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How to Get Featured in Forbes (From a Team That's Done It a Lot)

Writer: Bridget and Lydia
Bridget and Lydia
Oct 8
3 min read

"Can you get me in Forbes?" is probably the question we hear most. And the answer is yes, it's doable. We've helped a ton of founders and CPG brands get there. But it's not about luck or knowing the right person. It's about understanding how Forbes actually works. Here's how to get featured in Forbes, the way we do it for clients.


First: how Forbes really works

This is the insider tea most people don't know. Forbes isn't one big newsroom. There are a few very different ways to show up there:

  • Staff writers and editors. The traditional newsroom side. Toughest to land, but the most credible.

  • Contributors. A big network of writers covering specific beats. This is where most founder features happen.

  • Paid councils. Membership programs where you write your own articles. Not earned media, and readers (and Google) can usually tell the difference.


Knowing which one you're going after changes your whole approach.


Lydia recorded an entire video on this topic if you're more visual and auditory :)


How to get featured in Forbes, step by step

  1. Find the right writer. Search Forbes for your industry and see who's covering brands like yours. Read their last few articles, don't pitch a writer that doesn't cover your industry. It's a wasted pitch.

  2. Have a real story. "We launched a product" isn't a story. A trend you're part of, a surprising number or a founder journey with a twist can be!

  3. Pitch the writer, not the publication. Short, personal and clearly tied to what they already cover. Google their name + muckrack to see their most recent articles.

  4. Make it easy. Have photos, quick facts and your founder bio ready to go.

  5. Build momentum first. Writers are more likely to say yes when you've already been featured elsewhere. Smaller wins open bigger doors.


For CPG and product brands

Product brands have an extra advantage: you have something people can see, taste and try. That opens doors to gift guides, trend roundups and food and lifestyle outlets like Bon Appétit, which then make a Forbes pitch way stronger.


We break down exactly how CPG brands build that momentum here:

Mistakes that keep brands out of Forbes

  • Pitching the generic newsroom inbox instead of a specific writer

  • Sending a press release instead of a personal pitch

  • Pitching your product instead of a story

  • Giving up after one try


Timothy L. Smith, CFP got a quote in Forbes Advisor after responding to a query on Qwoted so don't forget about that route as well! (Psst. Use code VOP for $50 off!)


And once you land it, don't just post it and move on. A Forbes link is one of the strongest SEO signals you can get.


Ready to go after Forbes together? Work with us.


👉 Grab your Personalized PR Plan: visibilityonpurpose.com/pr-plan

🎥 Watch the full video breakdown on YouTube: youtube.com/@visibilityonpurpose

This post was written by Bridget Sicsko & Lydia Bagarozza, co-founders of Visibility on Purpose, a PR strategy studio helping CPG and product-based brands get featured in top media without agency retainers.

Together we've supported 300+ brands in landing features in Forbes, USA Today, Women's Health, mindbodygreen, FOX, and top podcasts.

Ready to get your brand featured? Grab your Personalized PR Plan here → visibilityonpurpose.com/pr-plan

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