When using a platform like Featured, you may notice a wide variety of sources and publications sharing quote requests and article opportunities. These range from well-known names with massive audiences to niche publications with highly engaged communities. Deciding which opportunities to prioritize can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to SEO or unsure about the value of certain opportunities. Let’s break it down!
What Is Domain Rating (DR), and Why Does It Matter?
On our paid plan, Featured provides the Domain Rating (DR) of each source—a metric that reflects the authority of a website from an SEO perspective. You can also see the expected link type for a source on our paid plans, which is based on historical trends.
The higher the DR, the more valuable a backlink from that site might be in boosting your website’s visibility on search engines like Google. If you’re more keen to do your own research, there are also various free tools available to you through resources like Ahrefs or Moz.
However, DR isn’t the only factor to consider! Some sites with a lower DR might have a smaller but highly relevant audience for your industry, making them just as valuable (if not more so) depending on your goals.
What to Consider When Responding to Opportunities
Here are a few tips to help you decide which requests to prioritize:
- Audience Alignment
If a publication’s audience closely matches your target customers, their smaller size might not matter. For instance, if you’re a small business consultant, responding to a niche opportunity on SmallBizClub or StartupNation could be a great fit, even if these sites have a lower DR compared to giants like Fast Company or Entrepreneur. - Brand Recognition
As a general rule of thumb, if you recognize a source without having to do any research, chances are they have a large audience and strong brand authority. Think of publishers like Forbes, Today, HubSpot, or GoDaddy. - Link Value (for SEO)
Backlinks from high-DR sites can enhance your own website’s authority. But if you’re new to SEO, don’t overthink it. Any backlink from a trusted source—big or small—can add value over time. A healthy portfolio will also include no-follow and unlinked opportunities! Just because a source doesn’t typically provide do-follow links doesn’t mean you should not respond if your expertise is aligned. - Industry Focus
Specialized publications, even with smaller audiences, often have a highly engaged readership. For example, American Business Journal, GoBankingRates or AZBigMedia might not have the same reach as mainstream outlets, but they attract niche audiences that align with specific industries and areas of coverage.
Why Knowing What Queries to Respond to on Featured Matters for Your Business
If you’re new to thought leadership, brand-building and SEO, here’s the short version:
- A high-DR backlink can boost your website’s search rankings, driving more organic traffic.
- Publications with a lower DR may still bring great value if their audience is highly relevant to your expertise.
- Quality insights show off your best–getting your expertise published can support the creation of some easy social media content, help with building out personal website content, and provide you with networking opportunities.
- If a question is calling your name, go for it! Our favorite thing is being able to share a response with a publisher that showcases an expert’s passion and experience. Responding to queries that align with your expertise will help you find success when it comes to getting published–with sources both big and small.
Engaging with well-known and niche sources allows you to balance short-term visibility with long-term growth. Showing up consistently across different publications builds credibility and trust.
Let’s Share Your Expertise!
When choosing which opportunities to respond to, it’s all about striking the right balance. By understanding the different types of sources on Featured and how to evaluate their potential value, you’ll make the most of your efforts and see meaningful results over time.
Getting started on Featured is an easy way to make thought leadership happen for you. We hope you’re feeling more comfortable with navigating all of the opportunities you may come across on the platform. Now that you’re ready to find the perfect query to share your insights, here are a couple of other resources to help ensure you succeed using Featured.
- What Makes for a Good Answer Submission and Featured’s Best Practices
- Now Introducing Pay-As-You-Go Credits
- Understanding Featured’s Pricing and Plans (coming soon)