Every founder wants the screenshot: their name in a leading business publication. But there is no secret form, and no honest shortcut. Editors choose stories, and your job is to give them a story worth choosing.
This guide explains how to get featured in Forbes India, how to approach the Economic Times, what to know about an Entrepreneur India feature, and how to get featured in business magazines in general. It also explains the difference between earned and paid features, so you do not spend money on something that looks editorial but is not.
Quick Answer: To get featured in a business publication, you need a real story, proof for every claim, a founder or leader who is available, and a pitch aimed at the right journalist or section. Earn coverage by offering news, data or a clear point of view. Be wary of anyone who guarantees a feature. Paid content is legitimate only when it is clearly labelled as sponsored.
What Does “Getting Featured” Actually Mean?
It can mean four different things, and mixing them up causes most disappointments. Know which one you want before you start.
| Type | Who decides | How it appears | Best used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earned coverage | The editor or journalist | As normal editorial, with no label | Credibility and trust |
| Contributed article | The editor, from your expert pitch | Under your byline, as an opinion or expertise piece | Thought leadership |
| Expert quote | The journalist writing the story | A quote inside someone else’s article | Steady visibility |
| Paid or brand content | You, by paying | Should be clearly marked as sponsored | Reach, when you accept it is advertising |
Our guide to earned media explains why the first type carries the most trust.
How to Get Featured in Forbes India?
Treat it as a news and storytelling decision, not a submission. Forbes India is a business publication known for leadership stories, profiles and ranked lists, so the bar is a story that is interesting to its readers beyond your company.
- Find the angle: a turnaround, a market shift, an unusual decision or a founder journey with real tension
- Prepare proof: verified numbers, dates and names that a fact-checker can confirm
- Make the leader available: long features need time with the founder or CEO
- Read the publication: see which kinds of stories and writers appear in your sector
- Plan for a long lead time: feature stories take weeks to months, not days
Then pitch a specific journalist with a short, personal note. Our guide to personalised PR pitches shows how, and our guide on how to get media coverage in India covers the wider approach. For lists and rankings, check the publication’s own pages for how entries are chosen, and never pay anyone who claims to guarantee a place.
How to Get Featured in Economic Times?
Pitch news, data or expert comment, and match it to the right desk. A national business daily wants developments that matter to its readers, such as funding, expansion, policy impact or sector trends.
- News hook: a funding round, a major hire, a launch or a regulatory view
- Data: original numbers from your business that explain a trend
- Expert comment: a clear, quotable view on a story already in the news
- Right desk: read recent coverage to see which reporter handles your industry, because that is who can say yes
If you want to get featured in Economic Times, timing matters more than it does at a magazine. Send news on the day it is ready, and agree on an embargo in writing if you offer early access. Read how to write an effective press release and, if you are early stage, how to get press coverage for your startup.
How Do You Get an Entrepreneur India Feature?
To get an Entrepreneur India feature, check the current contributor rules for the edition first, and then pitch an expert idea or a founder story that stands on its own. Do not assume the rules are the same everywhere.
Entrepreneur’s US contributor guidelines say its Leadership Network accepts articles from experts in their own field, one per month, and that articles must not promote people, companies or services. Paid links or mentions are described as a serious violation. These guidelines are for the US site and do not mention regional editions, so confirm with the Entrepreneur India editorial team before you pitch.
- Offer expertise: a how-to, a lesson learned or a clear opinion backed by your experience
- Skip the sales pitch: an article that promotes your company is unlikely to be accepted
- Keep the bio short: credentials, not a brochure
- Be consistent: one useful article after another is how an Entrepreneur India feature turns into a regular byline
Building a record of useful articles also supports your thought leadership over the long term.
How to Get Featured in Business Magazines: A Step-by-Step Process
If you want to get featured in business magazines of any kind, the same six steps apply to every magazine and newspaper.
Step 1: Choose a story, not a company
Write one sentence on why a reader who has never heard of you would care. If you cannot, the story is not ready.
