Want To Get Featured In Forbes? Here’s How One Pitch Made The Cut

Plus SO. MANY. MEDIA. OPPS!

Photo by Ella Jardim on Unsplash

Happy Tuesday!

Let’s dive right into it.

Before I get into anything, I’ve been super sick for two weeks now, and I’ve had family in town. So, I am unfortunately a bit behind. I’m getting an NAD infusion tomorrow, so hopefully that should do the trick. Please send healing vibes.

I’ve had lots of new subscribers in the past few weeks, so if you already know the spiel, that’s fine. Scroll down. I’ve got something good for you. I mean really good. This probably shouldn’t be a free post, but here we are… Also, lots of Real Simple opps. And don’t worry, premium subscribers, I’ve got someone fantastic for you later this week.

If you’re new here, my name is Amanda Lauren, and I write about interior design, lifestyle, and parenting/kids for Forbes, Real Simple, and Today’s Parent, among other publications. My newsletter is a mix of industry insights presented in brutally honest way, plus media opps—so you can get your clients featured. Also, follow me on Instagram because I’m thirsty.

I have a course called Pitch Please. It’s helpful, it’s entertaining, and it can change your business forever. We are going to update it soon (probably in a few weeks), but it’s still a fantastic and useful course, so we decided to mark down the price to $199 on the old version. We haven’t priced the new one yet, but I can assure you it will be a lot more expensive.

I also offer a larger package called Help Me Pitch. You get course access, I’ll write your pitches, and share a media list so you can hit the ground running. Click the link and scroll down for more info.

On a budget? Download this $47 pitch template. It’s really helpful.

Want to chat online? (I promise I’m almost done), book me on Intro for media relations and interior design help.

If you’re a publicist and you want do something bigger like a lunch and learn, email me. AmandaLauren212@gmail.com

Real Simple Opps

Please use Substack + Article Title as the subject line. I may not be able to find your responses otherwise. Please don’t pitch your client. Just have them answer the questions. Thank you!

Things To Throw Out Before You Move

NEED BY MAY 15TH AT 8:00 AM PST.

I want to hear from pro organizers and moving professionals.

What should you throw out before you move and why?

Ways To Maximize Space In A Small Living Room

NEED BY MAY 16TH AT 8:00 AM PST

I want to hear from interior designers.

What are some easy ways to maximize space in a small living room?

Is there a way to make a small living room feel less cramped? Paint? Wallpaper? Specific colors?

Any other thoughts?

Mistakes New Plant Owners Always Make

NEED BY MAY 19TH AT 8:00 AM PST

I want to hear from plant pros only.

What are some common mistakes new plant owners make? I am thinking overwatering, but I know there are lots more. How can we prevent and correct these mistakes? Any other thoughts?

Does Your Home Have "Old House Smell"? Here's How to Fix It

NEED BY MAY 20TH AT 8:00 AM PST

I want to hear from cleaning pros only.

What is that old house smell? Where does it come from? How can you get rid of it? Any other thoughts?

Should You Let AI Design Your Space?

NEED BY MAY 21ST AT 8:00 AM PST

I want to hear from interior designers and perhaps anyone who has tried to use AI to design a space.

How can AI be useful when designing a space?

How can it be unhelpful?

What are some helpful prompts or tips for using AI to design a space?

Any other thoughts on the ethics of doing this?

Can AI replace an interior designer?

Little Home Decor Changes That Can Help With Seasonal Allergies

NEED BY MAY 21ST AT 8:00 AM PST

I want to hear from designers who have allergies or have designed a home with someone who has allergies. Also, an allergist (MD). I am also okay with content creators for this one.

What little changes can help with allergies during the difficult allergy season? What should and shouldn’t you do in terms of decorating a home if you suffer from allergies? Any other thoughts?

How to Clean an Older Home That Always Feels Dirty

NEED BY MAY 22 AT 8:00 AM PST

I want to hear from cleaning pros only.

What are the best ways to clean an older house that always feels dirty? Would love easy tips and ideas.

Why do older houses tend to feel dirty?

Cleaning Trends Pro Cleaners Wish People Would Stop Doing

NEED BY MAY 22 AT 8:00AM PST

I want to hear from cleaning pros only.

What social media trend do pro cleaners hate and wish people would stop doing, and why?

