How To Become A Forbes Contributor In 2024

Are You Sure You Want To Be A Forbes Contributor? (What It Actually Means)

👉 Forbes contributors are writing for Forbes on a regular basis, much like writers and journalists working with other publications.

So, being a Forbes contributor requires you to:

• write thought-provoking pieces, 
• do extensive research, and
• for the most part, provide unbiased perspectives.

A lot of people, however, confuse being a Forbes contributor with getting featured in Forbes. 

These are not the same things:

• Being featured in Forbes lets you voice more subjective perspectives and thoughts, promote your business, and build credibility. 

• Being a Forbes contributor in most cases only builds your credibility as a writer, a journalist, or a researcher. It doesn’t necessarily build credibility for your business. 

So, before we move on, you should consider if you really want to be a Forbes contributor or just get featured. 

(We’ll provide tips for both.)

Forbes Contributor Program 101

One of Forbes’ contributors, Jodie Cook, recently explained how the Forbes contributor program works based on her first-hand experience:

Here are some of the key takeaways: 

• Forbes requires contributors to submit at least 2 posts per month
• However, in order to qualify for payment, they need to submit a minimum of 5 posts/month
• There should be no conflict of interest 

Forbes also has public editorial guidelines that echo the “no conflict of interest” policy.

They also imply that Forbes contributors must:

• be unbiased, 
• stick to facts, 
• adhere to fair and ethical journalism principles, and 
• maintain journalistic integrity. 

👉 So, again, if you wanted to get on Forbes to promote your business, or share views that explicitly help you market it, you’re probably not the right candidate for the Forbes contributor program. 

‍Can Anyone Become A Forbes Contributor?

In theory, yes; anyone can become a Forbes contributor. 

In reality, though, Forbes usually only chooses people who:

• are experts in their field, and/or
• already have a large following.

Forbes wants their contributors to provide value their readers can’t get anywhere else, so it makes sense they only accept experts. 

But they also want to extend their reach through their contributors. So, ideally, aspiring contributors should already have solid follower base. 

With that said, you can become a contributor even if you don’t perfectly meet these requirements.

It’s just going to be a bit harder — but we’ll share some tactics you can try. 

How To Get Featured In Forbes In 2024

But what if you’ve realized you don’t actually want to join Forbes’ contributor network, or that you have low chances of getting accepted?

In that case, you can still get featured.

But how do you go about it? 

Let us learn from two people who got featured themselves:

1. Memeulous, a YouTuber who goes by the name George, got interviewed by Forbes on his experience with a company that allegedly didn’t pay influencers, including George, on time. 

‍Here’s what we can learn from George.

To get featured in Forbes, you should:

• Have first-hand experience with a topic
• Talk about this online (because, otherwise, no one will know of your first-hand experience) — For example, George published a video discussing the situation prior to being contacted by Forbes

2. Frank Ippolito owns an LA-based studio that uses a new kind of 3D printing to produce film props. He talked about his business and this new technology in a Forbes article.

Here’s what we can learn from him.

To get featured in Forbes, you should:

• Have something newsworthy to share, like innovative products, approaches, etc. 
• Do something not a lot of companies or individuals are doing — that’s how you position yourself as the go-to expert on the topic

But, let’s face it: these are probably not the strategies you’re looking for. 

You probably don’t want to rely on pure luck and pray that Forbes contacts you. You want a more proactive strategy.

If that’s the case, here’s how you may be able to speed up the process of getting featured: 

1) Contact The Contributors

As Cook herself says, you should reach out to Forbes’ contributors directly if you want to get featured. 

To find the right contributors to contact, use our step-by-step playbook:

1. Go to the Forbes website and have a look at the different content categories on the left:

Choose one or several categories that best suit your area of expertise.

2. Next, open and read a few articles that seem interesting to you.

As you read, consider if there’s anything you could leverage in your future pitch. 

Perhaps you could mention you liked the examples the author used or chime in on a topic they covered. Take a mental note of whatever springs to mind so you can use it in your pitch later.

