If you’re like most business owners, you know that link-building is essential for your online success. But what you may not know is that HARO can help. HARO is a service that connects journalists with sources for upcoming stories.
When you sign up for HARO, you’ll receive email alerts three times per day with requests from journalists looking for sources on a variety of topics. This allows you to pitch your business as a source and secure links from high-quality websites.
What is HARO?
HARO, or Help a Reporter Out, is one of the best link building services that connects journalists with sources for stories. Sources can be experts in a particular field or just everyday people who have an interesting story to tell.
If you’re interested in becoming a source for reporters, all you need to do is sign up for a free account at HARO.com. Once you’re registered, you’ll receive email alerts whenever there are opportunities for sources to contribute to upcoming stories.
Why Use a HARO Link Building Service?
Journalists from publications including Insider, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and others use HARO every day to get expert commentary for their articles. One of the numerous daily emails that HARO sends out has these requirements.
Your website will receive a hyperlink from the website that posted the article if the author decides to use your comment. It’s a win-win situation since journalists produce better stories with professional support and you receive high-quality links from a reliable source.
How to Earn Quality Links from Media Outlets via HARO
Here are a few ways to get good-quality backlinks from media publications:
Quick Responses
The most crucial factor is prompt reactions. Your pitch will appear at the top of the journalist’s feed if you react swiftly to a HARO inquiry, making him or her much more likely to accept your advice. If you wait 24 hours, it’s possible that more than 50 people will have responded and the chance will be lost.
Find Relevant Niches and Topics
Look for pertinent requests and themes; you can simply do this by skimming through the daily emails from HARO. If you run a digital marketing agency or growth marketing agency, for instance, you could likely respond to any query regarding marketing, business, entrepreneurship, advertising, management, etc.
Send Concise Responses
limit your response to 200 words or less. Keep your HARO links to your many social media platforms and contributions to a minimum. The author merely seeks to get an understanding.
Use Practical and Insightful Advice
Most individuals tend to write poorly here. Avoid writing generic filler; it will never succeed. Journalists are looking for some nice quotes-worthy expertise. So share with them the tools and practical tactics you employ. Start with the helpful tip, then go on to explain what you mean.
Never Use Filler Content
You have 200 words to persuade someone that you are an authority with a thought that their readers could find fascinating; you are not creating a beefed-up blog article.
How to Succeed at HARO Link Building
When you’re looking to increase your website’s visibility and backlinks, HARO can be an incredibly valuable tool. Here are a few tips on how to make the most of it:
1. Respond quickly. The faster you respond, the more likely you are to be quoted in a story.
2. Tailor your responses to the reporter’s needs. If they’re looking for a statistic, quote a statistic; if they’re looking for a human-interest story, tell one.
3. Make sure your responses are clear and concise. Reporters are busy people, and they don’t have time to read long-winded emails.
4. Be polite and professional at all times. Remember that you’re representing your company or organization when you speak with reporters.
Common HARO Mistakes You Should Avoid
Making the most of HARO can be a great way to get in touch with reporters, but there are a few things you should avoid if you want to make the most of the service. Here are four common HARO mistakes you should avoid:
1. Not checking your email frequently enough
HARO can be a great opportunity to get in touch with reporters, but you need to be responsive to take advantage of it. Reporters may reach out to sources at any time, so you need to be sure to check your email frequently.
2. Not responding quickly enough
Not only do you need to check your email frequently, but you also need to respond quickly when you get a query. Reporters are often working on tight deadlines, so they may move on to other sources if you don’t respond within a reasonable amount of time.
3. Sending the same pitch over and over again
Don’t spam reporters with the same pitch over and over again. If they don’t bite the first time, chances are they won’t the second or third time either. Be patient and send them different pitches until one stick.
4. Not following up
If you don’t hear back from a reporter after sending them a pitch, don’t be afraid to follow up with them. Sometimes emails can get lost in people’s inboxes, so it never hurts to reach out again.
How to Pick the Best HARO Link Building Services Agency
Looking for a reputable and reliable HARO link-building agency can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it can be difficult to determine which one is the best for your business. Here are some tips to help you choose the right agency for your needs:
1. Do Your Research
It’s important to carefully research any agency you’re considering working with. Look for reviews online and ask for referrals from others in your industry.
2. Look for Experience
The best HARO link-building agencies have a lot of experience working with clients in a variety of industries. They should also have a proven track record of success.
3. Ask About Their Process
A good HARO link-building agency will have a detailed process in place that they will walk you through before getting started. This should include things like how they will identify potential link opportunities and how they will measure success.
4. Set Expectations Upfront
It’s important to make sure both you and the agency are on the same page when it comes to expectations. What results can you realistically expect and how long will it take to see them? Be sure to get this information in writing so there are no surprises down the road.
Choosing the right HARO link-building agency can be tricky, but if you follow these tips, you’re sure to find the one that’s perfect for your business.
Best Link-Building Strategies
There are many ways to build links, but some strategies are better than others. Here are some of the best link-building strategies:
1. Create great content. This is the number one link building strategy. If you create great content, people will want to link to it.
2. Guest blog on high-traffic websites. Guest blogging is a great way to build high authority backlinks and exposure.
3. Publish press releases. Press releases can help you get media attention and build links.
4. Use social media. Social media is a great way to promote your content and build links.
5. Participate in forums and Q&A sites. Forums and Q&A sites are great ways to build HARO links and exposure.
6. Get involved with social bookmarking sites. Social bookmarking sites are a great way to build links and exposure.
7. Create infographics. Infographics are a great way to promote your content and build links.
8. Submit your site to directories. Directory submission is a great way to get links and exposure.
9. Write guest posts for other websites. Guest posting is a great way to build links and exposure.
Outreach is one of the best ways to build links. You can reach out to bloggers and website owners to ask them to link to your content. You can also reach out to other websites and ask them to publish your content.
Another great way to build links is through social media. You can promote your content on social media sites, and you can also participate in social media communities.
Finally, you can also build links through backlinks. You can find high-quality websites that are willing to link to your content, and you can also exchange links with other websites.
Other Link Building Methods to Try
Here are some other link-building methods to try:
- Creating and submitting articles to article directories
- Guest blogging on high-quality blogs
- Participating in online forums and discussion boards
- Developing strong relationships with other bloggers and webmasters
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of hiring an agency for HARO?
There are many benefits to hiring an agency for HARO. One of the biggest benefits is that you can get access to a large pool of journalists who are looking for sources. By having an agency manage your HARO requests, you can ensure that your pitches are seen by the right journalists, increasing your chances of getting featured in the news.
Additionally, agencies can help you draft your pitches and respond to reporters quickly and effectively. This can save you time and ensure that your pitches are high quality. Overall, hiring an agency for HARO can be a valuable investment that can help you get more press exposure for your business.
How long does it take to get a HARO backlink?
It takes about one to three days to get a response from HARO.
Can anyone guarantee HARO backlinks?
No, no one can guarantee HARO backlinks. However, if you follow the tips and suggestions outlined in the article, you can increase your chances of securing those valuable links.
Does HARO help SEO?
Yes, HARO can help with SEO. It can help by providing high-quality backlinks and by increasing your website’s exposure.
Are HARO considered white-hat backlinks?
Yes. You are earning backlinks from renowned blogs and publications for a quote.
How many pitches should I send out in a day?
There is no definitive answer, as the number of pitches you send out each day will depend on a variety of factors, including the type of content you’re pitching, your target audience, and how saturated your industry is. However, a good rule of thumb is to pitch about five times a day.