How to Write a Forbes Pitch Email That Actually Gets Opened [With Template]

Most pitches to Forbes contributors die in the inbox. Not because the story was bad, but because the email was.

Forbes contributors — especially active ones — receive dozens of pitches every week. Some get hundreds. They don’t have time to read a 500-word email from someone they’ve never heard of, open an attached press release, or decode a subject line that says “Partnership Opportunity.”

The pitches that work follow a specific pattern. They’re short. They’re personal. They lead with value for the contributor’s audience, not with what the sender wants.

Here’s the exact email framework we use when pitching Forbes contributors for our clients — plus the research that needs to happen before you write a single word.

Before You Write: The Research That Makes or Breaks Your Pitch

Sending a blind pitch to a random Forbes contributor is roughly as effective as throwing a paper airplane out a window and hoping it lands on someone’s desk.

Before you open your email client, do this:

Find the right contributor. Go to Google and search site:forbes.com [your topic]. Look at who’s actually writing about your niche right now — not two years ago. Check if they’re still active by looking at their most recent article date.

Read their last 5 articles. Not the headlines — the actual articles. Pay attention to the format (do they write listicles? interview-style pieces? data-driven analysis?), the tone (academic? conversational? contrarian?), and the types of sources they quote. This tells you exactly what kind of pitch they’ll respond to.

Check if they’re accepting pitches. Many Forbes contributors post callouts on Twitter/X and LinkedIn when they’re working on a specific story. Some have their email publicly listed on their Forbes contributor profile page. Others prefer DMs on social platforms. Meet them where they are.

Understand their audience. A contributor writing about AI in healthcare has a different readership than one writing about startup fundraising. Your pitch needs to offer something their specific audience would find valuable.

This homework takes 30 to 45 minutes per contributor. It’s the highest-ROI time you’ll spend on your entire pitch process. Skip it, and you’re gambling. Do it well, and you’re stacking the odds.

We cover the full contributor research process in our guide on how to get featured in Forbes.

The Pitch Template

Here’s the complete email. Every line is intentional.

That’s it. The entire email should fit on a phone screen without scrolling. If your pitch runs longer than 150 words in the body, cut it down.

Why Each Line Works

The subject line is doing two jobs: telling the contributor what the story is about and why it matters right now. “From Side Hustle to $2M ARR — The Growth Strategy Nobody Talks About” works. “Request for Forbes Feature” doesn’t. Keep it under 8 words when possible.

The personal reference is what separates you from 95% of the inbox. When a contributor sees that you actually read their piece on remote work productivity last Tuesday and noticed they quoted a McKinsey study — they know you’re not blasting this to 200 people. That one sentence buys you another 10 seconds of attention.

The story angle must lead with value, not with you. “I grew my company 400% in 18 months using a hiring strategy that contradicts conventional wisdom” is an angle. “I’d love to be featured in your next article” is a request. Contributors respond to angles. They ignore requests.

The one-line bio is proof that you’re a credible source, delivered in the fewest words possible. “I’m the CEO of [Company], where we’ve helped 200+ SaaS companies reduce churn by an average of 35%.” That’s a bio that earns trust. A three-paragraph corporate autobiography does not.

“Happy to share” is a low-pressure close. You’re offering something specific — data, quotes, a case study — without demanding a commitment. The contributor can reply with a quick “sure, send it over” or file your pitch for a future story. Either way, you’ve started a relationship, not made a transaction.

3 Subject Lines That Actually Work

For a startup founder: “Bootstrapped to $2M ARR — the counterintuitive strategy behind it”

Why it works: it has a specific, impressive number and a curiosity hook. The contributor thinks “what’s the strategy?” and opens the email.

For a thought leader with a contrarian take: “Why most [industry] leaders are getting [trending topic] completely wrong”

Why it works: contrarian angles perform well on Forbes because they drive clicks and comments. Contributors know this. A pitch that promises a well-argued counterpoint to a trending narrative is immediately interesting.

For a small business or underdog story: “How a 3-person team outperformed [industry benchmark] by 4x”

Why it works: David vs. Goliath is one of the most enduring story frameworks in journalism. A tiny team producing outsized results is inherently interesting, and it’s the kind of story Forbes readers — many of whom are founders and executives — personally relate to.

The 6 Mistakes That Kill Most Forbes Pitches

Attaching a press release. Contributors rarely open attachments from people they don’t know. Put everything in the body of the email. If you have supplementary materials, offer to send them if the contributor is interested.

Pitching multiple contributors at the same publication simultaneously. Forbes contributors talk to each other. If two of them receive the same pitch, you’ve burned your credibility with both. Pitch one contributor at a time, wait for a response (or lack of one), then move on to the next.

Following up the next day. Give it 5 to 7 business days. Contributors are busy — many have full-time jobs outside of Forbes and write on a flexible schedule. A follow-up 24 hours later signals desperation, not professionalism.

Writing more than 150 words. If your pitch requires a paragraph of context before the contributor understands why it matters, the angle isn’t sharp enough. Rewrite it until the value is obvious in the first two sentences.

Opening with “I’d love to be featured in Forbes.” This tells the contributor nothing about the story and everything about your ego. Lead with the angle. The contributor will figure out on their own that you want to be featured — that’s why you’re emailing.

Exaggerating or fabricating metrics. Forbes contributors are journalists. If you claim your startup has “disrupted” an industry, they’ll ask for proof. If the proof doesn’t hold up, you won’t just lose this opportunity — you’ll lose future ones too. Stick to numbers you can back up.

After You Hit Send: The Follow-Up Framework

Sending the pitch is step one. Here’s what happens next.

Wait 5 to 7 business days. Then send a single follow-up. Not “just checking in” — add something new. A recent data point, a new angle related to a trending story, or a mention that you noticed their latest article and saw a connection to your pitch.

If no response after 2 follow-ups, move on. Don’t take it personally. Contributors pass on pitches for a dozen reasons that have nothing to do with you — timing, editorial calendar, a similar story already in progress. Keep them on your radar for future opportunities.

Stay connected on LinkedIn or X. Engage with their content. Share their articles when they’re genuinely interesting. Over time, you become a familiar name in their feed, which makes future pitches warmer.

The best media relationships aren’t built in a single email. They’re built over months of genuine engagement, reliable follow-through, and consistently offering value without expecting something in return.

Rather have professionals handle the pitching? We do this for clients every day.

For the complete strategy — from building your credibility to leveraging your feature after it goes live — read our full guide on how to get featured in Forbes.