USA Today is the leading newspaper and broadcasting company in the United States. The media company has been operating for 43 years and has become a household name for Americans.
Getting featured in USA Today not only improves your business’s credibility but also helps in attracting direct and qualified leads. It also has a positive impact on the personal brand of the CEO and founder of a business and company featured in USA Today.
In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know about getting placement in USA Today, what contributor content is, press releases, opinion submissions, etc.
What is USA Today?
USA Today is a national American newspaper and digital news publication launched by businessman Al Neuharth in September 1982. Over the following four decades, it grew into one of the country’s most widely recognised news brands.
USA Today currently has the fourth-largest print circulation among newspapers in the United States, with an average print circulation of approximately 89,000 copies.
Its digital presence came later. USAToday.com launched in April 1995, while USA Today Live, its broadcast and internet initiative, launched in February 2000.
Today, USA Today has a significant online audience and is part of the wider USA Today Network, which includes numerous local and regional publications across the United States, such as AZCentral, The Oklahoman, and Delaware Online; these websites are best for local link building and placements.
This combination of national authority and local media reach makes USA Today and its network of publications particularly interesting for businesses, founders and professionals seeking media coverage.
However, not every USA Today placement is the same. An editorial feature, contributor article, opinion piece and press release can have very different levels of editorial involvement, visibility, credibility, and SEO value. Understanding these differences is important before deciding how you want to get featured.
Who Should Get Featured in USA Today?
Getting featured in USA Today brings credibility and authority to your personal brand and business. Individuals and businesses seeking press coverage should be featured in USA Today, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and similar outlets.
Personal Branding Feature in USA Today
For entrepreneurs, CEOs, founders, executives, and industry experts, getting featured in USA Today can help build credibility around their experience, achievements, and professional journey.
A well-positioned feature can increase national visibility, strengthen your personal brand, and provide third-party media recognition that can also be used across your website, LinkedIn profile, social media, and other marketing channels.
A perfectly positioned feature or placement can increase your national visibility and strengthen your personal brand. This placement can also be used in the LinkedIn Featured section, by adding the USA Today logo to your personal brand website, and across other social media accounts.
Think of the positive impression someone gets when they search your name on Google and see that you are featured in USA Today and other top-tier media outlets. This is the recognition most CEOs and founders are after, and by getting a USA Today placement, you are getting it.
Getting Your Business Placed in USA Today
Getting your business featured in USA Today gives your brand third-party credibility and puts it in front of a national audience.
A feature can highlight your company’s growth, new products, original research, founder story, or something your business is doing differently from competitors.
For growing businesses, this type of media coverage can build trust and help establish the company as a serious player in its industry.
Here is an example of a business getting featured in USA Today.
Business: Salucca Studio
What are the Benefits of Getting Featured in USA Today?
USA Today is not just another media outlet where any business can easily publish an article. For genuine editorial coverage, you generally need a newsworthy story, professional expertise, notable achievements, original research, or something else that gives journalists a reason to cover you or your business.
Getting featured in USA Today can provide several benefits for both businesses and individuals.
1- Brand Credibility and Recognition
USA Today is one of the most recognised news brands in the United States. Being featured can provide third-party credibility that is difficult to achieve through content published on your own website.
When potential clients search for your company or name and find coverage from USA Today, it can reinforce the perception that your business or personal brand is established and credible.
Depending on USA Today’s trademark and usage policies, you may also be able to reference the coverage on your website, media page, pitch deck, or marketing materials.
2- Referral Traffic and Leads
A USA Today article can put your business in front of a large audience. If the article includes your company name, website, or link, interested readers may visit your website directly.
The value isn’t necessarily just the volume of traffic. If the article is closely related to your industry, the visitors it generates can also be highly relevant to your business.
3- Personal Branding
USA Today coverage can be particularly valuable for founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, researchers, and other professionals building their personal brands.
A relevant feature or expert mention can become a strong piece of third-party validation that can later be referenced on your website, LinkedIn profile, speaker bio, and other professional materials. Personal branding is becoming increasingly important, and being featured in USA Today can be considered a Tier-1 Digital PR achievement.
