The GP One GmbH, an online marketing agency that has been successful for more than 20 years, has founded its own publishing house. The digital company is breaking new ground with it. Various online magazines published by GP One are operating under the Herzmann Publishing banner since May 2021.

It is not common for an online marketing agency to do its own publishing. For more than 20 years, the GP One GmbH from the center of Germany has been successfully planning and managing campaigns for internationally renowned corporate customers. The world is becoming more and more digital and so the business model will remain attractive in the long term. But now GP One suddenly runs its own online magazines on leisure topics such as gaming, golf, football or diving.

“We couldn’t complain about a lack of costumers inquiries“, Sascha Kalabuchow, founder and owner of GP One, reports. “Marketing campaigns in the digital world are more important than ever. Since we have been part of online marketing from the beginning, we are and will remain an important contact for interregional active companies.”

An in-house editorial team was set up – video production will follow next

The fact that the company has now entered unknown territory, has both business and personal reasons. “Viewed through economical eyes, it has always made us strong that we wanted more than the status quo, always reaching for the next chapter. In the highly competitive digital world, we have always needed a high level of innovation to stay ahead of the competition” Kalabuchow, who set up his company in Allendorf (Eder), says.

It is the same with the foundation of the publishing company. By the production and publishing of high-quality online portals, GP One is no longer just a facilitator between advertiser and publisher but becomes a publisher itself. Sports such as golf, diving, sailing and tennis or the grassroot sport football are an attractive platform for various advertisers. Due to the high level of technical expertise in marketing and development – which have always been the core competences of GP One – the team knows how to design attractive pages and how the platforms achieve premium status.

GP One has set up its own editorial team for the field of text and content creation. “A factor that had been missing up to now”, CEO Kalabuchow says. The company has also upgraded its web design, layout and social media departments. The next step will be the production of videos – then the company will actually have all relevant skills available in-house.

Stay innovative and make dreams come true

But the formation of its own advertising space is not the only motivation from which the German agency launched Herzmann Publishing – named after chief editor Jan Herzmann. The establishment of one’s own online portals is also an ideal showcase for customers. “This is the best way to show what we can do”, Kalabuchow emphasizes.
The creation of advertising space and the demonstration of one’s own skills are important elements but the newly founded publishing company especially fulfills a personal need. “In the end, it is about making our dreams come true”, Kalabuchow says. The gaming sector, for example, is a lucrative territory, but primarily the hearts of the executing actors beat for it. Kalabuchow sees retrogamingcrew.com, an extensive platform for old video games, as his personal affair of the heart.

“I love the nostalgic memories that I associate with the PC and console games of my childhood” the self-confessed technology nerd says. “I can talk to my friends about these games for hours and I know that there is a growing community.” However, he has always missed an extensive online portal in German language so far. The retrogamingcrew not only has the editorial part with news, tests and stories at its disposal. In addition, there is a huge database with information on all games, systems and developers as well as a forum with an active community. “We build the portals that we always wanted.”

Ten online portals including social media platforms are currently represented by the label of Herzmann Publishing. The company is not running out of ideas for the future. Among other things, they want to produce parlour games themselves. Own podcasts are also on the agenda. “We will do what we love to do”, Kalabuchow says. “After more than 20 years in professional life, I have learned one thing: If your heart beats for your project, then they will inevitably be successful.”