolve into mandatory federal regulations of some kind. It has called for comments to be submitted later this month.
American Business Media wishes to know what experiences, concerns and comments its members may have on this issue, so that it can best comment on the FTC proposal. Please take a moment to fill out a short yes/no survey on the issue of behavioral advertising by clicking the link below. It should take less than 10 minutes.
ABM Behavioral Advertising Survey
Please complete the survey by this Friday, April 11, 2008. Your responses are important to us, and will help ABM submit comments to the FTC that best serve the interests of our members.
New Member Profiles
American Business Media is proud to welcome the following members, approved by the Association's board of directors during its March meeting.
Junta42 (Media)
Junta42 is a search community site focused on content marketing and custom publishing solutions. Their content comes from some of the most respected media sites to the most obscure blogs from around the Web – all joining in on the conversation about content marketing and how to attract and retain customers through content. Junta42’s staff editors join with members of the Junta42 community to search out and submit the best content marketing information available on the Web.
For more information, visit www.junta42.com.
Exchange4media (International)
Exchange4media.com was set up in May 2000 and is widely accepted as the portal that presents breaking news and fresh perspectives in the broadcasting, media, advertising and marketing domain. The publication house is physically present in five locations: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai. Presently, there are five titles in its portfolio: PITCH, Impact, Franchise Plus, Realty Plus and exchange4media.com. The company reaches out to more than 60,000 professionals within the industry every day through information newsletters.
For more information, visit www.exchange4media.com.
Magnify360 (Associate)
Magnify360 provides the industry’s most advanced Web-based behavioral targeting platform. Since 2004, Magnify360 has enabled marketing professionals to better understand their visitors and target them with relevant and personalized creative. Boasting an expert team of marketers and technologists from LowerMyBills, HP, IAC, Adobe Systems, DDB and elsewhere, Magnify360 is revolutionizing the way that companies engage their visitors online.
For more information, visit http://magnify360.com/.
ABM Resources
ABM's 'Case For' Series Now Available Free
A must-have for results-oriented salespeople and advertisers, the newly-revised Case For Series consists of 11 sections containing data, research and narrative that make the case for bold advertising and events success in business media. An indispensable resource for all sales personnel, the Case For Series provides valuable information that proves the powerful impact of business media. Separated into 11 topic areas, the Series explores the value of b-to-b through sections on integration, magazines, e-media, events, rich data, custom media, impact techniques, continuity and metrics. It is now available for free download here.
News on Print
Business-to-Business Media Experiences a Robust 2007
Despite the current state of economic concern, industry leaders are optimistic about the future of b-to-b – what is today a $26 billion-plus industry – based on a strong 2007. While the explosive b-to-b digital market maintains a 20-plus% annual growth rate, trade shows continue to perform well and magazines held their own.
At first glance, year-end 2007 numbers for b-to-b magazines appear to show a slight decline (-2.0%). However when the numbers are examined more closely, 13 of the 21 Business Information Network (BIN) categories show growth. Greatest increases occurred in the categories ‘Resources, Environment & Utilities,’ ‘Architecture, Design & Lighting,’ and ‘Science, Research & Development,’ each of which boasted year-to-date increases of 12.72%, 10.49%, and 10.11% respectively. In fact, ignoring the ‘Computing, Software, Telecomm’ category would result in an overall 0% change over 2006.
The Business Information Network for Trade Show activity (T-BIN) reported a revenue increase of 6.60%, registering growth of $0.7 billion over 2006. Combined with almost a 10% increase in overall revenue in 2006, the business-to-business trade show industry has grown more than $1.5 billion over the past two years to achieve an overall revenue mark of $11.4 billion in 2007.
“We are very pleased with the continued industry growth,” said Gordon T. Hughes II, American Business Media’s president and CEO. “With our digital business growing in excess of 20% and our magazine revenues essentially flat in total, but with 13 of 21 magazine categories actually showing increases, 2007 has been a good year for business-to-business media.”
Be sure to tune in this Tuesday morning at 9:00 AM EST for a live Video Network broadcast as Charles McCurdy, chairman and CEO of Canon Communications LLC and chairman of ABM’s Marketing Committee, shares his valuable interpretation of the 2007 data.
T-BIN includes the latest data available on revenue for the tradeshow/exhibitions aspect of business-to-business media; the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) aggregates trade show figures. In January 2005, ABM augmented its reporting model for magazine advertising sales in industry markets, as relayed through BIN, by examining 21 markets comprised of all business-to-business books tracked by IMS/The Auditor, and PERQ/HCI for healthcare figures. The data, by category, is available on the American Business Media Web site or by clicking here.