Step 2: Collect your proof
Keep documents ready for every number and claim, including revenue ranges you are willing to share, customer details you have permission to name and dates.
Step 3: Build a short, accurate media list
List five to ten journalists who have covered your sector recently. See how to build a media list that stays useful.
Step 4: Pitch one journalist at a time
Keep it under 150 words, lead with the hook and offer an interview. Do not send the same email to everyone.
Step 5: Prepare your spokesperson
Practise answering hard questions in plain words. Our overview of media training explains how.
Step 6: Follow up once and stay patient
Send one polite follow-up after a few days. If the answer is no, ask what kind of story would fit better, and return when you have it.
Why Are Paid Features Risky, and What Should You Know?
A paid feature is not editorial coverage, and in India it should be labelled as an advertisement or sponsored content. In August 2025, the Advertising Standards Council of India added Clause 1.8 to its code, which says media companies must put a clear label such as “Advertisement” or “Sponsored” at the start of paid posts on their social handles, so that readers can tell them from editorial content. See the ASCI update for the exact wording.
- Guaranteed features: real editors do not guarantee stories, so treat that promise as a warning
- Hidden payment: avoid anyone who will not say whether a placement is paid
- Misleading use: do not present paid content as independent coverage on your website or in investor decks
- Links: Google asks that paid links be marked, so tag sponsored links accordingly
If you choose to buy brand content, treat it as advertising, label it honestly and do not count it as earned media.
What Mistakes Stop Founders From Getting Featured?
- Pitching a product, not a story. Editors cover people, trends and news.
- Aiming only at the biggest names. Smaller outlets can build the record that larger ones look for.
- Unproven claims. One unverifiable number can end the conversation.
- Mass emails. They are easy to spot and ignore.
- No visuals or access. A feature needs photos, quotes and time with the leader.
- Giving up after one pitch. Coverage builds over months.
Our guide on media relations and on building long-term media relationships explains why patience matters.
Should You Use a PR Agency in India to Get Featured?
An agency can help when you need journalist relationships, story development and steady follow-up. It cannot buy editorial space or guarantee a result, and a good one will say so.
A PR agency in India can find the strongest angle, prepare your proof and approach the right reporters. At MediagraphicsPR, we plan coverage around the story and the audience, and you can see the sectors we work in on our industry expertise page. To compare options, read in-house PR and a PR agency and see how to find the best PR agency in India for brand visibility. A good PR agency will also help you measure the results with PR success metrics.
FAQs
Can you pay to get featured in Forbes India or the Economic Times?
You can buy advertising or brand content with many publications, but it should be labelled as such and is not the same as an editorial feature. Editorial coverage is chosen by editors and cannot be bought. Be careful with anyone who sells editorial placement.
How long does it take to get a business magazine feature?
It varies widely. News in a daily can run within days, while a magazine feature can take weeks or months from the first pitch. Many pitches never lead to a story, so plan for patience.
Do I need a PR agency to get featured in Forbes India or other top media?
No, but it helps if you lack media relationships or time. You can pitch yourself if you have a strong story and clear proof, and the guides above show how.
Will a feature in a big publication help my website’s SEO?
It can help your brand and visibility, since people search for you after reading about you. Links from news sites are often marked nofollow, so do not expect a direct ranking boost from the link alone.
What should I do if my pitch is rejected?
Thank the journalist, ask what kind of story would fit, and try again with a new angle. A polite reply keeps the door open for later.
Conclusion: Earn the Feature With a Story Worth Telling
There is no formula for how to get featured in Forbes India, the Economic Times or Entrepreneur India, only a repeatable method. Find a real story, prove it, pitch the right person and prepare your spokesperson. Skip anyone who promises a guaranteed placement. Do the work well, and each feature makes the next one easier to earn.
Want Help Getting Featured in Top Business Media?
A real feature starts with a real story. Talk to a PR agency in India that can sharpen your story, prepare your proof and approach the right journalists.
Visit MediagraphicsPR or see our industry expertise.
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