4- Supporting an EB-1A or O-1 Visa Application
For overseas CEOs, founders, entrepreneurs, and other accomplished professionals, USA Today coverage may also support certain U.S. visa applications, including EB-1A and O-1 petitions.
USCIS considers published material about an applicant and their work in major media as one form of evidence for extraordinary ability. Therefore, genuine USA Today coverage about your achievements or professional work may strengthen an application.
However, a USA Today feature does not automatically satisfy the requirement or guarantee visa approval. The nature of the coverage and the overall strength of the case also matter.
5- SEO and Backlink Benefits
USA Today is an extremely authoritative domain, with third-party SEO tools such as Ahrefs and Moz giving the website very high authority scores. Ahrefs DR 92, MOZ DA 94.
If your coverage is indexed by Google and has a crawlable backlink, it can have a positive impact on your overall online visibility and SEO of your website.
Getting media placements for your brand also improves citations in AI overviews and LLM answers. We use these strategies in international link building, especially for clients looking to target international markets.
How to Get Featured in USA Today in 2026
Getting featured in a major American news publication is a goal for many business owners, founders, and entrepreneurs. A feature in USA Today can significantly improve your credibility, brand recognition, and online presence.
However, there are three main ways businesses and individuals can get featured in major publications. Whether you want to get featured in IBTimes, USA Today, Forbes, or another major news and media outlet, the available opportunities generally fall into three categories.
- Press Releases
- Contributor or Branded Content
- Earned Editorial Coverage
Each option works differently in terms of cost, editorial control, difficulty, links, and credibility. Let’s look at each one in detail.
1- Press Release or PR
A press release is usually one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get your brand mentioned across major news websites and their network partners. You can hire a Digital PR service or a freelancer through platforms such as Upwork or Fiverr to distribute the release.
However, press release coverage has some major limitations. First, a press release is typically a 400–600 word announcement about your company, product, funding, partnership, or another development. It is very different from an independently researched editorial article where a journalist chooses to cover your brand, expertise, or services.
Secondly, press release links often provide limited SEO value. Depending on the publisher and distribution method, links are typically nofollow, syndicated across multiple websites, poorly indexed, or published on sections or subfolders that receive little organic visibility. Some distributed releases may also be removed or become inaccessible over time.
For this reason, I wouldn’t choose press release distribution primarily for backlinks. Press releases can still be useful for brand awareness, referral traffic, distributing company news, and building a broader online presence. However, you should clearly distinguish a press release or syndicated placement from genuine editorial coverage by USA Today.
2- Contributed or Branded Content
Contributed or branded content is one of the best ways to get featured in USA Today the way you want to be featured. The key phrase here is “the way you want to be featured.”
These are usually paid placements where you work with a Digital PR agency or content partner to publish an article about your business, personal brand, expertise, or achievements. You can suggest the topic, provide information, and propose coverage angles, although the content still needs to meet the publication’s requirements and approval process.
This route is particularly useful for businesses, CEOs, founders, and professionals who want more control over the story being told about them.
Unlike a short press release, contributed content can provide enough space to properly discuss your background, achievements, company, expertise, or a topic closely related to your industry. Depending on the placement, you may also have the opportunity to include your brand name, website, images, and relevant backlinks.
Another advantage is longevity. Contributed and branded articles are generally designed to remain accessible on the publication’s website, although no publisher can realistically guarantee that an article will remain live and unchanged forever.
3- Editorial Coverage
Editorial coverage happens when a USA Today journalist or staff writer decides to feature your business, quote you as an expert, or cover a story involving you or your company.
This is the most difficult type of USA Today placement to secure because you need to be genuinely newsworthy.
Newsworthiness is a broad term, and every publication defines it differently. For a major national publication like USA Today, simply being successful in your profession may not be enough. A lawyer, dentist, interior designer, entrepreneur, or researcher doing great work in their field will not automatically attract the attention of a USA Today journalist.
USA Today covers major national and international developments, politics, business, technology, health, sports, entertainment, and other stories with broad public interest. For a business or professional to earn editorial coverage, there usually needs to be a strong story, major achievement, original research, expert insight tied to current news, or another compelling reason for a journalist to cover them.
