E-News : June 21, 2011
Top Media Moves
Northstar Travel Media has partnered with independent e-book publisher RosettaBooks to introduce a new travel guide series, Destination, for consumers. The initial launch, available exclusively on Kindle through Amazon, offers 32 top travel destinations worldwide; each guide costs $2.99. The e-books were created using Northstar’s destination information and hotel reviews previously available to the public only through travel professionals who subscribe to the business media company’s online products. E-book readers who want to delve even deeper into a destination’s offerings — or to make reservations — will have access to an exclusive list of leading travel professionals. The travel agents, meanwhile, must be subscribers to Northstar’s recently launched paid subscription product, Travel42. Tom Cintorino, Northstar’s EVP of Digital Media, explained that the guides are not only helpful information for consumers but also, as lead-generation tools, they are “another reason for a travel agent to subscribe to travel42.”
Farm Journal Media’s AgWeb, agriculture’s homepage, was selected for inclusion in Media Business magazine’s "10 Great Media Sites" issue.
Releasing the power of content, innovation and creativity drove the discussion earlier this month at the Business Marketing Association's international conference in Chicago. The three-day event, titled “Unleash,” attracted more than 600 b2b marketers, who shared strategies on how they are approaching new-business opportunities, marketing campaigns, technology and customer engagement.
Constant Contact continues to expand on its original email and newsletter business plan with new event management tools. Its latest addition is a free application that provides event management capabilities from smartphones.
Job of the Week
Marketing Reporter, Advertising Age
In addition to the “Job of the Week” highlighted in each issue of E-news, ABM has expanded its online job board to better reach out to the membership and media community with quality career opportunities. Powered by mediabistro.com, the site is updated constantly with openings across the country and enables you to search by industry and location. So what are you waiting for … Click here to begin your search!
Committee Watch
Publishers Committee with Marketing/Media Advisory Council
Tuesday, June 28, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM ET
ABM Headquarters
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FT Announces HTML5 Web App
By Marie Griffin
Less than 13 months after successfully launching an iPad app in Apple’s App Store, Financial Times released a browser-based Web app built using the HTML5 technology standard. The biggest difference is not its content, features or usability; rather, the major change is that the new app will not be distributed through iTunes.
MB Christie, head of product development for FT, said the company’s chief problem with iTunes is Apple’s unwillingness to share user data with publishers, while the 30% commission Apple takes on sales through the iTunes store was not the driver of the change. “Our all-access model [for digital subscriptions] simply does not work if we don’t know who the customers are,” she said. All of FT’s digital subscriptions include unlimited access to FT.com as well as unlimited mobile and iPad access.
At a time when many online publishers are struggling to get users to pay for online content, FT has been highly successful, with a total paid circulation—reported without breaking out print vs. digital—of more than 600,000 subscribers (year-end 2010). Its model, known as the metered subscription model, is being replicated by the New York Times, among other online publishers. With FT’s metered model, a user must register to read full articles and a registrant can view 10 articles for free each month. After that, the viewer is asked to subscribe. In addition to subscription revenue, the registration process has yielded over 3.6 million email addresses, and FT’s subscription marketing efforts are focused on this group.
From a user’s perspective, the difference between FT’s first iPad and iPhone apps and the new Web app is negligible. In fact, FT says the new app is faster and the program automatically updates whenever updates are made to the software.
When users first contact FT at app.ft.com, they are prompted to install a shortcut on their iPad or iPhone home screen so that the app looks and functions like one programmed with Apple’s platform-specific toolset. Unlike a typical mobile website, though, the FT Web app is able to store data so that it can be used when the device is not connected to the Internet. “Many people didn’t think the HTML5 standard was robust enough to handle off-line reading, but we have proven it is,” Christie said.
The new FT app will soon be available on Android tablets, followed by Android phones, Christie said. Built on HTML5, the app is theoretically platform-neutral, but there are enough unique elements among Apple’s iOS, Google’s Android, Research in Motion’s BlackBerry OS and Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 that each one will be thoroughly tested by FT before the app is rolled out on each platform, she added.
