Directory, Mailing List, and Other Publishers Market Report 2026

The directory, mailing list, and other publishers market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $33.14 billion in 2025 to $34.14 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising demand for business directories, growth of postal mailing services, increasing consumer awareness of subscription content, expansion of traditional publishing houses, limited digital penetration in early stages.

The directory, mailing list, and other publishers market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $39.06 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to adoption of digital platforms, integration of AI in content curation, growth in email marketing campaigns, expansion of online content aggregators, increasing demand for personalized and subscription-based services. Major trends in the forecast period include personalized content delivery, data-driven mailing campaigns, hybrid publishing models, compliance with data privacy regulations, multi-channel subscriber engagement.

The increasing demand for digital content is anticipated to drive the growth of the directory, mailing list, and other publishers’ market. Digital content refers to information accessible for distribution and download via electronic media. Online directories help organizations generate revenue efficiently and quickly, offering seasonal lists such as ‘Top Schools’ in the area, along with other digitally published content. Additionally, the rising amount of time spent consuming content on online platforms contributes to the expansion of the directory, mailing list, and other publishers’ market. For example, in November 2024, a report by the Office of Communications (Ofcom), a UK-based government agency, stated that in May 2024, UK adults spent an average of 4 hours and 20 minutes online daily. A survey conducted in July revealed that 57% of 16-24-year-olds sent disappearing snaps on Snapchat. WhatsApp continued to be the most popular messaging app, reaching 87% of online adults, with 64% using it daily, up from 58% in 2023. Consequently, the growing demand for digital content is fueling the growth of the directory, mailing list, and other publishers’ market moving forward.

The increasing adoption of digital marketing is expected to drive the growth of the directory, mailing list, and other publishers market in the coming years. Digital marketing refers to the promotion of products and services using digital platforms and technology. It involves leveraging various digital channels to engage with both existing customers and potential audiences interested in your products or services, including social media platforms, pay-per-click advertising, search engine optimization, and email campaigns. Directory, mailing list, and other publishers can utilize digital marketing to reach the right audience, promote their services effectively, and stay competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace. For example, in March 2024, online spending increased by 2.1% in February, marking the largest growth since July 2023, driven largely by strong clothing retail sales. Consequently, the growing adoption of digital marketing is fueling the expansion of the directory, mailing list, and other publishers market.

The increasing number of small and medium enterprises is expected to drive the growth of the directory, mailing list, and other publishers' markets in the coming years. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are businesses with a limited scale of operations, usually defined by a certain range of employees, annual revenue, or investment. They are smaller than large corporations but play a crucial role in economic development and employment. The growth in the number of SMEs is largely fueled by entrepreneurial drive and innovation, encouraging individuals to develop new business models, utilize technology, and efficiently address changing market demands. Directories, mailing lists, and other publishers support SMEs by connecting them with relevant audiences, enhancing their visibility, and promoting growth through effective marketing and business networking opportunities. For example, in March 2024, a report by the Center for American Progress, a US-based advocacy organization, indicated that the number of startups (businesses less than one year old) rose to 480,000 in 2022 and 2023, exceeding pre-Great Recession levels for the first time. As a result, the growing number of small and medium enterprises is contributing to the expansion of the directory, mailing list, and other publishers’ markets.

Major companies operating in the directory, mailing list, and other publishers market are QUAD/GRAPHICS INC., Hubert Burda Media, Axel Springer SE, Thomson Reuters, Nielsen Holdings, YP Holdings LLC, Dex Media Inc., Gannett Co. Inc., Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, Experian plc, Acxiom Corporation, Infogroup Inc., ZoomInfo Technologies LLC, Equifax Inc., TransUnion LLC, Hoovers Inc., InfoUSA Inc., LexisNexis Group, Harte-Hanks Inc., Lorton Data Inc., AccuData Integrated Marketing, Melissa Data Corporation, DatabaseUSA.com LLC, Salesgenie, DMDatabases, Data Axle USA LLC, ListGIANT, ListSource LLC, ListAbility Inc.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the directory, mailing list, and other publishers’ market in 2025. Middle East is expected to be the fastest growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the directory, mailing list, and other publishers market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the directory, mailing list, and other publishers market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The directory, mailing list and other publishers market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as publishing directories, mailing lists, and collections or compilations of fact and their distribution in print or electronic form which may include mailing addresses, telephone directories, directories of businesses, collections or compilations of proprietary drugs or legal case results, compilations of public records, etc. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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