What societies want Results of an online survey Melinda Kenneway Director, TBI Communications www.tbicommunications.com

1. What societies want Results of an online survey Melinda Kenneway Director, TBI Communications www.tbicommunications.com

2. About TBI Marketing agency based in Oxford, UK Established in 1997 Market focus: scholarly communications Marketing strategy Marketing campaigns Creative studio: print and online Market research

3. What do societies want from publishers?

4. Key questions What is the core role of a Society? Which Society activities and services are most important? What are the most important future opportunities? What are seen as the most significant threats? What are the most important trends affecting our industry? How are societies planning to develop their publishing programme? What resources do Societies use to inform these developments? What role can/should contract publishers play?

5. Profile of respondents • Online survey - October 2008 (via ALPSP and SSP) • 22 societies responded • 66% in medicine; 20% in life sciences, 7% other • 57% North America; 10% UK; 33% Europe • 33% > 10,000 members, 25% < 2000 members • 45% publish one journal, 55% publish 2-5 journals • 67% contracted with an external publishing partner

6. What is the core role of a society?

8. Which society activities and services are most important?

9. Services for members

10. Services for members Online forums: 9% Events: 100% Newsletter: 50% Journals: 97%

11. Services for members Grants and bursaries: 30% Jobs: 31% Learning: 54%

12. Services for members School level: 9% Books: 25%

13. Services for members Public: 40% Discounts: 5% Representation: 59% Library: 5%

14. What are the key opportunities?

15. Services for members Opportunities for Societies 5 1 6 2 4 3

16. What are the most significant threats?

17. Services for members Threats to Societies 4 3 5 2 1

18. What are the important trends affecting the publishing industry?

19. Services for members Important trends affecting societies √ √ x √ ? x ?

20. How do societies plan to develop their publishing programmes?

21. Services for members Publishing development priorities √ x x √ √

22. What information sources do societies use to inform this?

23. Resources for development advice Conferences: 71% Societies: 71% Members: 81% Contract publisher: 43% Publishers: 77%

24. Resources for development advice Listservs: 33% Associations: 24% Consultants: 32%

25. What role do contract publishers play - what can they offer societies?

26. Services for members Value of contract publisher services √ x x ? √ √ √ ?

27. Services for members Desirable attributes of a contract publisher 2 5 4 3 1

28. Services for members Important factors for changing publisher

29. In conclusion … Societies have identified many publishing opportunities Launching new journals Developing markets Content repurposing and repackaging CME And also community engagement opportunities Web 2.0 New audiences

30. In conclusion … But there are significant threats too Declining revenues/profitability of publishing programme Declining membership Changing expectations/behaviours of next generation New online communities The market is showing some signs of shifting End of the big deal? Economy of scale argument losing power? Rise of niche market opportunities?

31. In conclusion … Societies and contract publishers need to re-think their relationships More holistic approach More innovation Greater sense of partnership and skills sharing Not just a commercial relationship More bespoke services More flexible offering Less ‘one size fits all’ More niche community expertise Facilitate and broker effective partnerships

32. A lesson from Darwin …

33. “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” Charles Darwin

34. Thank you