For example, an interior designer winning an industry award may have a harder time securing a dedicated USA Today editorial feature than a company involved in a major national story.
This is why many CEOs, founders, lawyers, dentists, designers, and other professionals consider contributed or branded content instead. It gives them an opportunity to tell their story in a major publication without depending entirely on whether a newsroom considers that story nationally newsworthy.
From this perspective, I think contributed content can be a fair option, as long as it is clearly presented as contributed or branded content rather than independent editorial coverage.
The Backlink
Most USA Today placements come with nofollow or sponsored links. Personally, I haven’t seen many business websites getting dofollow links from USA Today.
However, nofollow links and brand mentions from authoritative websites can still send trust and relevance signals to Google. So, the real value here is authority, brand exposure, referral traffic, and credibility rather than just link equity.
5 Best Strategies to Get Featured in USA Today
The best strategy to get featured in USA Today is no strategy at all. You work your way up, do something incredible, and journalists from top media outlets cover your story and achievements. This is the best editorial coverage an individual or business can get and is 100% organic.
However, let’s be honest with ourselves. A journalist working for USA Today already has a lot to cover and is probably not interested in a story about a plumbing business hitting record sales or simply doing great.
You need to be genuinely newsworthy to earn this kind of editorial coverage. The second-best alternative is to actively pursue coverage using Digital PR techniques.
Here are five strategies we use to help our clients get featured in major media outlets like USA Today.
| Strategy | Best For | Difficulty | Cost | Type of Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital PR | Businesses with a newsworthy story or data | High | Medium–High | Editorial |
| HARO & Qwoted | Experts, founders & professionals | Medium | Low–Medium | Editorial |
| Trendjacking | Experts who can comment on current news | High | Low | Editorial |
| Original Research | Businesses with unique data or research | High | Medium–High | Editorial |
| Digital PR Agency | Businesses that want the process handled for them | Medium | High | Editorial |
1- Digital PR
Digital PR is one of the most legitimate strategies to get featured in news and media. The process involves developing a newsworthy story or campaign, finding journalists covering that topic, and pitching it to them
Ask if they would be interested in developing a story around it. If they use your research, they may mention your business and link back to your website as the source.
The backlink can be dofollow or nofollow, depending on the editorial policy of the media outlet. With USA Today, you should expect a nofollow link rather than pursuing the placement specifically for link equity.
How to Get Featured in USA Today with Digital PR?
As I mentioned earlier, you need to find the right journalists and writers who cover topics related to your business niche or area of expertise.
For example, if you own a real estate business and want to earn media coverage and backlinks for a real estate website, I would search USA Today for topics containing terms such as real estate, housing, home prices, property prices, and mortgages.
I would then identify the journalists and contributors regularly writing about these topics. From there, I would search for them on Google, check their profiles on Muck Rack and LinkedIn, and find the best way to contact them.
But before doing that, you need original research that is newsworthy and backed by facts and data. You then pitch it to relevant journalists and, hopefully, one of them finds the research interesting enough to cover it and mention your business as the source.
2- HARO, Qwoted and Journalist Request Platforms
Another great technique to get featured in USA Today is using journalist outreach platforms like HARO, Featured, Qwoted, etc.
I have secured placements in USA Today for clients using Qwoted and HARO. The placements are editorial and contextually covered within the content. However, the coverage will usually not be about your business or personal achievements, but about another subject related to your expertise or services.
How to Get Placement in USA Today Using Journalist Outreach Platforms?
The process involves signing up for journalist outreach platforms like HARO, SOS, Qwoted, etc. Some are free, while others require a monthly subscription fee.
I would recommend signing up for HARO and Qwoted for the best results. You can also use the free version of Qwoted, although it comes with limited pitches and features.
After creating your profiles, find relevant journalist queries and give them your best shot. We secured nine premium placements for a custom sofa brand from websites like Homes & Gardens, Family Handyman, Elle Decor, and others using this strategy.
