HARO or Help A Reporter Out is particularly helpful for journalists when constructing content.  It acts as a good source of stories and aids reporters to finish their work with insight from an expert on the subject matter. On the other hand, it also serves as an opportunity for entrepreneurs to promote their businesses and boost their engagement with different audiences around the world, most especially if they’re just starting. These are made possible through links. 

In this article, we will mainly discuss tips on how to use HARO for business publicity. 

  1. Be an early bird. 

You know the saying the early bird catches the worm? It applies here. Most, if not all journalists and reporters, are always in the rush. They won’t wait for you forever. When a HARO email pops in, understand the request and make a pitch quickly. However, the pitch should also be of substance. Otherwise, it would be immaterial. 

Time is a very important factor in link-building, so if you don’t think you can commit to checking your emails a few times a day to answer queries, it’s best to outsource the service. We recommend checking Harolinkbuildingservice.com to get an idea of how you can maximize HARO for your business.

  • Make the subject line crystal clear. 

Most journalists and reporters don’t have the luxury of time so you need to make the subject line understandable in just one glance. Avoid wordiness. Place yourself in the shoes of the reporters and see if the subject line is relevant. You can make it a bit more catchy as well, but not too sales-y. When in doubt, think about what would convince the reporter to actually read your pitch.

  • Heed the reporter’s requirements.

Attention to detail is key. Journalists are ultrasensitive with the way their output should be constructed, which is why they often give you well-defined instructions which you must read carefully. Otherwise, your HARO pitch will be useless. Pay attention to their requirements and don’t answer a pitch if it’s clearly stated that you’re not the expert they’re looking for.

  •  Concise email. 

When sending out your email, don’t overdo the self-promotion. Instead, focus on the reason or how you could help the journalists get through their content. Two to three bullet points will suffice. Provide details such as contact number or e-mail address at the end. This way, you can establish contacts and they’ll know where to reach you for follow-ups.

  • Attach a headshot, a quick bio, and other necessary details. 

When they’ve already responded to your HARO pitch, they might want to see your quick bio and headshot. So, you might as well upload these on your website or send a link to the HARO response to make transactions a little faster. Remember, you’re making things easier for them so might as well make these attachments readily available. 

Final Words

If you will use HARO to help your business increase its engagement and promotion, the key is consistency. You need to deliver good content all the time and the rest will follow. As with other service providers, giving quality service at all times is very important. Be the one a journalist needs for their piece. Overall, it’s a win-win situation to both journalists and business leaders.