PR Mentions vs. Feature articles
We hear the question "Do you do feature articles or just mentions?" a lot. If you're new to PR, you might not be familiar with these terms, so let's break it down.
What’s a PR Mention?
When you get a "mention" in an article, that typically means you're quoted in a piece that isn't about you. The article is focused on a trend, topic, or news story, and you're referenced as an expert.
For example, if we knew of a journalist at Forbes writing an article headlined "How To Practice Self-Care And Slowing Down As A Mompreneur," we might reach out to a client who's an expert on entrepreneurial moms and say, "Hey, we have a contact at Forbes writing an article we think would be a great fit for you. Would you be interested in being quoted?"
If the client said yes, we'd find out what kind of quotes the journalist needs, then work with our client to get a quote that's a good match.
The final deliverable would be an article that quotes the client by name, includes their title and company, maybe a photo and a link, and positions them as the expert they are.
At this point you might be thinking, "Wait, so wouldn't that client be 'featured' in that article? If that's not a feature, then what is?"
What’s a Feature Article?
A feature article is all about you or your company. You're likely mentioned by name in the headline. Examples might look like:
"Mompreneur Jennifer Smith Shares How She Built Her Company From Scratch"
"How This Serial Entrepreneur Turned One Exit Into a Portfolio"
"The CEO Who Bet Everything on Remote Work, and Won"
In a feature article you'd expect multiple quotes, possibly multiple photos, and the whole piece focused on you in a positive way.
This might lead you to ask, "Why would anyone settle for a mention instead of a feature?"
The Thing About Feature Articles…
There's one problem with feature articles: they're harder to get. In some cases, they're nearly impossible. Many publications have strict rules against them. Entrepreneur expressly forbids feature articles unless an editor assigns one. Many other publications operate the same way.
Even when a publication doesn't have a blanket policy against features, they may be off limits for all but a select few writers.
That difficulty makes features more expensive. A mention in a Forbes article might start around $5,000. A feature can run $15,000 to $30,000 or more depending on the publication.
If someone says "I can get you featured in Forbes for $500," something's off. You can't even get a mention for that, let alone a feature. If a price sounds too good to be true, ask them to define "featured," because they may mean "You'll be mentioned in the article," which is technically being featured, but it's not what the word means in the PR industry. They may not be intentionally misleading you, but it's worth getting clarity on what's actually being promised.
Mentions Still Matter, especially now
One thing that's changed in the last couple years: mentions are more valuable than they used to be. A link has always been useful for SEO. But today, tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity are pulling from editorial coverage to answer questions like "Who are the top PR firms for entrepreneurs?" A mention in Forbes, even without a link, signals credibility to those systems. So if you're thinking about mentions as "lesser than" a feature, it's worth revisiting that.
Want mentions or features?
At Canvas PR, we offer both in top-tier outlets including Forbes, Business Insider, TechCrunch, and Mashable. Every placement comes with a guarantee: we deliver or you get your money back.
