How to Get Featured in Forbes India: A No-Nonsense Guide for Founders, Executives, and Experts
Being covered by Forbes India is not simply being lucky; it is more than just that. In case you have always wanted to be covered by Forbes India regardless of whether you are a business leader, a startup entrepreneur, or an industry specialist, then this article will show you how to get covered by Forbes India.
Forbes India is one of the best business magazines in India. Getting coverage in the magazine is not only flattering but is something that will enhance your credentials, bring investors, speaking opportunities, and even send a signal to your marketplace that you are the genuine article. However, what most people do not know is that getting covered by Forbes India is not something easy.
Let’s get into it.
Why Forbes India Coverage Matters More Than You Think
Before you pursue the feature, know exactly what it is doing for you.
A Forbes India write-up is a third-party credibility signal – something that cannot be bought through ads and cannot be manufactured overnight. When your prospect Googles you and finds “Forbes India” in his/her search result, then the discussion is automatically different because credibility is now established.
It also builds momentum. Typically, a Forbes India write-up will also be syndicated by other magazines, shared on LinkedIn, mentioned in investor pitches and award nominations. One such write-up will accomplish more for your personal brand in one week than anything that you might have done on social media in years.
Also, for the record, it does help you in terms of SEO as well. Backlinks from Forbes India are some of the most authority backlinks you can receive – ones that SEO and digital marketing professionals pay a fortune to duplicate.
What Forbes India Actually Looks For
That’s the truth – Forbes India reports news, not pitches.
What Forbes India is looking for:
News hooks – A startup that recently completed a big financing round. A CEO who turned his company around amidst a crisis. A founder from a Tier-2 city challenging an entrenched industry.
Numbers and substance – Nothing vague. If you claim to be the “fastest-growing” something, give evidence to that claim. Revenue figures, number of users, market share – those are the facts that editors love.
Relevance to the current conversation – Forbes India covers topics such as ESG, use of AI, startup ecosystem in India, role of women in leadership positions – the publication constantly addresses the above mentioned issues.
Perspective – Editors at Forbes India prefer unique voices, not boring press releases. Your unique view on a major trend in your industry would be a better hook than an ordinary company update.
Just think what’s so fascinating about your story to a business audience unfamiliar with it.
How to Get Featured in Forbes India — The 6-Step Strategy
Step 1: Build Your Media Presence Before You Pitch
There is no way that the editors/contributors from Forbes India are going to pick someone without any online presence. It’s just a matter of Googling you out.
Prior to approaching Forbes India, you will need to have:
A good LinkedIn presence with thought leadership material
At least 2-3 features/quotes in credible regional/industry media outlets
Professional website/bio page explaining what you do and what is the value you bring
Google Knowledge Panel (if not possible then a decent Google search results page)
The idea here is that you need to pre-qualify yourself in such a way that once a Forbes India writer googles you, they immediately understand what you are all about.
[INTERNAL LINK: how to build your personal brand for media coverage]
Step 2: Understand the Forbes India Ecosystem
Forbes India is far from being a homogenous platform, but a complex set of several platforms, and the route to each of them differs accordingly.
Forbes India Magazine — The main print/digital platform. The features in the magazine tend to be commissioned by journalists on editorial call. To get your foot in the door, you need to use a robust PR effort or have an established relationship with the editors.
Forbes India Awards & Lists — This is a set of Forbes India’s list features, like the Forbes India Rich List, 30 Under 30, W-Power Trailblazers and other lists. The nominations or inclusion in these lists is a separate procedure and a faster path into features.
Forbes India BrandVoice — Sponsored content. If you pay, then you get associated with the Forbes India brand, but not an editorial mention. Still a legit way if done right.
Forbes India Digital / Online Features — Fast-paced shorter pieces based on news triggers. Contributing columns and expert quotes are often found there.
Knowing which door you should knock will save you months of wasted efforts.
Step 3: Craft a Pitch That Editors Actually Want to Read
This is where everyone screws up. They start with pitches of themselves — their companies, products, achievements. The editors don’t give a damn about all this until it’s part of a story.
A good pitch for Forbes India must:
Start with the story and not the company. Do not begin your email with “I am the founder of XYZ.” Start with the problem you have solved, an insight you have gained, or something like that.
Link with the current trend/news. There are many ways you can connect the current trends or policy changes, industry events, and macro trends to your story. This makes it relevant and increases the chances.