You should look for queries within your expertise and business niche and only answer the ones that are genuinely relevant. Here is an example of a USA Today query we found through
3- Expert Commentary on Trending News/Trendjacking
You don’t always need original research to get featured in USA Today. Sometimes, you just need to be an expert on a topic journalists are already covering. If there is a trending story related to your industry, you can reach out to relevant journalists and offer your opinion, analysis, or expert commentary.
For example, if mortgage rates suddenly increase, a real estate expert can explain how this may affect home buyers and property prices. Similarly, an AI expert can provide commentary when a major AI company launches a new product or technology.
The most important thing here is timing. Journalists covering breaking and trending stories need sources quickly. If you reach out two or three days later, they may have already published the story. Find the right USA Today journalist, send a short introduction and your expert commentary, and explain why you are qualified to speak about the topic.
If your commentary adds something useful to the story, the journalist may quote you, mention your business, and potentially link back to your website.
4- Original Research and Newsworthy Content
Original research is not really a separate strategy from Digital PR, but it is one of the best assets you can have when pitching journalists.
Instead of emailing a journalist saying your company is great, give them something they can actually build a story around. This can be a survey, industry report, study, analysis of public data, market trends, or interesting statistics related to your industry.
For example, a real estate company can analyse house prices across the 50 largest US cities and identify where prices increased or dropped the most. That gives a property journalist actual data and a potential story to work with.
The research should be published on your website first. You can then pitch it to relevant journalists and, if they use your data, they may mention and link back to your website as the original source. The better and more newsworthy your research is, the better your chances of getting coverage from USA Today and other major publications.
5- Work With a Digital PR Agency
If you don’t have the time or experience to do all of this yourself, the other option is working with a Digital PR agency. A good Digital PR agency should help you find the right strategy, develop newsworthy ideas, find relevant journalists, prepare pitches, and handle the outreach and follow-ups.
At HAROLinked, we use Digital PR, HARO, Qwoted link building, manual journalist outreach, and other techniques to secure editorial coverage for our clients.
However, no legitimate Digital PR agency can guarantee that a USA Today journalist will cover your story. The final decision is always with the journalist and editorial team. If you specifically want guaranteed USA Today coverage, contributed or branded content may be a better option than earned Digital PR.
Mistakes to Avoid When Getting a USA Today Placement
Here are some common mistakes we have noticed on our clients’ websites.
1- Press Release is not Editorial Coverage
I have mentioned above in this blog that a press release is a quick announcement you need to make, mostly about your business. For example, a new service you have added or a new area where you are now providing services.
The release may or may not be indexed by Google because most media websites receive thousands of press releases on a daily basis. The content is usually written by the company sending the release, and USA Today staff is usually not a part of it.
Therefore, the press release section is typically marked as nofollow and noindex to save crawl budget and maintain content legitimacy. A press release can also be deleted after a month or a year. Contrary to that, an article featuring your business or personal brand on USA Today is highly likely to remain published for years to come.
So, the bottom line is to only go with a USA Today press release when you have an announcement to make. For editorial coverage on USA Today, contact us.
2- Don’t Expect a Dofollow Backlink
If your only goal is getting a dofollow backlink from USA Today, you may be disappointed. Most USA Today placements I have seen come with nofollow or sponsored links.
However, this doesn’t make the placement worthless. You are still getting a brand mention from one of the biggest media websites in the US, along with potential referral traffic, credibility, and brand exposure.
3- Don’t Confuse Contributor Content With Editorial Coverage
Contributor or branded content is not the same as getting featured by a USA Today staff journalist. With contributed content, you usually have more control over the topic, your brand mentions, and how your business or personal brand is presented.
However, if the article is labelled as contributor, branded, or sponsored content, you should not present it as independent editorial coverage. Both have their own benefits, but they are two different types of placements.
4- Don’t Pay Someone Who Guarantees Editorial Coverage
No Digital PR agency can guarantee that a USA Today staff journalist will write about you. The journalist and editorial team always have the final decision.
An agency may guarantee a contributed or branded placement if they have access to it, but genuine editorial coverage cannot be guaranteed.
