Regional business publications remain upbeat

Ellis Booker of BtoB magazine writes Monday about how regional business publications are thriving despite the woes in other printed media.

Booker wrote, “It may even be a good time for start-ups. That’s how Karen Moore, publisher of Southwest Florida Business Today, sees it. ‘This is the right time,’ said Moore, who launched her paper at the end of October and now has three full-time staffers. She said that in times of change, businesspeople are especially hungry for information to help them make business decisions.

“For Jeff Hankins, president-publisher of Arkansas Business Publishing Group, entering the Web development business three years ago has provided a good source of new revenue and brought in incremental advertising to its portfolio of 15 titles. Hankins’ seven-person Web team has been hired by a handful of media companies, as well as advertisers of various shapes and sizes, from construction companies to medical clinics.

“‘Our online advertising and sponsorship business will be 7% of revenue this year, and our Web development work will be 7% of revenue,’ Hankins said.”

Read more here.