TechTarget is an interesting and newsworthy trade publishing company that is blending online with actual print magazine launches. TechTarget has received lots of press as it periodically produces press releases citing record revenue growth.

TechTarget put itself up for sale. Apparently several media companies bid (Jupitermedia was not invited to be part of the process), but none of the bids was to the liking of TechTarget. Last week TechTarget announced that it was withdrawing from a sale and instead would pursue an IPO in 2006.

I have no knowledge about TechTarget's financials. One can only presume that it is profitable and that revenue is growing, but one can only guess how much of the growth is through acquisition.

Some observations: I have always questioned why TechTarget would run magazines. I presume an IPO prospectus will tell us about their magazine business, but I cannot see Wall Street getting excited about a trade magazine company in the tech space. I am fairly certain that in the coming years that there is no place for tech trade magazines. They are doomed by costs of production and distribution and by the fact that tech information is needed "yesterday" and not in a week or a month.

I have nothing but admiration for what TechTarget has accomplished (without knowing the actual financials) in the online arena. However crossing IT online publishing with IT print publishing in the Internet era is a sure recipe for mixed results. And mixed results makes for bad karma with Wall Street.