Be concise. It should take less than 200 words in the pitch email to convey your story and its importance to us. Send us a short bio of yourself and 3 story angles.
Structure should be like this: Opening line (2 lines) → Story context (3-4 lines) → Its relevance to our readers (2 lines).
And who do you send it to? Research contributors and editors who cover your sector on Forbes India. Connect with them on LinkedIn first. Engage with their work. Then pitch. Cold emails with no context rarely land.
Step 4: Leverage Lists and Awards as Entry Points
The least utilized way of getting featured in Forbes India is looking at the lists they release annually.
All of Forbes India’s 30 Under 30, W-Power Trailblazers, and Best Under a Billion are research driven – the editorial team does its research and seeks out candidates. Being featured in these lists usually means that there will be more of an article about the candidate.
So how do you become a candidate? Establish yourself before the nomination cycle happens. Get coverage from other publications. Create a strong LinkedIn profile. Have verifiable metrics – revenue, users, social impact, innovation.
Also, some organizations work with PR agencies which work with the editors at Forbes India. This gives them the ability to nominate/introduce their candidates. More on that later.
Step 5: Use PR Strategically — Not as a Last Resort
People tend to contact PR firms only when they haven’t managed to obtain coverage themselves. This is wrong.
A good PR firm, particularly one that has strong connections in business media circles, will be able to establish your authority even before you try to reach out to Forbes India. These agencies obtain you early coverage in reputable sources such as The Economic Times, Mint, Business Standard, and Inc42 to lay down your media trail. They will develop your story. They will know exactly which editors at Forbes India handle what stories. And they will know how to pitch you.
Again, this is not about buying coverage through PR agencies. It’s about letting professionals work their magic in your favor.
Step 6: Become a Quotable Expert
There are many ways of getting featured in Forbes India, and one of the quickest means of doing this is by being a person who is quoted in Forbes India stories rather than pitching a feature on yourself.
Join HARO (Help a Reporter Out), Qwoted, or any other media relations service and pay attention to the topics that Forbes India reporters are covering and try to answer their questions in your field of expertise.
A quote in a Forbes India story may pave way for a feature story in future and it will definitely get you listed on the Forbes India domain as well.
Real-World Case Study: How One Founder Got Featured in Forbes India
Think about the example of a founder in the health-tech domain—let’s say Priya. Priya had already run a profitable telehealth startup for three years and still hadn’t done any media work. Not even a mention!
In the beginning, her agency got her quotes published in The Economic Times and Mint on the trends in telehealth. After that, they got her article published on Inc42. Within six months, she had established a media presence as well as the story of “democratizing healthcare in Tier-3 cities.”
At the time when her startup had just received their Series A, her PR agency timed the pitch to Forbes India with the bigger picture in mind—the story of rural healthcare in India—and contacted one of the Forbes India contributors who had written on health-tech before.
What did she get? She got a 1,200-word feature on Forbes India digital and also a nomination to Forbes India’s Healthcare Innovation list for that year.
Conclusion: This piece of writing was the product of a strategically planned campaign and not a single pitch!
How Nextcorp Media Can Help You Get Featured in Forbes India
If all of the above sounds too much for a task – it certainly is. That’s precisely why there’s Nextcorp Media.
Nextcorp Media is one of the best PR and Communications agencies with years of experience working with founders, CXOs, and placing stories into top publications, such as Forbes India. They don’t do random spray and pray PR practices. Instead, Nextcorp Media creates a customized media plan for every single client that begins with the development of a unique story, continues with finding publications and ends with pitching at the right time.
The thing is that Nextcorp Media understands what Forbes India’s editorial teams need. They know the difference between a story and a PR press release. They know who covers what sector of the industry. And they know how to position a client before sending him into an editorial team’s inbox.
Whether you’re a newbie founder or a seasoned professional ready to boost your personal brand, Nextcorp Media will help you get there – from media training and content creation to editorial introductions and placement strategy.
If Forbes India is on your radar, Nextcorp Media should be your first call — not your last resort.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Forbes India Chances
Let’s talk about what not to do — because these mistakes are surprisingly common.
Sending pitches that are too early. If there is nothing on the table, no media history or story angle – then don’t send pitches. Create, then pitch.