ABM Event Report
ABM's Breakfast with Byte Comes to Chicago
You spoke. We listened. And now we’re delivering. Based on your feedback, ABM is bringing to Chicago a double-header for the final installment of our Digital Breakfast Series. We’re hitting the Midwest on April 23 to bring you industry leaders who have successfully integrated social networking and online video technologies into their business media marketing platforms during ABM's Chicago Breakfast with Byte.
Join Rich Gordon, associate professor of journalism and director of Digital Media Education at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, as he moderates a morning devoted to the latest technologies that can take your audience engagement and advertising opportunities to a whole new level. Don’t miss this double-header featuring b-to-b success stories such as the Reed Construction Dashboard and Reel-Exchange social networks, as well as video offerings winning acclaim from users and advertisers alike, Ad Age Video and Farm Industry News TV.
Join us and get exclusive access to thought leaders in digital technologies that are shaking up business media in every department. For more information and to register, click here.
ABM’s Chicago Breakfast with Byte is sponsored exclusively by FAST.
Don't Miss The Business Information Imperative:
Enhancing Value, Building Profits
Through Rich Data
New Date: June 18, 2008
(with modified pricing and agenda)
Click here for more information.
Learn About Today's B-to-B Marketplace 1-on-1
To stay ahead of the game during these uncertain economic times and successfully increase the value of your company, you need the latest information on maximizing current revenues, new digital revenue-building technologies and government affairs, straight from industry leaders who will help boost your brand. That’s why we’re bringing together the industry’s top leaders during ABM’s Spring Meeting 2008 – New Paths to Success: Meeting the Challenges of Leading an Innovative Organization, from May 4-7, 2008 at the La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta, CA for an event you can’t miss! Reserve your room now to take advantage of our discounted room rate … We’ve extended the deadline to this Friday, April 11. For reservations, call the La Quinta at 1-800-598-3828 and mention the "ABM Spring Meeting 2008" to ensure a special rate of $265 per night.
Building on a new ABM tradition, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in highly-focused, intimate salons that will help you better understand today’s marketplace on a 1-on-1 basis. They include “Talent Management: The New Hiring Paradigm,” “Going Real Green: How to Integrate Sustainability into the Workplace” and “Technical Hands On: How Smaller Publishers Can Approach IT More Strategically.” Don’t miss this unique opportunity to find solutions to your most burning questions!
Join us on the West Coast this spring to find out how ABM and its members are discussing new approaches to attract advertisers, increase audiences across all platforms, and deliver new streams of revenue and profit. Click here to register or for more event information.
Honor Your Colleagues at the 2008 ABM Achievement Awards
Call for Entries available now
If your team produced a great media kit this year, or if you know a circulation or custom media superstar or a human resources professional who has made a significant impact on the growth and development of his or her company over the past year, then now is your chance to recognize the outstanding achievements of your colleagues.
On June 17, 2008 at the Union League Club in New York City, American Business Media’s Achievement Awards breakfast will be back to honor the best and brightest in business media, with the Media Kit Awards, Circulation Career Award, HR Executive of the Year Award and the first-ever award for a custom media executive.
The Call for Entries forms are now available on ABM’s Web site … Click here to enter. The deadline to submit entries for the Media Kit, Circulation and HR Awards is Friday, May 9, 2008, so submit yours today!
Created by three of ABM’s Committees – Circulation, HR, and Media Promotion – the awards acknowledge the exceptional careers of individuals in circulation and human resources and highlight the hard work and creativity of marketing teams in business media. And this year marks the introduction of the inaugural Custom Media Award, created by the Custom Media Committee, honoring the achievements of a custom media professional.
For more information about the awards Call for Entries, contact Jenna Lisanti at j.lisanti@abmmail.com. For more information about the breakfast, contact Michele Langer at m.langer@abmmail.com.
B-to-B's Passport to Transformation
SAVE THE DATE for the ABM/FIPP World Conference 2008
Join American Business Media (ABM) and the International Federation of the Periodical Press (FIPP) from September 7-9, 2008 when a melting pot of industry leaders gather in New York City. Exchange ideas with global business media executives to significantly increase your revenue and profits when the ABM/FIPP B-to-B World Conference comes to The Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan this fall. Attendees will include 500 worldwide business media leaders, of which a large number will be from (but not limited to) Europe, Asia, the Pacific Rim, South America and Africa.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to join your fellow industry leaders with New York as the global stage. Discounted rooms are now available at the Roosevelt on the evenings of September 7 & 8. Click here to reserve your room, or click here for more event information.
