How to Use Featured.com to Secure Press Opportunities and Backlinks (Even If You’re Just Starting Out)

If you’re a founder, product-based business, or service provider looking to land free press mentions and powerful backlinks, there’s a platform you need to know about: Featured.com .

Whether you're already familiar with HARO (Help a Reporter Out) or just diving into DIY PR, Featured.com is quickly becoming a go-to visibility tool for brands that want to get seen by journalists—without paying for ads or hiring a big agency.

In this post, we’re breaking down exactly how to use Featured to land media coverage, SEO-boosting backlinks, and long-term visibility for your brand.

🔍 What Is Featured.com?

Featured.com  is a free platform that connects expert sources (like you) with journalists and editors at top-tier publications. Think of it as a matchmaker between people with stories to tell and outlets with audiences to serve.

You create a free expert profile, browse active media requests, and submit quotes or commentary in your zone of expertise. If selected, your answer gets featured in articles on sites like Forbes, Fast Company, American Express, GoDaddy, Shopify, and many more—with a backlink to your site or socials included.

Even better? Featured.com now owns HARO, one of the most iconic PR tools of all time—making it even more powerful.

👉 Create your free account here 

Use the code VOP20 for 20% off any paid plan at Featured

🎙️ We Interviewed the Founder: What’s Coming Next?

We sat down with Brett Farmiloe, founder of Featured.com and the new owner of HARO, to talk about what’s next in the world of PR.

In our interview with Brett , we cover:

• Why HARO needed a refresh—and how Featured is changing the game

• The future of PR in an AI-driven world

• How visibility, SEO, and media mentions are converging

• Why niche content and expert voices will matter more than ever (especially for tools like ChatGPT!)

• New tools and updates coming soon to Featured

If you're a small brand looking to compete with big players in the visibility game, this episode is a must-watch.

💡 Why Use Featured.com?

Here’s what makes Featured especially valuable for founders and small business owners:

• It’s free. No pay-to-play. No monthly fee.

• The backlinks are gold. Get published in high-domain-authority outlets (great for SEO).

• You can pitch daily. Dozens of queries go live every weekday.

• You control the narrative. You’re pitching you----not a watered-down version of your brand.

• It builds real authority. Being quoted as an expert elevates your credibility instantly.

That said, most people don’t see results—because they treat it like a copy-paste game.

We've also created a full tutorial video on how to use the platform.

✅ How to Actually Land Press with Featured.com

1. Get Clear on Your Positioning First

Before you even create your account, make sure you know:

• What topics you can speak on confidently

• What makes your product, service, or founder story unique

• What credibility or experience you bring to the table

If your pitch is generic, it’ll get skipped...every time.

Need help with your positioning? It’s the first thing we support with our Personalized PR Plans.

2. Fill Out Your Expert Profile (Strategically)

Add your photo, job title, a concise bio, and link your website or social. Use keywords related to your niche so journalists can find you. This isn’t just about filling it out—it’s about selling your authority in 3 lines or less.

3. Respond to the Right Queries...Not Every Query

You don’t need to reply to everything.

Instead, look for:

• Topics closely aligned with your expertise or product

• Questions that allow you to add a personal anecdote or valuable quote

• Outlets that match your audience

When you answer with intention, your chances of being selected definitely go up. We've interviewed so many writers on our Youtube channel and they all say the same thing.

4. Format Your Answer Like a Journalist Would

Keep it short, punchy, and quote-ready. Avoid fluff and filler.

Example:

“We realized early on that our customers weren’t just buying organic snacks—they were buying convenience without compromise. That insight shaped every decision we’ve made since launch.”

This kind of response makes it easy for writers to copy/paste you into their article, cha-ching!

5. Track and Repurpose Every Win

When you land a feature:

• Share it on socials

• Add it to your press page

• Screenshot it for your next pitch

• Include it in your next buyer or investor deck

• Boost it with ads if you can!

One press feature can become 10 pieces of content if you’re smart about it and as we always say....work smarter, not harder!

🚀 Want to Make Featured Work For You?

We’ve used Featured.com ourselves.

👉 Create your free account here 

Use the code VOP20 for 20% off any paid plan at Featured

We’ve taught our clients how to land press and backlinks using it.

If you’re not sure what to say, how to stand out, or how to integrate press into your overall strategy—we’ve got you.

🎯 Work with Us Here