Making it all about the product. Forbes India does not publish products or brochures; it publishes people and ideas. So if the pitch looks like an advertisement for a product, it goes into the trash.
Pitching outside of the season. Forbes India has topics and stories that come out each month, every year. And pitching about sustainability in March (Earth Month) will get more traction than the same pitch in August.
Sending the same email to everyone. Pitches sent to 50 contributors at Forbes India is a quick way of having the pitch not even be seen. Each pitch should be personalized.
Sending follow-up emails inappropriately. Follow-up is important. Once in 5 to 7 days is fine. Following up with every editor once a week is not.
Forbes India vs. Forbes.com: What’s the Difference?
Many people often get the two mixed up and they are very different from each other.
Forbes India is a licensed franchise of Forbes Media and works independently within India. Forbes India has its own editorial board, its own content and its own focus which centers on the Indian business community. Any article written in Forbes India would be completely different from what is written at Forbes.com.
Forbes.com uses a contributor network model where people can apply to write columns themselves. Forbes India uses a conventional editorial model whereby content is created by journalists and editors while pitches from outside are very carefully considered.
If your business targets India then Forbes India would be a more appropriate and effective place to place yourself. If your business is international then you may also consider Forbes.com.
How Long Does It Take to Get Featured in Forbes India?
It is hard to say how long it will take since everything depends on your preparation but I can provide you with an approximate schedule.
So, if you do not have any representation in the media yet, it will take you 6-12 months until you are ready to go with a pitch to Forbes India.
In case you have already got some media coverage and have a story angle, it will take you 2-4 months for good results thanks to proper PR efforts.
As for the situation when you have a real media event (a new funding round, a partnership, an industry award), you will be able to get a feature story in 4-8 weeks after your news comes out.
The main thing is the preparation stage.
How to Sustain Forbes India Visibility After Your First Feature
Getting featured once is great. Staying visible is better.
What to do after the first time you are featured in Forbes India?
Spread the news – share it on LinkedIn, on your company’s press pages on your website, include it in your email signatures. Repeat this multiple times in the future.
Leverage this story as social proof in your pitch to investors, clients, and speaking opportunities.
Follow up – pitch a follow-up topic to write about 6-9 months down the line, be a source for further stories in your industry.
Submit a byline article – Forbes India occasionally publishes opinion pieces by prominent business people. After being featured editorially, you have a good shot at suggesting writing an opinion piece.
Connect with the reporters who interviewed you. A small mention on LinkedIn will do that without being intrusive.
FAQ: Getting Featured in Forbes India
Can anyone write a story to be published in Forbes India?
There isn’t really an open platform in Forbes India where one can submit an editorial story. Editorial stories are driven by journalists and contributors. The best options here would be through PR agencies that have connections with the editors, developing your reputation as an expert, or nominations for the annual lists Forbes India publishes.
Is Forbes India BrandVoice the same as editorial coverage?
No, it isn’t the same as editorial coverage. BrandVoice is paid coverage, where the content is labeled with “paid” or “partner content.” This means you will be getting the Forbes India brand association, which is good, but it’s still not editorial coverage penned by a Forbes India journalist.
How do I get featured in Forbes India?
You can’t really pay your way into getting editorial coverage in Forbes India. If anybody is guaranteeing you editorial coverage in exchange for payments, run away from them. But what you can certainly spend money on are the PR services that would help you create your narrative and build relationships for getting editorial coverage.
What are the best Forbes India lists to target?
The most impactful for personal brand-building are Forbes India 30 Under 30, W-Power Trailblazers, Forbes India Rich List (if applicable), and the Best Under a Billion list for companies. Each list has its own criteria and nomination timeline — research them well in advance.
Does getting featured in Forbes India help with SEO?
Yes, significantly. Forbes India has extremely high domain authority. A link from their website to yours is one of the most valuable backlinks in Indian digital media. Even a mention without a link improves your brand’s search credibility over time.
Ready to Get Featured in Forbes India? Here’s Your Next Step
Being featured on Forbes India begins with one step. It begins with recognizing the importance of personal branding and media relations.
Construct your story. Construct your reputation. But if you wish to do so quickly and effectively, choose a PR agency that understands what it takes to get there within the Forbes India world.
Contact Nextcorp Media today to talk about creating a PR strategy that will lead to your Forbes India feature. If you are a Founder, CXO or a business leader who is rising fast – they can help you tell your story.