Do these trends ever work?

What should they do instead?

Could they even be dangerous (I’m thinking of that video where the person puts like 20 different cleaning products in a toilet)?

Home Items Designers Always Buy From TJ Maxx

Want to hear from interior designers only for this one.

NEED BY MAY 23 AT 8:00 AM PST

It can be general, like hand soaps, rugs, pillows, frying pans, as well as more specific things like Le Crueset Dutch Ovens and bedding for kids’ rooms. What do they like to buy there and why?

AND FINALLY THE MAIN COURSE…

How I Decide What to Cover for Forbes: A Real Example

One of the questions I get asked most often is: How do you decide what to cover for Forbes? While the process can vary a bit, I thought it might be helpful to walk you through my most recent article to give some insight into how I make these decisions.

This is my personal process, of course—but I’d say 95% of what I’m about to share applies to most writers and editors out there. If you’re pitching stories, whether to Forbes or anywhere else, I hope this gives you some useful guidance.

Here is a link to the article and the pitch:

Post-Divorce Design: Why Women Are Turning To Pink To Reclaim Their Power

Getting the Email Opened

Let’s start at the very beginning—getting your pitch email opened. This might seem obvious, but unless your email is opened, your pitch has no shot.

In this case, the pitch came from Olivia Howell. Olivia Howell is the co-founder of the world’s only Divorce Registry, called Fresh Starts Registry.

Now, this might seem like a small detail, but it’s worth noting: I’ve had a long-standing relationship with Olivia. We’ve worked on countless stories together over the years. So, when she emails me, I open it.

Of course, most of the pitches out there are cold—meaning you don’t already have a relationship with the person you're reaching out to. That’s why it’s crucial to invest in long-term relationships with writers, not just for the clients you're currently working with, but for the ones you’ll work with in the future. These relationships take time and effort to build, but they’re incredibly valuable.

It’s also worth stating: I’ve never met Olivia in person. And in 2025, that’s not uncommon. You can build strong, trusted working relationships entirely online, which is fortunate, because we’re all spread out across the globe. That said: Olivia, I’d love to meet you IRL one day.

Bottom line: writers are far more likely to open emails from people they know. So investing in building relationships will pay off.

A Clear and Specific Subject Line

Olivia’s subject line read:
Pitch Idea: The Rise of Pink Décor After Divorce

I love that it started with “Pitch Idea”. It instantly told me this was something new—not a follow-up or ongoing thread about something we’re already working on. It was direct and clear, which saved me time and helped me understand immediately what she was proposing.

And importantly, it sounded interesting. So I opened it.

The Idea Is Already In The Zeitgeist

The pitch was based on a post that had already gone viral on Threads. That’s a big deal. When I see something that’s already generating conversation online, I know there’s public interest in it. That means the article is more likely to resonate with readers and actually get read, which is what every writer wants.

If a pitch ties into a viral trend, or something that’s organically taking off, it’s already a few steps ahead in terms of potential.

It’s My Beat

This might be the most important point. The story is about an interior design trend, which is something I usually cover. If a pitch doesn’t align with a writer’s beat, the odds of it being picked up drop dramatically.

This is why I always advise against the old-school “spray and pray” PR approach. Instead, take the time to tailor your outreach. Build a targeted media list based on who’s actually likely to be interested. I know I say this over and over again, but it’s because I really mean it!

Think about it this way: would you rather email 200 people and get no coverage, or pitch 20 really relevant writers and get 5 solid hits? The second approach is far less frustrating and much more effective.

In today’s media landscape, most of us simply don’t have the bandwidth to cover stories outside our lane, no matter how compelling they might be.

It’s a Real Story

Here’s the key difference between a pitch that gets picked up and one that doesn’t: Is there a story?

In this case, there was. Olivia had shared a post on Threads about decorating with pink after a divorce. It resonated. It went viral. And it tapped into a larger conversation about identity, autonomy, and self-expression after a major life change.

There was a beginning, middle, and end. There was something thought-provoking and fresh. That’s what made it work.

By contrast, many of the pitches I get are for “profiles”—but there’s no actual story. Just a brand or founder doing something… fine. But not necessarily new, unique, or particularly timely. For the record, most Forbes contributors (myself included) don’t write profiles. That’s typically the domain of staff writers.

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