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Why Getting Published in Forbes Matters
Forbes is one of our best logos from a trust and credibility standpoint, and our clients love it as the network focuses on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle, giving a large range of our clients the exposure they need in their industry. It was founded in 1917 by B.C. Forbes and today reaches over 150 million people worldwide through its magazine, website, and events. There are several PR agencies that have established connections at Forbes, including Baden Bower who has deep relationships with Forbes contributors and staff that can help guarantee placements for a fee, without needing to pitch or build relationships yourself.
In cases where we can’t leverage an existing relationship, we take advantage of Forbes’ BrandVoice native advertising program, the appearance of which differs by jurisdiction. In our opinion Forbes Georgia and Israel have the best offerings in this regard, followed by Forbes Colombia, Mexico, and Australia. For a significant investment, brands can publish their own content directly on Forbes.com, but this runs into the 6 figures. It’s essentially sponsored content made to look like regular Forbes articles.
Forbes leverages SEO best practices to improve its search engine rankings and attract organic traffic.
The site has a solid social media presence, with active profiles on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
To diversify its revenue streams, Forbes offers various subscription options, including ad-free experiences and premium content access.
Forbes has strict guidelines for contributors to maintain the quality and integrity of its content. While the site prohibits contributors from accepting compensation or favors from companies or individuals featured in their articles, it’s a well-known secret that this activity occurs often, with contributors coming and going often when a breach is discovered. To get featured in Forbes, you need a compelling story or unique insight that aligns with the publication’s focus areas. Pitching timely, data-driven stories with an interesting angle improves your chances. Building relationships with Forbes staff writers and contributors can also help get your foot in the door, but engaging Baden Bower is also another quick way to get the Forbes logo on your website as a proof point for potential customers.
Forbes emphasizes the importance of disclosing potential conflicts of interest and maintaining transparency. The platform advises against publishing content that is promotional, biased, or lacking in substance and value for readers. In reality, this policy is rarely adhered to.
Forbes isn’t just another business publication; it’s the gold standard in business journalism globally. Known for its rigorous reporting, in-depth analysis, and a meticulous fact-checking process, Forbes specializes in business, investing, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle coverage. What truly sets it apart is the meticulous vetting process for all featured content.
With its specialized readership of business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs, Forbes zeroes in on topics crucial to the business sector. These include technology, innovation, finance, leadership, marketing, social entrepreneurship, investing, lifestyle, lists, and opinions. Forbes aims to give its readers actionable insights to help them stay on top trends and thrive.
Forbes offers a remarkably diverse range of articles—from deeply researched, data-driven analyses to interviews with industry pioneers, and insightful opinion pieces. This multiplicity of perspectives provides readers a comprehensive, 360-degree view of pertinent business issues.
Forbes' Data-Driven Authority
According to SimilarWeb analytics, Forbes.com attracts over 157 million visits each month, exemplifying its immense reach and influence. This impressive traffic is a testament to the unparalleled trust and authority Forbes has garnered over decades. A Buzzsumo survey of over 100 million articles revealed that pieces on technology, business strategy, and entrepreneurship tend to get the most social shares. This aligns precisely with Forbes’ core editorial focus and readership preferences.
Grasping these vital facets—the laser-focused editorial direction, content diversity, and data-backed authority—is key to comprehending Forbes’ eminence as the leading business publication worldwide. This understanding also offers valuable clues into the themes and angles likely to grab attention amidst the deluge of pitches its editorial team receives daily.
Building a Strong Personal or Brand
Establishing an authoritative reputation as an industry expert or thought leader is a long-term endeavor demanding consistent effort. However, it is indispensable for getting noticed by discerning platforms like Forbes. Here are some pivotal areas to prioritize in building reputation and trustworthiness:
Cultivating Thought Leadership
Effective thought leadership entails generously sharing your hard-won expertise in a way that educates, inspires, and influences others. It requires routinely creating high-quality content that directly addresses the pain points and struggles your target audience faces. The focus is on providing practical solutions to pressing issues industry insiders grapple with daily.