3. When you find a contributor you like, look up their contact info. 

To do that, click on the author’s name (just below the headline).

You’ll land on a new page that contains the author’s bio and, if you’re lucky, their social profiles. 

(If you don’t find any contact info there, try googling the author’s name.) 

BONUS: Alternatively, you can use this query string on Google to find relevant contributors: 

• site:forbes.com “niche-related keyword” 

This string lets you find Forbes articles that tackle a specific topic:

(You’ll get similar results if you search for your keyword directly on Forbes’ website.)

4. The last thing to check is if a contributor still actively writes for Forbes. If not, they probably won’t be able to help you. 

So, always check if a contributor has recently published new articles before you reach out.

If yes, then you’ll know you’ve found a good prospect. If not, keep searching. 

2) Contact The Editors

Alternatively, you can send your pitch to Forbes’ editors. 

Forbes publicly shares the contact info of some of them. 

• Find it here.

You can also use tools like Hunter.io to scrape email addresses from Forbes. 

Just enter forbes.com in the search bar and wait for your results to load. 

Ideally, you’ll find emails belonging to editors or assistant editors at Forbes. But don’t worry — you won’t have to manually check who each address belongs to. 

👉 In most cases, Hunter will show you the job title of every contact.

The only problem is you won't know if the editors you find are in charge of the sections you’d want to write for. 

That’s why you still need to check who they are and what they do by googling them or looking them up on Forbes.

However, that can take a lot of time, especially if you need to analyze multiple contacts.

Because of that, we prefer finding suitable editors via Google. 

By using query strings like this one, you can ensure you get relevant results only:

• site:forbes.com “niche-related keyword” + “editor”

We’ve just found two great matches for financial experts who'd want to get featured — and it took us just 0.38 seconds.

⚠️ However, keep in mind that reaching out to editors rarely works.

They get many unsolicited pitches, most of which go unread and probably don’t do much else but annoy them. 

So, let’s face it: unless the editors recognize your name, your pitch will probably suffer the same fate.  

That’s why we suggest not putting all your eggs in one basket. 

There are more methods to try:

3) Work With Link-Building/PR Agencies

‍PR and link building agencies can act as the middleman between you and Forbes.

Many of them have inside connections, so they can easily get you featured. 

It’s the easiest and most failproof method — but you’ll need to pay to play. 

You can check out our prices here.

How To Write For Forbes in 2024

If you still want to become a Forbes contributor, here are 5 methods to try. 

1) Become A Forbes Councils Member

Forbes Councils is a network of senior-level professionals — executives, C-Suite leaders, Owners, Founders, and Partners — that allows them to share insights, collaborate, and cement their reputation by publishing thought leadership articles on Forbes. 

So, by joining Forbes Councils, you earn the right to write bylined articles and be featured in Forbes. 

However, as you can imagine, the membership criteria are stringent. 

If you want to join as a senior-level executive, your business must:

• generate a minimum of $1M in revenue, OR
• have a minimum of $1M in financing

If you’re a business, you’ll have to:

• earn a minimum of $500,000 in annual revenue (for business applicants), OR
• have 3 years of experience as a publicly recognized business, leadership, career, or executive coach (for executive coach applicants).

That last requirement may offer you some leeway. 

For example, if your numbers aren’t up to par, you could still get admitted if you present yourself as a “recognized” business or leader. But remember that Forbes’ team will review your application and decide if that’s true for themselves.  

• Also, keep in mind that meeting the minimum criteria “does not guarantee acceptance.”

It only guarantees that Forbes will review your application. That’s it. 

• Finally, consider also that Forbes Councils is a paid membership club. 

According to some information we found online, you can expect to pay a little over $2,000 for an annual membership. 

Although pricey, most members agree that the membership is worth it because it comes with many benefits. 

Besides granting you instant access to the Forbes contributor program, the membership will also help you grow your network, improve your business strategy, and learn from other leaders.  

But if you feel like joining the Forbes Councils isn’t right for you, check out our next method:

2) Get Noticed

Becoming a Forbes contributor can be extra challenging if you have zero proof of your writing skills.