Marketing & Media Buying
Reed Business Information Enhances its Knowledge of B-to-B Media
American Business Media, in conjunction with Forrester Research, presented to Reed Business Information the significant findings from the recently-conducted Forrester consulting study, commissioned by ABM. The study is one of the most comprehensive in the business media space, and industry professionals are finding it an invaluable tool for analyzing the trends and impact of b-to-b media on both end users/decision-makers and marketers.
The recent webinar presentation included not only an analysis of the data, but also recommendations for media companies. Hundreds of Reed publishers, salespeople and marketing professionals participated in the tutorial to gain a better understanding of what Forrester’s findings mean and how to best utilize them.
Reed CEO Tad Smith was very pleased with the presentation and attributed its success to the content and engaging delivery.
Be sure to check out the six versions of the study already available on our Research & Marketing page to best fit your specific needs. Act now and access this important industry research, or contact Richard Bertin at r.bertin@abmmail.com for more information.
Have You Seen our New Research on the Importance of Advertising During Times of Economic Uncertainty?
American Business Media recognizes that some marketers are concerned about investing in advertising during this current period of economic uncertainty. To address their concerns, ABM has produced a PowerPoint presentation, “The Importance and Value of B2B Advertising During Times of Economic Uncertainty.”
This presentation summarizes the wealth of data that has been accumulated over time clearly demonstrating that companies who either steadily continued or aggressively increased their advertising experienced overall growth as well as continual growth past the period of economic uncertainty.
Click here to access this important industry research.
eMedia Update
Year-End BIN Report Points to Industry Revenue Growth and a Vibrant Print Product
Tune in tomorrow morning for a live Video Network broadcast
Tune in this week to a live Tuesday morning broadcast (at 9:00 AM EST) of the ABM Video Network, an interview with Charles McCurdy, chairman and CEO of Canon Communications LLC and chairman of ABM’s Marketing Committee, as he shares an overview of the 2007 year-end Business Information Network (BIN) data. Despite assumptions and lingering buzz about print giving way to digital products and trade shows as the most important part of the b-to-b media mix, the recent BIN report suggests print remains a healthy portion of the overall ad revenue for business media companies – and it’s not moving anytime soon.
The year-end BIN report tracking magazine ad sales, released two weeks ago, shows that 13 of the 21 categories were up for 2007, despite an overall print decline of approximately 2% for the year. The lack of overall growth for print (specifically in 2007) isn’t a death knell for magazines by any means according to McCurdy, rather “only a component of the whole bigger picture of the demand for the kind of the content and information we deliver to our audiences and the marketing services we’re providing to our customers that’s very robust.”
According to the recently-conducted Forrester consulting study, commissioned by ABM, business decision-makers (BDMs) are highly engaged with industry-specific magazines and expect them to play an important communications role in 2009 despite the fact that marketers will continue to underutilize them in their future spending plans. You can access more details from the “Power of Industry-Specific Magazines,” a magazine-focused breakdown of the Forrester study available on the Research & Marketing page of ABM’s Web site.
The live broadcast will roll automatically for visitors to the ABM Web site on Tuesday morning, beginning at 9:00 AM EST. It will also be available on-demand for those interested in hearing more of this engaging interview. Just visit www.AmericanBusinessMedia.com and click on ‘Charles McCurdy 2007 Year-End BIN Overview’ in the list of videos underneath the video player to access this interview at your convenience.
Top Media Moves
Penton Media established an as-yet-unnamed division that will focus on the creation of next-generation online businesses. Prescott Shibles, who had been VP of new media for Penton and its predecessor, Prism Business Media, since 2003, heads the new unit, reporting to Penton CEO John French.
Although the weaker economy is slowing down information industry mergers and acquisitions this year, deals will continue to get done, according to the latest forecast by media investment bank Berkery, Noyes & Co.
International Data Group has upped Bob Carrigan to CEO of IDG Communications Worldwide, overseeing the group's media operations, including print, online and events.
Event Calendar
ABM’s Events Summit
June 10, 2008, New York City
The numbers have spoken: Events now generate over $11.3 billion a year in annual revenue. Learn from the best in the business about the power of events – whether as stand-alone offerings or a key component in your integrated programs – as experts share their companies’ best practices and tools for capturing a larger piece of face-to-face success. Network with fellow events and business media professionals and get the latest information on hot topics in the industry.
Click here for more information and to view the agenda …
Member Event of the Week
Mequoda Group's Mequoda Summit - Napa Valley 2008
April 9-10, 2008, Napa Valley, CA
Click here to find out more.
To see your event featured here, please contact us at info@abmmail.com.
Job of the Week
Advertising Director, Blood-Horse Publications
Blog of the Week
Is America Under a (Mis)Spell?
Committee Watch
The following is a list of upcoming ABM Committee and Council meetings. All meetings are at ABM's New York offices, and time listed is EST, unless otherwise noted.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008