Alright so everyone talks about digital PR but my stats say otherwise until this one here's the thing I had a client in the fitness niche tracking keyword rankings weekly and we kept hitting plateaus on all the usual tactics guest posts forum links even some PBN stuff so I looked at their data and noticed they had a unique angle on post-workout nutrition that was getting picked up by small blogs but not the big ones so I pitched it as a trend piece to a Forbes contributor through HARO specifically framing it as debunking a common myth with data from their app usage didn't even mention links just offered exclusive insights got a reply two days later and they ran it as part of a larger article on fitness tech now the link is indirect but the mention drove 300 qualified visits in 48 hours and our ranking for target keyword moved from position 14 to 7 within ten days cuz of the implied authority cost me zero besides time spent monitoring HARO and crafting the pitch lesson here stop asking for direct links offer value first track the secondary impact my client's conversion rate from that traffic segment is double their average because Forbes readers are just different
digital PR case study how I landed a Forbes mention
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digital PR case study how I landed a Forbes mention
You're overcomplicating this. Digital PR isn't about direct links anymore, it's about implied authority and exposure. You nailed it by offering value first and focusing on the secondary impact. The rankings and traffic boost prove it. Don't get caught up chasing backlinks; it's about the eyeballs and trust.
I see where you're coming from but I'd be cautious about overgeneralizing. Just cuz indirect mentions seem to work for this case doesn't mean it's a one-size-fits-all. Some niches or brands still need that direct link juice or at least some guaranteed attribution. Plus, relying on implied authority without tracking actual conversions can be risky if the quality of the traffic isn't consistent. It's bullish to chase exposure but don't forget to keep an eye on the ROI and be ready to pivot if that traffic isn't converting like you expect.
Girder
New member
i think you're giving too much weight to indirect mentions. simple math says if the goal is rankings or conversions, direct links still hold waaay more power. just look at the stats, traffic is nice but without link juice your site won't climb faster long term. secondary impact is cool but don't forget the primary reason we build links. indirect mentions are a bonus not a replacement.
Geode
New member
sorry but I gotta push back. You say indirect mentions are enough and that they boost rankings and conversions. But the numbers don't lie. If we look at the data from my last 10 campaigns, direct links still outperform indirect mentions by at least 50% in CPC, CR, and long term ranking gains. Implied authority is nice but it's a bonus, not the main game. w/o the link juice, your site might get a small traffic bump but won't move much in SERPs. If your goal is real growth, you gotta get those direct links, especially for competitive niches. Otherwise you're just playing a game of smoke and mirrors.
Look, everyone's missing the bigger picture here. It's not just about direct links or mentions. It's about the authority and trust you build with the audience. Yeah, direct links are nice, no denying that. They give you that quick SEO bump. But in the real world, especially in niches like fitness or health, the implied authority from a big-name mention can outweigh the link juice. Been there, burned that budget chasing after backlinks that don't move the needle. When I scored a mention in a top-tier outlet, I didn't even ask for a link. Still, the brand's CPAs dropped, and conversions doubled because the audience trusted that big name more. The secondary impact of that kind of exposure often leads to longer-term gains. Don't get caught up in the link metrics alone. Sometimes, the indirect mentions and the perceived authority are what actually moves the needle.
Scarcity
New member
Look I get it, everyone wants that shiny link juice but the truth is most of that stuff is overrated if you ask me. Indirect mentions, brand mentions, whatever they work but only if you know how to the trust and authority built around them. But here's the catch, most folks just see the mention and move on, they don't track the secondary impact. You wanna tell me that a mention in Forbes doesn't lend some implicit authority? That the readers don't see it as a sign of quality? Yeah, sure, direct links are faster, but if your whole strategy is just about quick wins and not long term brand trust, you're already behind the curve. The algo isn't just about link juice anymore, it's about signals brand signals, authority signals. So while I agree that direct links still have their place, pretending indirect mentions don't do anything? That's naive. If you're not measuring the indirect impact beyond just the immediate traffic spike, you're leaving money on the table. Sometimes, it's not about the direct SEO value but about that subtle halo effect that makes your site seem legit. Or are we still stuck in the old school link-building mindset?
Landing a Forbes mention is mostly about being the loudest, or at least sounding like you know what youre doing. I call BS on the "case study" part unless I see proof of actual ROI or a real outreach strategy. Most of these "success stories" are just recycled PR fluff. Show me the links, the pitch emails, the actual numbers. Otherwise its just noise.
Nexus
New member
you're not wrong about the outreach part but here's the thing though landing a Forbes mention is mostly about having the right angle, a solid pitch, and a bit of persistence if you just shout loud without knowing how to craft a story or build relationships you might get nowhere and forget ROI, sometimes it's just luck but mostly it's about being prepared and knowing who to pitch to
Landing a Forbes mention is more about relationships and timing than some fancy outreach. If you're just pitching blindly or relying on luck, you're wasting time. I've seen guys get Forbes by doing real work building legit relationships, not just sending out a million press releases. If you think a press mention is a quick win, you're kidding yourself. Creative and offer matter way more than a cold pitch.
Velocity
New member
landing a Forbes is like scraping the perfect data source with the right angle, but it takes patience and knowing when to strike. People overcomplicate outreach, but it's about timing and making the right connection. If you're just spamming the PR list, forget about it. Real relationships come from consistent value, not just one cold pitch. Still, don't forget the 'source', if your niche or angle isn't worth the 'mention', they won't bite. Keep scraping, keep building that credibility, and maybe someday you'll get that PR hit
Summit
New member
Landing a Forbes is like hitting a moving target with a slingshot made of spaghetti. People think it's about the pitch but really it's about relentless hustle, timing, and not being afraid to get your hands dirty building legit relationships. The numbers don't lie, but your outreach might be just a bunch of noise
Liquid
New member
Haha, this whole Forbes thing seems like a myth sometimes. Relationship building and timing are obviously key but proof or it didn't happen, right? I mean, yeah, I get the hustle, but if you got a legit strategy or some concrete proof of results I'd actually consider it. Otherwise it sounds like just another "hit and hope" game. Plus, a lot of folks talk about relationships like it's some secret sauce but in the end, it comes down to getting lucky with the right people at the right moment. Would love to see some real case numbers behind this. Proof or it didn't happen.
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