• by Gavin O'Malley  @mp_gavin, July 12, 2007

Exploring new distribution models, Forbes.com has launched eight separate widgets with the help of widget syndication startup WidgetBox. With topics ranging from "technology" to "lifestyle," Forbes is encouraging users to embed the widgets on their blogs, social media pages and home pages--thus proliferating the publisher's content across the Web.

"Widgets clearly embody the Forbes.com philosophy that our users should be able to choose where, when and how they consume our content," said Jim Spanfeller, president and CEO, Forbes.com.

Going along for the ride is Visa Small Business, which has signed on as exclusive sponsor for all of the widgets.

"These widgets allow small business owners to access the information they are looking to help run their business, direct to their desktops when they want it," said Jon Raj, vice president of online and emerging media, Visa USA.

Within the nescient world of widget syndication, WidgetBox's main rivals include MuseStorm and Clearspring Technologies, which has worked with top-tier clients like the NBA and Universal Pictures since November. In March, the Arlington VA-based Clearspring picked up $5.5-million in second-round investment funding from media heavyweights like AOL founders Steve Case and Ted Leonsis, along with Mark Jung, the former chief operating officer of Fox Interactive Media.

Other Forbes.com widget topics include "breaking news," business," "entrepreneurs, "stock to watch," "top Lists," and "latest video."

Five of the first eight Forbes.com widgets offers five hyperlinked story headlines and accompanying story overviews pulled from the corresponding Forbes.com RSS feeds, as well as hyperlinks to the latest Forbes.com videos on the subject.

For the "stock to watch" widget, each day a Forbes.com personal finance editor suggests and describes his or her choice for the best stock of the day, and includes a link to a newsletter or story that supports the choice. This widget also links to the three latest "stock of the week" videos.

The "top lists" widget includes top "fives" from selected Forbes lists, and the "latest video" widget includes the five latest Forbes.com Markets videos.

Forbes.com plans to add additional widgets in the near future, according to Spanfeller.