HARO - Help A Reporter Out - is one of the most powerful free tools for earning high-authority backlinks. By connecting sources with journalists looking for expert quotes, HARO gives you access to link opportunities at major publications like Forbes, Inc., Business Insider, and hundreds of other authoritative sites.
The concept is simple: journalists post queries about topics they are covering, and you respond with expert insights. When selected, you typically receive a mention and link in their article. But with thousands of sources competing for each query, success requires a strategic approach.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to succeed with HARO link building, from setting up efficient workflows to crafting responses that get selected and building lasting media relationships.
Build Links Beyond HARO
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Find Guest Post OpportunitiesWhat You Will Learn
Reading Time: 14 minutes | Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
- What HARO is and how it works
- Setting up for HARO success
- How to identify the best queries to answer
- Crafting responses that get selected
- Building relationships with journalists
- HARO alternatives and similar platforms
What is HARO?
HARO (now part of Cision under the name Connectively) is a free service that connects journalists with sources for their stories. Three times daily, journalists post queries about topics they are covering, and registered sources can respond with relevant expertise.
How HARO Works
- Journalists submit queries: Reporters from various publications post questions about topics they are writing about
- Queries are compiled: HARO sends emails three times daily (5:35am, 12:35pm, 5:35pm ET) containing all active queries
- Sources respond: You reply to relevant queries with your expertise, bio, and credentials
- Journalists select sources: If selected, your quote appears in their article, typically with a link
HARO by the Numbers
Journalists using the platform
Registered sources
Queries per daily email
Why HARO Works for Link Building
High-Authority Links
HARO queries often come from major publications with DA 70-90+. A single placement can be worth dozens of lower-quality links.
Free to Use
The basic HARO service is completely free. You can respond to unlimited queries without any cost.
Editorial Links
Links earned through HARO are editorial mentions in real articles - exactly what Google values most.
Setting Up for HARO Success
Step 1: Create Your Account
Register at connectively.us (formerly helpareporter.com) as a source. The free tier provides access to all queries - paid tiers offer filtering and priority features.
Step 2: Establish Your Expertise Areas
Before responding to queries, clearly define your areas of expertise. You will be most successful responding to topics where you have genuine knowledge and credentials.
Pro Tip: Expand Your Expertise Pool
Beyond your primary expertise, identify adjacent topics you can speak to credibly. A marketing agency might also answer queries about entrepreneurship, remote work, or small business management.
Step 3: Create Response Templates
Prepare templates for common query types in your expertise areas. Include:
- A brief bio with relevant credentials
- Your company name and website
- Common talking points you can customize
- A professional headshot (sometimes requested)
Step 4: Set Up Efficient Workflows
HARO success requires quick responses. Queries often receive 50-200 responses, and journalists typically choose from early, quality responses.
- Set up email filters to prioritize HARO emails
- Block time to review each HARO email within 1-2 hours of arrival
- Use text expansion tools for common response elements
- Have responses reviewed before sending if needed
Identifying the Best Queries
Not all HARO queries are worth your time. Focus on opportunities that offer the best link potential for your effort.
Query Evaluation Criteria
Red Flags to Avoid
- Anonymous queries: No publication named means unknown link value
- Extremely broad topics: "Tell me about marketing" - too vague to stand out
- No link potential: Some queries explicitly state no links will be given
- Outside your expertise: Do not stretch too far - journalists detect this
Crafting Winning Responses
Your response is competing with 50-200 others. Here is how to stand out:
The Anatomy of a Great HARO Response
Winning Response Structure
- Strong opening: Direct answer to their question in the first sentence
- Unique insight: Something they would not get from other sources
- Supporting detail: Data, examples, or specifics that add credibility
- Brief credentials: Why you are qualified to speak on this topic
- Contact information: Make follow-up easy
Example HARO Response
Query: Looking for marketing experts to share their best tips for improving email open rates.
Hi [Journalist Name],
The single most effective tactic for improving open rates is personalizing subject lines with the recipient's first name - our testing across 50+ campaigns shows this increases opens by an average of 23%.
But the real opportunity most marketers miss is send time optimization. We've found that sending at 10:15am on Tuesdays (not the common 10:00am slot) improves opens by 8-12% simply by avoiding inbox crowding from automated sends.
I'm Jane Smith, Marketing Director at [Company], where I've led email campaigns generating over $10M in revenue across B2B and B2C clients.
Happy to provide additional insights or data if helpful for your piece.
Jane Smith
Marketing Director, [Company]
jane@company.com
company.com
What Makes This Response Work
- Leads with value: Specific tactic with a number in the first sentence
- Unique angle: The 10:15am insight is something others probably are not mentioning
- Credible: Specific credentials that establish expertise
- Concise: Easy to scan and quote directly
- Professional: Clear contact info and willingness to help further
Increasing Your Success Rate
Response Best Practices
- Respond quickly: Within 1-2 hours of the email if possible
- Answer the actual question: Read requirements carefully
- Be quotable: Write in complete sentences journalists can use directly
- Include specifics: Numbers, examples, and data stand out
- Keep it concise: 150-250 words is ideal for most queries
- Proofread carefully: Errors signal low credibility
Volume and Consistency
HARO success is partly a numbers game. Typical response-to-placement ratios:
Realistic Expectations
- Beginner: 1 placement per 15-20 responses (5-7% success rate)
- Intermediate: 1 placement per 8-12 responses (8-12% success rate)
- Advanced: 1 placement per 4-6 responses (15-25% success rate)
Guarantee Your Link Building Results
HARO is competitive and unpredictable. For guaranteed placements, browse Outreachist's marketplace of publishers accepting guest posts with assured publication.
Browse Guaranteed PlacementsHARO Alternatives
Several platforms offer similar journalist-source connections:
Common HARO Mistakes
Mistake 1: Responding to Everything
Quality over quantity. Focus on queries where you can provide genuinely expert insights rather than blasting generic responses.
Mistake 2: Pitching Instead of Helping
Journalists want expert insights, not sales pitches. Focus on providing value - the link is your reward, not a goal to push for.
Mistake 3: Being Too Slow
Responses submitted hours after the email often go unread. Prioritize speed - respond within 1-2 hours when possible.
Mistake 4: Generic Responses
Vague, could-apply-to-anyone responses get ignored. Include specific examples, data, and unique perspectives.
Measuring HARO ROI
Track these metrics to evaluate your HARO investment:
- Response count: How many queries you respond to weekly
- Placement rate: Percentage of responses that result in mentions
- Link rate: Percentage of mentions that include links
- Authority average: Average DA/DR of sites you get links from
- Time investment: Hours spent per link earned
Key Takeaways
- Be selective: Focus on queries matching your genuine expertise from named publications.
- Respond quickly: Speed matters - aim to respond within 1-2 hours of each HARO email.
- Lead with value: Answer the question directly in your first sentence with specific insights.
- Be quotable: Write in complete sentences journalists can use directly in their articles.
- Play the long game: Consistent effort over months delivers compounding results.
Conclusion
HARO remains one of the most effective free methods for earning high-authority backlinks. By connecting you directly with journalists seeking sources, it provides access to link opportunities at major publications that would be nearly impossible to secure through traditional outreach.
Success requires a strategic approach: respond quickly to relevant queries, provide genuinely valuable insights, and maintain consistency over time. The competition is significant - but so are the rewards. A single placement on a major publication can deliver more SEO value than dozens of lower-quality links.
Start by setting up efficient workflows to review and respond to each HARO email quickly. Focus on queries where you can provide unique, expert perspectives. And remember that HARO is a long-term strategy - consistent effort over months is what delivers meaningful results.
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