Just think about it: would you let anyone and everyone write on your website? 

Probably not. 

You’d want to know they have a firm grasp on grammar, storytelling, formatting, and more. And you can imagine Forbes has even higher standards for their contributors.

That’s why they’ll want to evaluate your skills in advance and ask you to submit your previous work.

To ensure you have something to show, get your writing published on other sites. This will prove that you can write but also build your credibility.

You could publish your writing on:

• Your own blog — Writing for your own blog lets you experiment with different styles and topics until you find what sticks.
• Medium/Substack — Getting on Medium or Substack is a good idea when you’re ready for feedback and more visibility. You can even get paid there.
• Your LinkedIn profile — You can publish posts or articles on LinkedIn, but combining the two may be the best strategy. 
• Other online publications — Many sites accept guest posts. Start by pitching yours to lesser-known sites until you work your way up to high-authority websites like Inc., Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, etc.

Having some of your work published will make Forbes likelier to accept your application. 

Besides, publishing your content online always pays off. 

Content can help you build links, increase brand awareness, and sell more — even if it’s published in a publication other than Forbes.

3) Contact The Contributors

You can apply the same strategy we suggested for getting featured in Forbes:

1. Find contributors that are relevant to what you want to write about. — Check out the previous section for a step-by-step guide. 
2. Contact them and ask if they can connect you with their editors.

Contributors sometimes openly ask for pitches on social media:

So, another strategy is to follow them on Twitter and/or LinkedIn, turn on notifications for their posts, and arm yourself with patience.

4) Contact The Editors

Again, this is the same strategy we suggested for getting featured in Forbes. 

Contact the editors directly and send them your pitch. — Check out the previous section for more information.

5) Work With Link-Building/PR Agencies

Finally, if you want to publish your content regularly on Forbes, you can also work with link-building or PR agencies with inside connections. 

Of course, keep in mind that their services won’t be free.

Contact us for more information about this option.

How To Write A Forbes-Worthy Article (And Pitch)

Forbes expects contributors to publish articles with little to no editing in between. 

So, don’t expect extensive help from your editor when you become a contributor. Enter the program prepared.

These few pointers could help.

Write About What You Know 

Forbes cares about credibility, a lot. 

So, write what you know, and don’t overstep boundaries. Stick to topics in your area of expertise. 

Also, make sure to fact-check your article.

If editors notice inaccuracies later, they may take your article down without notice. It’s best to avoid that scenario. 

If possible, support your opinions with links to relevant studies or literature. That way, the editors will know you did your homework just by scanning your article.

Share Unique Insights

The best Forbes articles offer readers insights they couldn’t get elsewhere. So, you should always strive to make your article unique. 

You can do so by, for example, referencing your past results and experience or simply offering your opinion. 

Double-Check Your Story Ideas 

Not every story idea is worth writing about. Double-check yours by pitching it to a friend or, better yet, someone in your industry. 

You can also do keyword research to see if your topic is already in demand.

Another thing to check is if Forbes has already published a story similar to yours. If so, try to come up with a new idea or a new angle for your story.

Your goal is to make your article better than whatever is already published. 

Write A New Article From Scratch

DON’T pitch articles you’ve already published elsewhere. 

Your articles need to be exclusive to Forbes to get published. 

So, always write new content from scratch. 

Find Your Style 

To an extent, Forbes allows contributors to stick to their unique writing styles. But the articles still have to feel like they belong in Forbes.

To adjust your style, read through several magazine issues and analyze how other contributors write. 

Write A Good Pitch 

Your pitch needs to be as well-written as your articles. 

Again, Forbes probably gets dozens, if not hundreds of pitches every day. 

To ensure yours stands out, stick to these four guidelines:

• Be succinct — Conciseness is the hallmark of good writing. Plus, Forbes editors are busy. Keep your pitch short to show them you respect their time and have the skills they need.
• Show what’s in it for the readers — Explain how your article will help Forbes’ readers. 
• Explain your story idea quickly — Don’t beat around the bush. Explain your idea in the first few sentences. And, again, be succinct.
• Mention your (vanity) metrics — If you have a large following on social media, flaunt it. Forbes prefers contributors who can attract new readers.

