If you are a journalist, chances are you have a lot of deadlines, work on a tight schedule, and looking for a way to make your research process easier and faster. HARO might be your best option if you need high-quality sources to complete your story as soon as possible.
As listed on HARO’s website, media outlets using their services include Reuters, Time, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, ABC, and others. As you can see, many impressive legacy media names are using this platform.
But how does HARO work precisely, and how can it help journalists? Let’s find out more.
Crash Course: What Is HARO?
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HARO is short for “Help a Reporter Out” – an online service for journalists to get the necessary feedback for their news coverage and for experts to get valuable media coverage. This platform is owned by Cision, a global provider of PR and marketing intelligence.
HARO is helpful for journalists because it enables them to connect with experts in the fields relevant to their reporting. This platform connects stories with sources to save effort on both sides, so both industry experts and journalists get the most out of it. It’s a win-win.
How HARO Works
All you have to do to start with HARO is sign-up, provide all the necessary information about yourself, and you are ready to go.
Once your account on HARO is all set up, you will be able to post a query and wait for the responses to arrive. Sources receive queries via email three times a day. Once relevant sources receive and see your question, they can contact you and send you a pitch. From there, you can decide which ones you want to use and which you’ll toss away.
HARO was initially created for journalists, but now bloggers, content writers, and influencers can also use it to get in touch with expert sources. This platform is also useful for brands since they want to connect with reputable media outlets to get their name out there.
If you’re a journalist and are still unsure about this service, you can always learn more about HARO’s pros and cons to make an informed decision. For this article, we’ve listed seven key ways HARO service can assist you in your journalistic endeavors.
Provides Access to Trusted Sources
Companies are always looking for ways to gain high-quality backlinks to their websites since it is one of the best ways to grow their business by ranking better in search engines. That’s why businesses won’t risk putting their company’s goals in jeopardy. Also, getting covered by highly trusted, established media outlets helps them reach wider audiences and advance their brand image and awareness.
That is why people answering queries always try their best to provide you with valuable information. HARO also has strict standards and a vetting process regarding sources, so you can be assured that your journalistic integrity stays intact.
According to their website, sources must have proven competence in a topic relevant to the query they are responding to. Furthermore, they must thoroughly clarify why they are a subject matter expert before making their pitch if it is not obvious from their title or the company they work for.
Simplifies the Search for Knowledge
Sometimes you need answers to specific questions. It can be challenging to reach out to someone new with these questions or know whether any of your existing contacts have the information you need. That’s why sending out a HARO query might be your best ticket to finding what you need to complete your task.
No matter how peculiar your question might be, you’ll likely find someone who can answer it quickly since many users are constantly looking for journalistic queries.
Builds Relationships
As previously mentioned, HARO benefits both sides of the aisle – journalists and sources get the best out of their cooperation. Journalists get more insight into their topics, while company leaders raise brand awareness by gaining media coverage.
HARO is also beneficial for you as a journalist to build relevant relationships inside the industry. Getting in contact with expert sources gives you an opportunity to network and find amazing people you can cooperate with on future projects.
By building long-lasting and trusting relationships with people who provide you with unique quotes and information, you can gain access to the best industry news whenever you need it.
Builds Authority and Credibility
Readers want well-researched and authentic content. It’s always a good idea to back your story up with facts. With the sea of information out there and countless media sources publishing new stories daily, it is essential to stand out and position yourself as a relevant source. That’s where HARO can help you.
You build up your journalistic authority and credibility with relevant quotations from industry thought leaders.
Various Options to Choose From
HARO helps journalists connect to more sources than they would otherwise have access to. You’ll probably receive at least 50 pitches in the first few hours when you send out a query. The number of pitches can go up to hundreds on the same day if you work for an outlet with a high domain ranking.
Sometimes, that can be overwhelming, as it takes a lot of time to sift through all the pitches and pick out the best ones. Overall though, it is good to have multiple options. That way, you can filter out pitches based on their relevance and get the one that works the best for your story.
Budget Friendly
Using HARO, journalists can create an account and get answers to their queries without spending a fortune.
If you’re on a tight budget, getting uncostly access to quality sources is the way to go.
Saves Time
Journalism is a perfect mix of research and writing abilities. However, if you are someone who likes to spend more time crafting and perfecting your articles, HARO is a great way to save up some of your precious time.
This platform allows you to spend more time writing and less time looking for sources. That way, you can dedicate your efforts to the thing you love doing most without that much hassle.
Wrapping It Up
HARO opens you up to a large pool of opportunities and perspectives from all walks of life. Remember to stay critical and examine all sources well to find the right fit.
Now that you know about HARO and all the benefits it can provide you, you can upgrade your journalistic skills and provide your readers with the best sources and well-researched, thoughtful stories.