Why It Matters:
According to an insightful study by Edelman and LinkedIn, a striking 55% of senior decision-makers say thought leadership content frequently influences them to award business deals and partnerships. This data underscores how original ideas and insights can directly impact income.
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How to Implement Thought Leadership Content:
- Closely track industry conversations to pinpoint topics your audience finds valuable. Go beyond surface issues to uncover deeper problems begging for innovative solutions.
- Perform thorough research to ensure your proposed solutions are backed by current data, expert perspectives and trends. Cite credible sources.
- Disseminate your insights through various multimedia formats including blogs, webinars, podcasts, and videos to widen your reach.
- Strategically partner with reputable publications, forums and networks to broaden your content’s visibility. Aim to provide value rather than overt self-promotion.
The rewards of nurturing thought leadership make the effort worthwhile. By generously educating others, you position yourself as an authority and pave the way for prestigious opportunities like Forbes features.
Social Proof and Reviews
Client testimonials, positive reviews, and sincere endorsements are invaluable social proof assets that build authority and trust exponentially faster than self-promotion alone.
Why It Matters:
A fascinating study by research leader Spiegel revealed that prominently displaying reviews and testimonials can improve conversion rates by a game-changing 270%.
How to Implement Social Proof:
- Proactively request satisfied clients and partners to provide video/written testimonials and ratings.
- Prominently showcase these endorsements across your website, social media and other online assets.
- Go beyond text; the emotive impact of video/audio reviews often resonates more deeply with audiences.
- Continuously measure how testimonials influence visitor-to-customer conversion rates. Modify strategies accordingly.
By continually investing in thoughtful leadership and social proof, you organically strengthen your reputation as an industry expert. This effort can grab the attention of discerning platforms like Forbes seeking fresh perspectives from rising thought leaders.
Developing a Compelling Story or Unique Angle
To stand out from the sea of Forbes pitch submissions, you must offer an extraordinarily unique angle and compelling narrative. While exclusivity helps, the trick is crafting a story that strongly resonates with Forbes’ business-focused readership. This demands underscoring the relevance and timeliness of your viewpoint using current data.
For instance, highlighting how your insights on emerging industry trends may allow readers to future-proof their organizations. Or presenting novel takes on perennial leadership challenges that provide actionable solutions. Stories revealing the humanity behind business successes also tend to perform well.
In essence, the onus is on unearthing a powerful, hitherto untold story that closely aligns with Forbes’ core editorial themes. This striking viewpoint then needs to be developed within a structurally sound narrative arc, employing timeless storytelling techniques for maximal impact.
Crafting a Winning Pitch
An exceptionally persuasive media pitch is indispensable for vaulting over the high bar set by Forbes. However, this requires diligent spadework. Significant investments in research, networking, and tenacious follow-ups are de rigueur. Following are some field-tested techniques to refine your pitch:
Laser-Target Editors and Columns
Instead of blanketing editors with a generic pitch, pinpoint specific columns excelling in your niche. Study previous features to discern article types, cadence, themes and author personas. Use this understanding to craft customized pitches showcasing how your contribution aligns.
Say an editor concentrating on millennial entrepreneurship publishes interviews every third Thursday. Highlight how your experiences mirror their column’s themes in tone and demographic focus. These purposeful connections demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the publisher’s needs, making acceptance much more likely.
Network
Relentlessly attending industry events lets you interface one-on-one with editors, build relationships, and pitch organically. Similarly, thoughtfully engaging editorial teams and current contributors on social networks like Twitter or LinkedIn can yield insider intel and valuable referrals.
Such meaningful networking provides a foundation for warm, personalized pitches. It also helps accurately match your proposal with specific editors seeking certain viewpoints. Ultimately, relationships drive real change.