If you want more advice on how to write great pitches, check out our article on blogger outreach. You can use the template from the article to write a confident pitch.

What To Expect From Forbes Contributor Program?

Here’s what to expect if you successfully join the Forbes contributor program.

Self-Publishing

Forbes contributors add and publish their articles with little to no supervision. 

The editors do go through the articles once they’re published, though. They can make some small tweaks if necessary — but they can also delete articles of extremely poor quality. 

⚠️ If they have to repeatedly delete posts from specific contributors, they may kick them out of the program. 

Make your articles as error-free as possible before publishing.

Stay In Your Lane

Forbes prefers that contributors contribute to only one section/category. 

👉 For example, you should write only about money or only about lifestyle. Not both. 

Forbes tolerates occasional deviations but may also delete posts from contributors who do it too often.

You should also stick to just one topic within one section. 

👉 If you write for the lifestyle section, write only about the arts or only about boats and planes. Not both. 

The rules may sound strict, but sticking to one niche will also help you build credibility faster. It’s actually a win-win. 

The Pay

Some contributors say they got 250$ for writing five articles per month. 

That’s $50 per article, which isn’t a lot. But other contributors say they didn’t get paid at all — so, in that case, $50 sounds fantastic.

But let’s be honest: writing for Forbes isn’t about money. 

It’s about expanding your reach. Building your credibility. Opening new doors for yourself. (…) 

Also, consider that many lower-authority sites would charge you for publishing on their platform. 

Exclusive Content

The content you publish in Forbes must be exclusive. It can’t be published anywhere else before or after. 

Now, here’s why that’s problematic. 

As a Forbes contributor, you’re expected to write at least two articles a month; five if you want to get paid. And you’ll need to write them from scratch.

Writing so many articles each month can be challenging, especially if you’re not a professional writer or if you have other clients. You’ll need to regularly come up with new ideas and find a lot of time to write. 

(You don’t want to publish mediocre articles on Forbes, right?)

If that’s an issue, consider hiring ghostwriters with a good grasp of your industry.

What If Your Application Gets Rejected?

Getting rejected once doesn’t mean you’ll never get published in Forbes.

Maybe you just need a bit more experience or a little more practice. And there’s so much you can do about that!

The first thing you can do is keep publishing your content on other authority websites. You’ll get experience and probably improve your chances of getting accepted by Forbes later. 

Here are some authoritative publications similar to Forbes:

• Entrepreneur
• Inc
• Huffington Post
• Fast Company
• IB Times
• Business Insider
• Wall Street Journal
• MarketWatch
• Financial Times
• CNBC

You can also ask for feedback on your writing. 

For example, you can join Facebook groups for writers and get feedback there, or reach out to an expert — like an editor, a writer, or a marketer — via LinkedIn.  

And if all else fails, you can always turn to ghostwriting. 

Don’t Give Up: Becoming A Forbes Contributor Is Worth It

By now, you may feel a bit intimidated. There’s so much to do if you want to get published in Forbes.

We thought you could use a reminder of the benefits you get when you become a contributor.

Writing for Forbes can help you:

• Expand your audience — Forbes reaches over 150 million people every month. That’s also how many people could see your article and start following your social accounts or website.
• Build your personal brand — Personal branding lets you work with clients who want to work with you and no one but you. And writing for Forbes will surely help you build a strong, authority-focused brand. 
• Get new offers — After you get published in Forbes, you’ll likely get all sorts of opportunities coming your way, from high-end clients eager to work with you to reporters wanting to interview you.

Keep your eyes on the prize and take it one step at a time. 

It will all be worth it when your articles get published.

Get Instantly Featured In Forbes 

Skip steps and instantly get featured in Forbes. 

We will write high-quality content for you and get it published in Forbes in as little as 5 days. 

Sounds good? Schedule your free consultation today. We look forward to working with you.