Author
Table of Contents Show
  1. At a glance
  2. 1. Journalist-request services: answer reporters directly
  3. 2. Podcast guest platforms: get booked for the full conversation
  4. 3. Features and contributor programs: put your name on it
  5. 4. Done-for-you PR: when you'd rather hand it off
  6. How to pitch so you actually get featured
  7. Get featured in Authority Maximizer
  8. Frequently asked questions
    1. How do experts get quoted in the media?
    2. Is HARO still running in 2026?
    3. Do you have to pay to be featured in Forbes or Entrepreneur?
    4. How do I get featured in Authority Maximizer?
    5. Is a PR agency worth it for an independent expert?

You know your field. Reporters write about it every week. The problem is that they quote someone else, usually the person who answered first.

Being quoted or featured in the media builds the kind of credibility a website can’t claim for itself. It also gives Google and AI search tools outside proof that you are who you say you are, which we cover in why Google doesn’t trust your brand yet.

Our editors checked every place below in October 2026 to confirm it still takes pitches, applications or source responses. Here is where experts can get quoted, what each service costs, and how to pitch.

The short version: Experts can get quoted by answering reporter requests on free services like HARO and Source of Sources, or on Qwoted and Connectively. To be featured in an interview, pitch Authority Maximizer through the form on this page. For bylines, Harvard Business Review takes free pitches, while Forbes Councils and the Entrepreneur Leadership Network are paid. Publicity For Good, our PR partner, offers done-for-you PR.

At a glance

  • Best free way to get quoted: HARO and Source of Sources, both free for sources.
  • Best freemium platform: Qwoted, with 2 free pitches a month on its Basic plan.
  • Best free byline to aim for: Harvard Business Review, which takes pitches through its Submittable portal.
  • Best paid byline programs: Forbes Councils, the Entrepreneur Leadership Network and Fast Company Executive Board.
  • When to respond: within a few hours of a reporter query, because deadlines are tight.
  • What to send: a direct answer in two to four sentences, your title, and one line on why you know.
  • Pitch Authority Maximizer: use the form on this page.

1. Journalist-request services: answer reporters directly

Reporters post what they need and you reply with a quote. Speed and relevance matter more than a long resume.

  • HARO (Help a Reporter Out): The original reporter-query service, owned by Featured.com since 2025; free for sources, with journalist requests sent by email.
  • Source of Sources: Free email list of reporter queries run by HARO founder Peter Shankman; reply only when the query matches your expertise.
  • Qwoted: Source platform where journalists post requests; the free Basic plan allows 2 pitches a month and Pro is $149 a month, as listed in October 2026.
  • Connectively: The former Cision platform, relaunched by Featured in 2026 as a live, searchable feed of reporter requests; check its site for current plans.
  • Featured.com: PR platform that lists journalist requests, podcast invites, speaking events and awards; it has a free plan, and paid Lite and Pro plans run $29 and $79 a month billed annually, as listed in October 2026.

2. Podcast guest platforms: get booked for the full conversation

Podcasts give you a full conversation instead of one quote. Our profile of Angel Tuccy, who has done 5,000 interviews, explains how experts get booked.

  • PodcastGuests.com: Free newsletter that lists podcasts looking for guests each week, plus an optional paid expert directory.
  • PodMatch: Paid matching service that pairs guests with podcast hosts and handles scheduling; its site lists a money-back guarantee.

3. Features and contributor programs: put your name on it

Interviews and bylines put your thinking in front of readers in your own words. Some are free and selective; others are paid memberships, and we label them.

  • That’s us
    Authority Maximizer: Authority Maximizer features founders, consultants, coaches and other experts in interviews about their work and what they've learned. We publish on leadership, credibility and thought leadership, and you can pitch us with the form on this page.
    Pitch Authority Maximizer with the form below ↓
  • Harvard Business Review: Free to pitch through HBR's Submittable portal; editors want original, evidence-backed ideas that help senior leaders, and they can't reply to every proposal.
  • Forbes Councils: Paid, application-only network for executives, founders and owners that offers Expert Panels and bylined articles on Forbes.com; revenue requirements vary by council.
  • Entrepreneur Leadership Network: Paid contributor program with bylined articles on Entrepreneur.com; listed at $3,000 a year in October 2026, and editors review applications in 3 to 5 business days.
  • Fast Company Executive Board: Paid, application-only network whose memberships include bylined articles on FastCompany.com; the fee isn't published on its membership page.

4. Done-for-you PR: when you'd rather hand it off

If you don’t have time to watch queries and write pitches, an agency can run outreach for you. Compare options in our guide to the best PR agencies for founder-led brands.

  • Publicity For Good: Our PR partner: a purpose-driven agency founded by Heather Holmes that handles media relations and thought leadership for founders and brands. Like any honest agency, it pitches on your behalf and doesn't guarantee coverage.

Reporters and editors decide in seconds, so make yours an easy yes.

  • Answer the question in your first sentence. Reporters skim responses and lift the clearest line.
  • Respond within a few hours. Most query services carry same-day or next-day deadlines.
  • Reply only where you have real expertise. One strong answer a week beats ten loose ones and protects your reputation with reporters.
  • Give one specific: a number from your own work, a client result you're allowed to share, or a mistake you see often.
  • Keep a ready kit: a 50-word bio, a headshot link, and your title exactly as you want it printed.
  • Skip the sales pitch. Reporters cut product mentions, and contributor editors reject promotional drafts.

Frequently asked questions

How do experts get quoted in the media?

Sign up for reporter-request services such as HARO, Source of Sources and Qwoted, then answer queries in your field quickly and directly. Reporters who like a quote may contact you again on their own.

Is HARO still running in 2026?

Yes. Featured.com bought HARO from Cision in 2025 and relaunched it, and it is free for sources. Connectively, which Cision shut down in December 2024, was relaunched by Featured in 2026.

Contributor memberships like Forbes Councils and the Entrepreneur Leadership Network are paid programs that let members publish bylined articles. Being quoted by a staff reporter at those outlets is free; you earn it by being a useful source.

Use the form on this page. An editor reviews every submission and contacts experts whose stories fit an interview.

Is a PR agency worth it for an independent expert?

It depends on your time and budget. If you can answer queries and pitch a few outlets each week, start there; if you can't, an agency like our partner Publicity For Good can run outreach for you, though no reputable agency guarantees coverage.