Also Read: What is Media Relations In PR?
Become a Thought Leader
Publishing periodic guest features in reputed industry journals is a potent strategy for demonstrating expertise. Leverage these bylines later when pitching your views to eminent publishers like Forbes.
Contributing to Sponsored Content Publishers nowadays offer paid packages that guarantee publication provided submissions meet editorial guidelines. If your budget permits, this presents a viable route for securing a coveted byline. Ensure to only work with ethical publishers committed to transparency with readers regarding paid posts.
Pro Tip: Collect your best published work to create a digital portfolio, making it easy for potential collaborators and publishers to assess your expertise quickly.
Getting Republished
Certain online syndicators like Entrepreneur.com license articles for republication from external sites like Forbes, Fast Company, etc. Pitching evergreen pieces from your blog provides additional visibility. Read their submission guidelines closely.
Maximizing Online Presence
Now that you’ve snagged the golden ticket, diligently amplify this PR coup everywhere. Update LinkedIn profiles, Twitter bios, email signatures and letterheads with the Forbes badge. Showcase it prominently on your website and other online properties using eye-catching graphics.
This social proof, combined with other reviews and testimonials, can trigger a self-sustaining cycle of credibility. The more visible this third-party endorsement, the higher your chances of scoring covers on other prestigious platforms.
Pro Tip: Add the Forbes logo to your website and profiles with direct links to the feature. Partner with Baden Bower for streamlined management and enhanced visibility.
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Getting Into Forbes - How Its Done
Securing a Forbes feature can be a watershed moment, dramatically amplifying your personal brand and business reach globally. Their sterling reputation means this exclusive visibility can significantly impact income and partnerships. By understanding Forbes’ core readership, perfecting your narrative and continually broadcasting achievements, you stack the odds in your favor.
Take purposeful action utilizing the strategies in this comprehensive guide. Construct an irresistible pitch showcasing your unique talents while aligning with Forbes’ editorial needs. Stay resilient through inevitable rejections; perseverance furthers. With meticulous execution and sustained effort, you can realistically attain a Forbes feature and new pinnacles of industry leadership.
Now let us explore this multifaceted process through specific techniques, answers to pivotal questions and an insightful Q&A:
Detailed Step-by-Step Process of Getting Featured in Forbes
The path to procuring a coveted Forbes feature can seem opaque or perplexing for first-timers. By breaking down key phases into an actionable workflow, actually achieving this audacious goal becomes conceivable. Here is a start-to-finish blueprint covering critical bases:
- Building Credibility and Network (Ongoing Effort)
Cultivating expertise and relationships is fundamental for setting the stage for prestigious platforms like Forbes to take notice. This entails:
- Establishing clear thought leadership in your niche through consistent educational content like blogs, videos, research reports etc.
- Proactively building rapport with industry peers, partners, journalists and potential collaborators via online engagements and in-person events.
- Gather and showcase social proof like client testimonials, ratings and reviews to reinforce authority.
Without this vital groundwork of nurturing niche authority and networking persistently, snagging press in acclaimed publications remains improbable.
- Research Specific Columns and Editors
Now begins the tactical pitching phase. Instead of blanketing Forbes indiscriminately, meticulously pinpoint columns and editors that align closely with your niche. Analyze angles and themes covered over the past several months for clues into current preferences.
Follow contributing authors on social channels for added context into their personalities and pet topics. These insights allow for crafting highly tailored pitches catering to the specific needs of individual editors. Such laser targeting tremendously improves open and response rates.
- Create Noteworthy Content and Assets
Ideally, you now possess attractive assets like an esteemed client roster, trailblazing projects, fresh research, or access to influential networks. Leverage these when constructing your central narrative. Focus on framing genuinely unique ideas, data, or access to drive the pitch.
For instance, spotlighting an emerging socio-cultural trend with game-changing ramifications for certain industries makes for intriguing content alchemy. Back claims with recent data and client examples for added gravitas.
