Forbes to Launch Business and Finance Blog Network

On Monday Forbes announced something you can see from the badge to the left of this post: the Forbes Business & Finance Blog Network. Yep. this blog is part of it.

It's actually been a long time coming, as this site was involved very early on in the development, since late last year. Originally it had been slated to launch in January, but here it is, better late than never.

In a press release released to the media and (naturally) released to blog network members, Forbes said:

The Blog Network’s content will focus on senior business decision makers and high-net-worth investors. Topics will be relevant to the banking, trading, hedge fund management, affluent investing, and senior business decision-making communities. Participation in the network is by invitation only, and all blogs are vetted by Forbes.com editors for appropriate content, and to ensure that they are in keeping with the Forbes editorial brand.

“There is no denying the growing importance and influence of blogs within the media landscape,” said Forbes.com President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Spanfeller. “Forbes.com can ensure advertisers are reaching a hard-to-find and very desirable audience within safe, well-lit environments by exclusively inviting ‘best of breed’ business and investing bloggers to our new Business and Finance Blog Network.”

Nick Ricci, formerly Senior Vice President, Sales and Ad Operations of About.com, joins as General Manager, Sales. He will be responsible for overseeing the sales, marketing and promotion for the Blog Network as well as the Forbes Audience Network (FAN), which launched in November 2007.

I'm honored this blog was selected from very early on in the process. Obviously still more to come.