If someone is guaranteeing editorial coverage, ask exactly what type of USA Today placement you are getting before paying.
5- Don’t Pitch USA Today Without a Newsworthy Story
Being successful in your industry doesn’t automatically make you newsworthy for USA Today.
A local business hitting record sales, a CEO winning a small industry award, or a company launching another service may be great achievements, but they may not be enough for a national publication.
You need a strong story, original research, useful data, expert commentary, or something else that gives a USA Today journalist a reason to cover you.
6- Choose the Right USA Today Placement
Finally, understand what you actually want from USA Today before spending money on PR.
If you have a company announcement, a press release may be enough. If you want more control over how your business or personal brand is presented, contributed content may be a better option.
If you want genuine coverage from a USA Today journalist, Digital PR is the route I would recommend, but there are no guarantees.
Best Agencies to Get Featured in USA Today
If you want professional help getting featured in USA Today, you can work with a Digital PR agency that already understands journalist outreach, media placements, and how major publications work.
Here are three agencies worth considering.
1- HAROLinked
HAROLinked is our Digital PR and link-building agency. We help businesses, CEOs, founders, and industry experts get featured in major US and international publications.
Our approach includes Digital PR campaigns, HARO, Qwoted, journalist outreach, expert commentary, and contributed content opportunities. We also work on a pay-per-placement basis for certain media opportunities, so clients know the publication and price before moving forward.
For USA Today, we can help with both contributed content opportunities and Digital PR campaigns aimed at earning editorial coverage.
2- Otter PR
Otter PR is a US-based public relations agency specialising in media relations, thought leadership, reputation management, and media placements.
The agency actively markets opportunities to get clients featured in major publications and has experience with USA Today coverage. It is a good option for founders, executives, and businesses looking for broader PR campaigns rather than just backlink building.
3- Reboot Online
Reboot Online is a UK-based Digital PR and SEO agency known for data-driven PR campaigns and link building.
Their approach is more focused on earned media. They create original research, data-led stories, reactive campaigns, and other newsworthy assets before pitching them to journalists. Reboot also runs international Digital PR campaigns, including campaigns targeting the US market.
If your main goal is genuine editorial coverage and high-authority backlinks rather than paid media placements, this type of Digital PR approach makes more sense.
Want to Get Featured in USA Today?
We have discussed the best ways to get your business or personal brand featured in USA Today. A press release is a good option for an announcement, while Digital PR and editorial coverage are better for building authority and brand presence.
A USA Today feature can help improve your SEO, bring direct referral traffic and leads, increase brand credibility, strengthen your personal brand, and give you third-party recognition from a major US publication. You can also leverage the coverage for EB-1A or O-1 applications, overseas employment, attracting investors or clients, and future PR opportunities.
If you want to get featured in USA Today, contact HAROLinked and let us know what type of coverage you are looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Can I Get Featured in USA Today?
You can get featured in USA Today through earned editorial coverage, contributed or branded content, or certain press release and distribution opportunities. For editorial coverage, Digital PR, HARO, Qwoted, original research, and expert commentary are some of the best strategies.
2. How Much Does It Cost to Get Featured in USA Today?
The cost depends on the type of placement. Earned editorial coverage does not have a fixed publication fee, but you may pay a Digital PR agency for the outreach. Contributed or branded content is usually a paid placement, while press releases are generally the most affordable option.
3. Can I Pay to Get Featured in USA Today?
Yes, there are paid contributed, branded content, and press release opportunities. However, paying for a placement is different from genuine editorial coverage where a USA Today journalist independently decides to feature you or your business.
4. Does a USA Today Backlink Help SEO?
Yes, a USA Today mention can still have SEO and brand value even when the backlink is nofollow. It can generate referral traffic, strengthen brand authority, and create signals around your business or personal brand. However, you should not pursue a USA Today placement only for link equity.
5. Can a USA Today Feature Help With an EB-1A or O-1 Visa?
Genuine coverage about you and your work in a major media publication may support an EB-1A or O-1 application as part of the overall evidence. However, simply having a USA Today placement does not automatically satisfy the requirement or guarantee visa approval.