- Write a Compelling Pitch
With research and storylining complete, begin drafting an emotionally persuasive pitch customized to the editor and column uncovered earlier. Employ classic storytelling techniques for optimal pull. Follow Forbes guidelines and voice exemplified in your targeted columns for seamless consistency.
Subject Line: Creatively encapsulate your central narrative in a short, irresistible headline using the insights gleaned during research.
Body Copy: Context – Provide concise background leading to the genesis of your big idea or story. Spark curiosity.
Problem – Frame the underlying issues facing your readership concisely yet stirringly. Incorporate supporting data.
Solution – Logically bridge issues into your novel solution. Underscore its relevance plus exclusivity.
Proof – Validate claims by citing examples, expert perspectives, and verifiable metrics.
Story – Pepper the narrative with fascinating back stories and “inside looks” that energize concepts immensely.
Call to Action – Close by proposing next steps or reinforce the principal value being delivered to compel a response.
Also Read: Mastering Media Outreach: A Comprehensive Guide on How to Send a Press Release Email to Journalists
- Make Initial Pitch and Follow-up
Submit your polished pitch and patiently await a response while managing expectations realistically. Given enormous workloads, expect a waiting period before hearing back. If there is no response after 2 weeks of pitching, send a friendly follow-up restating your core premise and its potential worthiness for their audience.
Be concise yet personable; relate any recent industry shifts that may impact topic relevance. Suggest a phone call to discuss further if there is interest. Avoid sounding desperate or pushy. Patience and an unflappable attitude even facing initial rejections are key here.
- Continually Expand Online Presence
While awaiting responses, bolster social proof and visibility across platforms continuously. Grow previously nurtured assets like your subscriber base, reviews, social media followers and high-value network. Improving these key metrics expands possibilities and negotiating leverage besides signaling growing prominence.
7. Leverage Initial Feature into Further Opportunities
Securing the initial coveted byline is a giant leap forward but still only the first mile of an expanding journey. Parlay credentials into bigger goals like leadership placements, book deals, strategic connections, and revenue breakthroughs. Identify and approach ideal partners for your upgraded profile, like prominent associations seeking keynote speakers.
Stay alert to related media possibilities in this window when your personal brand garners peak interest. With platforms like podcasts and newer broadcasting channels hungry for talent, move decisively post-feature to capitalize wholly on media pull.
Pro Tip: Reach out to complementary industry publications after your Forbes feature, as previous publication can boost credibility and increase acceptance rates elsewhere.
- Analyze Performance and Audience Response
Once published, diligently track your feature’s measurable impact across website traffic, social media virality, conversion jumps, and strategic connections initiated. Identify what resonated best with audiences to further refine content and outreach.
Set up Google Alerts to monitor online conversations sparked by your article. Jump into discussions to express gratitude for shares while answering additional questions to cement subject mastery.
By methodically executing each phase—from systematically enhancing authority and carefully matching editors, to ruthlessly promoting your success—realizing the Forbes dream morphs into an achievable system. Now let us segue into specific recommendations, proven techniques and answers to critical questions around nailing this coveted opportunity.
Expert Tips and Suggestions for Getting Featured
Alongside the structured blueprint just outlined, mastering subtler aspects that influence outcomes is vital for tilting the odds in your favor. Internalizing tips from industry insiders and PR veterans helps skilfully navigate nuances that separate the good from phenomenal pitches. Some nuggets of wisdom worth heeding:
Imbue Personality In Your Pitch
Editorial team members receive a tsunami of pitches daily from writers seeking to get published on Forbes. Hiring managers are similarly inundated by attention-seeking job applications. This drives them to filter ruthlessly. Your proposal must feel refreshingly human and personable compared to robotic form-letter pitches to spark engagement and get noticed.