Hit the Links for Charity on August 4th
On Thursday, August 4, ABM member executives will venture outside the office for an afternoon of golf, tennis and networking in support of the future of business media at the 2011 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Invitational.
This annual golf and tennis tournament, now being held at the Scarsdale Golf Club (just 30 miles from Manhattan!), benefits the Business Press Educational Foundation (BPEF), which places college students in internships within ABM member companies, many of whom move on to full-time positions.
Whether you’re an avid golfer or just seeking an afternoon out of the office to network, join us to support the future of our industry. Click here to register now!
The 2011 McGraw Invitational is sponsored by Berkery Noyes and The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc.
How the Top 100 U.S. Media Brands Are Using Mobile
A study of the Top 100 media publications in the United States by 2ergo found that 84% have a mobile website, a mobile app or both. Mobile sites were the most common, followed closely by iPhone apps, with Android and BlackBerry applications lagging.
The study investigated BurrellesLuce's 2011 Top Media Outlets list of daily newspapers, popular blogs and consumer magazines, and found that:
- 70% of the Top 100 publications have a mobile site and 71% of them have released an iPhone, Android or BlackBerry mobile app
- Daily newspapers lead the way in providing mobile-friendly experiences, with 86% having a mobile site
- Bloggers follow with a healthy 64%, while the top consumer publications lag behind (only 44% have a mobile site)
- Newspapers lead the way in smartphone apps, with 92% having released at least one
- The majority of newspapers have chosen to monetize their mobile websites, with 66% of them doing mobile advertising
The study also found that publications that offer readers exceptional mobile experiences focus squarely on providing up-to-the-minute news, leaving traditional items such as editorial and features to their print and online properties. Additionally, of the 719 UK print media titles studied, only 11%, are using mobile websites to reach the widest audience possible.
For more information about the study, click here.
Survey Unveils Ideal Marketing Mix for Small Businesses
According to a new survey by Pitney Bowes, 76% of small businesses agree that their ideal marketing mix includes a combination of physical and digital communications. And 72% say they would do more of it if they had the right customer communications management tools.
Other responses indicated that:
- 68% are choosing new channels such as email
- 54% are choosing social media, because they are found to be relatively cost effective in communicating information to current and potential customers
- 51% cannot get further engaged in multi-channel communications due to limited resources and time
Though the most popular marketing tool used currently is email, during the last year the most popular new channel being added by small business owners is social media, with 20% of those surveyed just beginning to use it. Meanwhile, 12% added mobile marketing.
For more information about the survey, click here.
The ABM Vital Guide to Web Operations
Web operations are becoming an increasingly critical part of the media business. If you haven’t already, prepare to dive into digital waters. With more content (and more revenues) flowing through digital channels, it is important that your systems and staff can adapt. Check out the latest ABM Vital Guide for an inside look at the digital business.
In partnership with eMedia Vitals, ABM is proud to deliver the ABM Vital Guide, a free weekly e-newsletter containing high-quality, actionable content on the hottest digital media trends affecting the b-to-b industry. Each week, the ABM Vital Guide tackles one specific digital media trend or product with the potential to dramatically influence members’ digital revenues. Previous issues have thoroughly covered audience development, content aggregation, database marketing, online event models, e-newsletters and subscription management.
Learn How to Drive Revenue with Semantics
ABM members receive discounted rate to SIIA event
Semantic technologies are being used today at numerous digital media companies and are delivering compelling ROI to publishers in areas as diverse as content personalization, online advertising and improved search.
On June 29th in New York City, during an SIIA event on "Driving Revenues with Semantics," technology providers and media practitioners will provide case studies and specific, tangible examples of how to utilize semantic technology to impact your business.
ABM members: Enter promotional code ABMMEM to receive the discounted SIIA member rate (just $50)! Click here to register now or for more information.
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