How can I get featured on Forbes? – Whenever I explain my occupation during a friendly get-together, this always one of the first questions to be asked.
With north of 150 million monthly readers and a remarkable reputation that is based on a history of more than a century, Forbes is widely considered the holy grail of business media. As a result, every entrepreneur and his mother hope to be featured, or even simply mentioned, in a Forbes article at one point in their career.
In the past few years, my partner Navid and I have helped hundreds of clients – including solo entrepreneurs, startups, corporations, and NGOs – to get featured on the world’s most popular business publication: Forbes.
In this guide, we will walk you through every step needed, and all the strategies we’re using so that you can make it too. So, make yourself comfortable and put on your glasses; this is going to be a long one.
What are the benefits of an article on Forbes?
Before we get to the hard stuff, let’s first recapitulate why you should want to get a Forbes feature in the first place. Even if you already see a lot of value in such a placement, it still makes sense to know all the benefits that arise with an article on your business, especially when it comes to leveraging a successful placement properly.
Let’s dive right in.
1. Reputation & brand awareness
Reputation management is often among the key selling points for public relations services. Thanks to globalization and popular culture, almost every person on earth seems to have heard of the prestigious Forbes Magazine at some point in their lives.
"As seen in" with a Forbes feature
Companies should always link to recent media features on their websites
Furthermore, many business people seem to associate the brand with big corporations, billionaires, and serious business. Therefore, a company portrait or even a small feature can greatly impact your perceived value.
2. Potential sales
We would be lying by saying that every placement on Forbes or other high profile sites will undoubtedly boost your sales. While it is true that a good reputation often leads to increased revenue, the truth is that a small mention most probably isn’t going to make a massive difference to your sales.
That said, we did have many clients that saw huge spikes in sales after their product or company has been spotlighted in a Forbes article. Especially in the premium sector, the potential can be significant.
Thus, when it comes to driving sales, it very much depends on the specific way your business is reported on.
3. New opportunities
Due to its enormous popularity among business folks, Forbes is a daily read for many important decision-makers, such as C-level executives, investors, entrepreneurs, influencers, and more. This group of people is usually challenging to reach via traditional advertising.
Consequently, being presented to this clientele by a reputable media outlet is much more likely to grab their attention. In fact, dozens of our clients reported that their placement has helped establish price-less connections and long-lasting partnerships.
For instance, if your goal is to become a sought-after speaker at business events, a feature on Forbes can certainly help to convince the right people.
How much does it cost to get featured on Forbes?
This is another question that we get asked very frequently. The short answer is nothing. Yes, you read it right. If you get lucky, there are absolutely no costs associated with a Forbes placement.
The long answer is that you most likely have to invest a lot of time or a decent amount of money on your own Forbes story.
How much that is, highly depends on variables such as your niche, your brand reputation (including personal brand), the date, and, of course, a little bit of luck. Here are four different approaches and the price tags that come along with them.
1. Solo
Even without previous knowledge about media relations, it is entirely possible to achieve a spotlight on Forbes on your own. Depending on your situation and strategy, though, you might need to put in serious hours, especially when choosing to work without a budget.
Media research, list building, nurturing relationships, and sending out pitches can not only take dozens of hours to perform but also last for several months until you finally succeed.
Therefore, it seems wise to at least invest in some reasonably priced tools, as we will explain in this guide later.
2. In-house team or freelancers
If you already have a lot on your plate, you might want to consider hiring a freelancer or employee to take care of your media relations. However, while this approach will save you a considerable amount of time, you need to be wary when selecting the right person for this job.
After all, you want to make sure that your company is painted in a positive light. When it comes to such important aspects, cutting corners is usually not the best decision.
PR freelance costs
PR freelancers on Upwork can cost upwards of $100/hour
Moreover, you should bear in mind that your freelancer or employee might not succeed even with the right strategy, leaving you with high costs yet without results.
3. PR agency
A public relations agency is often the go-to source for features on big mainstream media like Forbes. Since a PR agency ideally employs genuine professionals, they can usually deliver a nice feature in only a few weeks.
Nevertheless, the swift and reliable service also comes with a hefty price tag, as many agencies charge as much as $10,000 for a single feature, and usually around $5,000 for a brand mention.
In addition, most PR agencies demand an upfront retainer, which is charged to ensure a long-term commitment between the client and the agency.
4. PressJoy
Those looking to get a Forbes feature without engaging in a long-term collaboration with an expensive agency might find the perfect solution in our in-house Direct Feature Service.
Just like a PR agency, we are able to deliver Forbes.com placements in a timely manner and according to your needs. Furthermore, we offer reasonable rates and won’t ask you to sign any long-term contracts. For more information, head over to our services page.
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