Share just enough backstory, humor or insider talk in your outreach to feel like it was written specifically for the recipient. Even minor personalization touches stimulate vastly higher response rates according to research by sales expert Jill Konrath.
“People want to help people who are real. So give the actual person you’re pitching enough meaty details and flavor that brings you and your story emotionally alive!” suggests Michael Brenner, head of Marketing Insider Group.
Adopt a Generous Mindset
When pitching reputed platforms, consciously move from a mindset of “What’s in it for me?” to “How can I provide disproportionate value to this publisher and their audience?”
By leading with generosity instead of prioritizing your goals first, you organically build meaningful relationships, authority and reciprocity that work better in the long run suggests marketing leader Seth Godin.
Research Extensively Before Reaching Out
Superficial outreach is increasingly ineffective when contending with very limited executive bandwidth. “Over 50% of my consulting clients are shocked when I tell them their target clients’ names, hopes and pain points after just 20 minutes of online research! Do your homework thoroughly before initiating any outreach,” stresses Brenner.
Follow Targeted Contributors on Social Media
Monitor recent social media shares and conversations by your targeted columnists and contributors for rare glimpses into their mindsets, challenges and interests before making initial contact. This context allows framing relevant talking points in initial communications to pique their interest.
Be Relentlessly Persistent (Without Annoying!)
“NO” need not signal the end of your dream pitch—think of it as “Next Opportunity.” Setbacks are inevitable so resilience and unrelenting persistence in the face of rejection become key differentiators that eventually turn the tide.
“Every amazing opportunity has taken me at least three follow-ups after an initial ‘We’ll keep in touch’ response. Had I given up sooner, my career would have stalled long ago! Politely ping them again after a reasonable interval with new value using different contact methods till you get a firm yes or no,” reveals AVYAYA SINGH, Emmy-winning journalist.
However, misconstruing persistence for desperation or pushiness only annoys publishers. “We get it—everyone wants to be in Forbes. Bombarding us non-stop with petty updates doesn’t help. It hurts!” warned an ex-staff editor requesting anonymity.
Tread tactfully here. When systematically following up, vary your message’s content, communication channel and frequency while emphasizing user value over self-interest. Rinse and repeat without crossing over into perceived harassment territory through overly aggressive hounding.
Collaborate With Current Contributors or Former Forbes Staff
Getting referred by current contributors provides tremendous credibility since they intimately understand publication needs. Similarly, ex-staffers can decode selection intricacies better while leveraging connections.
“My first Forbes piece happened purely thanks to an intro email from their ex-journalist turned PR friend who knew the ropes. She ghostwrote my pitch, edited drafts and directly submitted to an editor she knew would be interested. No way I’d have cracked it solo as a rookie!” acknowledges motivational coach LISA CORDES.
Also Read: How to Become a Forbes Contributor
Repurpose Content Into Multiple Formats
To maximize viewership and shares, repackage your core insights into snackable infographics, insightful podcast interviews, shareable charts, mini-documentaries etc. This allows wider dissemination across both text-oriented and visual-first audiences.
For example, compress research report data into appealing visuals for photo-led platforms like Instagram. Or repurpose central arguments from an analytical blog into a punchy LinkedIn article for busy executives.
Also Read: How to Get Featured in a Magazine: A Complete Guide
Climbing the Path to a Forbes Feature
Getting published in Forbes can feel like climbing a mountain, but the journey gets easier with a good mix of credibility, storytelling, and a clear understanding of your audience. By focusing on thought leadership and knowing what appeals to Forbes’ editorial team, every step you take brings you closer to your goal. Getting featured takes more than a well-crafted pitch—it’s about showing up consistently with fresh ideas, solid insights, and a story that truly connects with readers. Add some persistence, and you’ll start to see the impact of your efforts.
If you’re ready to boost your visibility, start sharpening your strategy today and reach out to learn how you can get featured in Forbes. This goal is within reach—and well worth the journey for those who go the distance.
